Girls flag football's first official season, and a shortage of referees

The NCHSAA sanctioned the sport in May. Teams are now losing games for lack of officials.

September 30, 2026

Information as of Saturday, Oct. 3, 2026.

The NCHSAA board voted May 6 to make girls flag football and boys volleyball championship sports. Flag football plays in the fall, with the first state championships Nov. 14. Boys volleyball begins in the spring, with its first state championships in May 2027.

The first official flag football games were played Sept. 9, according to Guilford County Schools Athletics. The district says the Carolina Panthers and the David and Nicole Tepper Foundation have committed more than $2.5 million to girls flag football in the Carolinas since 2022.

WFMY reported that girls flag football teams are facing canceled games because there are not enough officials.

Sources

GCS Athletics: NCHSAA sanctions two new sports for 2026-27 (opens in a new tab) · guilfordcountyathleticzone.com
GCS Athletics: Flag football's sanctioned season (opens in a new tab) · guilfordcountyathleticzone.com
NCHSAA: Flag football championships (opens in a new tab) · nchsaa.org
WFMY News 2: Girls' flag football teams face canceled games as shortage of officials grows (opens in a new tab) · wfmynews2.com