The Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) has voted to officially recognize girls flag football as a sport for high school girls this fall, following a successful two-year pilot program. This decision makes Colorado the 11th state in the country to do so and will result in the addition of girls flag football as an officially sanctioned sport, making it the 18th CHSAA-sanctioned sport for girls in the state and the 33rd sport overall.
Cherry Creek School District’s Director of Athletics and Activities Larry Bull expressed excitement about the decision, noting that the first year of the pilot program was a huge success. Cherry Creek was one of three school districts in Colorado to offer girls flag football as a pilot program alongside Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools.
The initiative was hailed as a resounding success by athletic directors across all three school districts. Participation grew by an astounding 161 percent in just one year, with many citing its empowerment, inclusion, and teamwork as significant factors contributing to its popularity.
The pilot seasons of girls flag football were funded and managed by the Denver Broncos and Denver Broncos Foundation. Carrie Walton Penner, owner of the Denver Broncos and chair of the foundation board, called this official recognition a historic moment for Colorado and for girls in the state. She emphasized that it provides opportunities for young women to develop leadership skills while fostering a sense of community through teamwork.
The Foundation plans to continue supporting girls flag football as it becomes part of fall sports lineup by offering coaching clinics and seasonal programming to promote participation and development within the sport.
Overall, this decision marks an important step towards gender equality in sports by providing more opportunities for young women to participate in organized sports at high schools level.
