Girls flag football has been officially sanctioned as a high school sport in Kansas following an April 23 vote by the Kansas State High School Activities Association Board. This move marks a significant milestone for student-athletes, schools, and communities across the state.
With this decision, Kansas becomes the 18th state in the country to recognize girls flag football at the high school level. The change reflects growing national interest and demand for more opportunities for female athletes.
The sanctioning follows weeks of community engagement and advocacy led by the Kansas City Chiefs organization. A grassroots campaign included a “Let Her Play” petition that gathered support from over 11,000 individuals urging leaders to expand access to girls flag football in schools. Members of the Chiefs organization—including Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt, President Mark Donovan, General Manager Brett Veach, and Head Coach Andy Reid—shared a video message with decision-makers ahead of deliberations to reinforce their commitment to supporting girls’ participation in flag football.
“Today’s vote will make it possible for so many girls across the state of Kansas to play flag football,” said Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt. “We’re incredibly grateful to the fans, families, educators, school leaders, and communities across Kansas who raised their voices and showed up in support of these athletes. This outcome reflects a collective effort, and we’re proud to stand alongside everyone who helped make it clear that girls Flag Football deserves a place in Kansas high schools.”
The new status allows schools throughout Kansas to establish official programs with standardized rules and governance while enabling teams to compete for state championships. The Chiefs plan to continue supporting growth through youth programming, partnerships with schools, coaching education initiatives across both Kansas and Missouri, as well as launching programming in Nebraska this fall.
