North Carolina Sanctions Girls Flag Football
The state has officially added girls flag football to its list of sanctioned high school sports.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Football
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North Carolina has officially sanctioned girls flag football, opening new athletic opportunities for students across the state. Erwin High School has already formed its own inaugural team to participate in the new program.
Why it matters
This sanctioning provides female student athletes with structured opportunities to compete and potentially pursue their education at the collegiate level. It marks a significant expansion of school sports options in the state.
The inaugural Erwin Warriors girls flag football team consists of 11 student athletes. Participation is open to all students who successfully complete the school's tryout process.
The players
Erwin High School
Located in Asheville, North Carolina, this institution is among the first in the state to organize a girls flag football team following the new sanctioning.
Chloe Radcliff
She serves as the head coach for the Erwin Warriors girls flag football team after being recruited by the school's athletic director.
The details
Erwin High School in Asheville established its team following a recruitment process where the athletic director approached the head coach during a football game. The program is designed to be inclusive, allowing every student who attends tryouts to secure a spot on the roster.
Timeline
October 28, 2026: The official playoff bracket for the season will be released.
Season Trajectory
The inclusion of girls flag football as a sanctioned sport shifts the competitive landscape for female athletes across North Carolina. This development impacts the future state playoff structures and broadens the scope of athletic programs available to high school students.
Students at participating schools can now join formal flag football rosters regardless of their previous experience, as long as they attend tryouts. The introduction of state-sanctioned playoffs provides a clear pathway for competitive advancement within the new league.
The takeaway
The official sanctioning of the sport creates a new foundation for high school athletics in the state. Families interested in participation should contact their local athletic department to confirm tryout schedules and team availability.
What happens next
The inaugural season playoff bracket is scheduled for release on October 28, 2026.
Further reading
For more information on high school athletics, visit the Football section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WLOS.
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