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The move follows a pilot program that involved 50 schools and 10 districts from across the state.
COLORADO, USA — The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) Legislative Council on Tuesday voted to add girls’ flag football as a sanctioned sport.
They’re the 11th state to sanction the sport and the inaugural season will be this fall. Tuesday morning’s vote followed an earlier recommendation from the board of directors to sanction the sport.
>The video above is a feature story about Chatfield HS’s team which took part in the pilot program.
Colorado has been operating girls’ flag football as part of a pilot program for the past two years. With support from the Broncos and CHSAA, the Denver Broncos Foundation launched Colorado’s program in the fall of 2021. The Broncos and the Denver Broncos Foundation funded and operated both seasons. Participation from year one to year two of the pilot program increased by more than 150%, CHSAA said. During that time 50 schools from 10 different districts offered the sport.
The Legislative Council gave the final approval during a meeting Tuesday morning with 57 members voting to sanction the sport and nine voting against sanctioning. Five members abstained from voting.
“This is a historic moment for Colorado and most importantly for girls in our state who have a new pathway into sports through flag football,” said Broncos owner Carrie Walton Penner.
Girls’ flag football is now the 14th fall activity and the 18th girls’ sport officially recognized by CHSAA.
According to the group, among the 1,316 participants, almost 75% had never played flag football before joining their high school team and more than half stated that they otherwise would have not participated in another fall sport.
Chatfield High School was among the schools to participate in the pilot program. They won the championship in 2022.
“Having this as a high school option, I think, really helps especially show like the younger girls that they can play this because I’m also a youth flag referee,” running back Caitlin Dennis said as she looked ahead to the 2023 season. “So those girls seeing someone older playing this sport, I think really gives them to the drive to continue to high school sports.”
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