This spring, Tualatin High School is adding another spring sport to the season. For the first time, the Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) has started a girls’ flag football team, and Oregon is not the first state to do so. 

Currently, there are 14 states with sanctioned girls’ flag football teams, with states like California and Florida leading the way. To be a sanctioned sport, the activity must be fully recognized by the state high school athletic association as a varsity sport.

In October of 2024, OSAA voted to make girls’ flag football an emerging activity. For the sport to be eligible, 25 schools must be participating. If it reaches 50 participating schools in the next two years, it will officially become a sanctioned sport. 

Last spring, many schools started with a pilot program to gather interest in the sport. It landed a total of 32 schools and 575 players, and South Salem High School took home the state championship. 

This year, Tualatin will build its first girls’ flag football team in hopes of becoming the next school to win a state championship. Practices will be every Tuesday and Thursday, with one to two games every week. The team’s first game is this month against Lakeridge High School.  

“I am most excited about the upcoming flag football season because of the new friendship and the new experiences that will come from it,” said sophomore Madilynn Johnson. 

Johnson joined the flag football team after hearing about it through her wrestling teammates. 

“I decided to join flag football because most of my wrestling team said they would be doing it,” said Johnson. 

As the sport gains traction, the team is always looking to add new players. Johnson encourages you to try it, even if you are unsure. 

“I really encourage people to try flag football out, even if you’ve never done anything like it. It’s a sport for everyone so come try out!” said Johnson. 

Even though the sport is just getting started, it’s sure to be an amazing season.