The Colorado High School Activities Association has recently voted to make girls flag football a permanent high school sport. This decision was made after a successful pilot program that ran for several years, and over 50 schools in Colorado have already signed up to participate, many of which are located in the Denver metro area.
Colorado is now the 11th state in the country to officially sanction girls flag football as a high school sport. CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger expressed his excitement about the decision, stating that it promotes athleticism while also providing more opportunities for female athletes to participate in sports. This move is seen as a step towards fostering leadership, confidence, and equality both on and off the field.
With more than a dozen NAIA colleges offering scholarships for girls flag football and DII and DIII colleges considering following suit in the near future, female athletes’ opportunities are expanding. Additionally, the sport is set to be included as an Olympic event at the 2028 games in Los Angeles. The Denver Broncos played a significant role in advocating for girls flag football in Colorado schools by providing financial assistance to schools that adopted the sport. Other organizations such as Nike and USA Football also contributed by ensuring that teams had the necessary equipment and uniforms.
Carrie Walton Penner, one of the owners of the Denver Broncos and chair of the Denver Broncos Foundation Board, commented on this historic moment for Colorado and its impact on girls in the state. She emphasized that beyond empowerment and teamwork, girls flag football creates a strong sense of belonging and community for the next generation of leaders. Jesse Sarles, who manages content and operations for CBSColorado.com covers news and sports in
