Rhode Island sanctioned girls high school flag football Monday, Aug. 17, becoming the 24th state in the country to make it an official high school sport.
The New England Patriots have been behind much the sport’s growth in Rhode Island, organizing the state's 10-team pilot season this past spring with 440 participating student athletes. That season culminated in a championship tournament that crowned Saint Raphael Academy state champions.
Small state, huge impact.
— Patriots Foundation (@PatsFoundation) August 17, 2026
Girls flag football is officially a sanctioned varsity sport in Rhode Island👏 pic.twitter.com/q2Yv7rXSXS
The sanctioning in Rhode Island comes as the sport’s growth accelerates on the national stage ahead
of its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles games. Rhode Island is the eighth state to sanction it so far this year, and the NCAA recently recommended that it become a collegiate sport by 2028 and approved funding for a collegiate championship.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New England Patriots spearhead girls flag football sanctioning in Rhode Island
