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Flag football is catching on in Georgia. Last year, the state reported almost 5,000 participants in girls flag football, and the Georgia High School Association held its third state championship last December – where the girls play alongside the boys in Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. During the 2025 Legislative Session, the Georgia House became the first legislative body in the country to adopt legislation urging high schools to establish girls flag football teams by agreeing to HR 347, Rep. Brent Cox, R-Dawsonville.

Later this week, the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, the Atlanta Falcons, and representatives from the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) will join Cox in a press conference to encourage the growth of the sport. Currently, there are more than 100 colleges that have created varsity flag football programs for women and girls, and they hope more high schools will start the program at that level.

“This resolution is the first of its kind in the country urging high schools to create girls flag football programs, and we could not have done it without the help of Speaker Jon Burns and the overwhelming bipartisan support from my House colleagues,” said Cox. “The Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation has been working hard on this topic for years and have provided grants to high schools across the state in support of girls flag football teams

“We know how important athletics are to Georgia’s students and the sense of community and belonging they bring,” added Cox. “Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in America, and it is important that we ensure that high schools are equipped to support students who want to participate. I also want to thank the girls flag football players, GHSA and former Atlanta Falcons player Rep. Dewey McClain for their advocacy and work on behalf of female athletes across this state. I challenge other states to join us in expanding opportunities in girls’ sports, and I hope to see Georgians compete in flag football during the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles as a result of these efforts.”

Cosponsors of HR 347 include House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration, R-Mulberry, and State Representatives Rick Jasperse. R-Jasper, Lydia Glaize, D-Fairburn, Demetrius Douglas, D-Stockbridge, and Chas Cannon, R-Moultrie.

“The Atlanta Falcons and Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation are greatly appreciative of the adoption of HR 347 by the Georgia House of Representatives,” said AMB Sports and Entertainment CEO and AMBFF Associate Board Member Rich McKay. “We are grateful to

Speaker Burns, Rep. Cox and all cosponsors of the resolution for their work to highlight girls flag football in this forum as we further our efforts to spread the game to every high school across the state. The exponential growth of girls flag football over the past several years in Georgia has been remarkable, and our hope is for every high school to offer girls flag football as a varsity sport for their student athletes.”

The press conference is set for Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta.