NCHSAA sanctions girls flag football, boys volleyball
CHAPEL HILL - Two emerging high school sports in North Carolina will soon compete for state championships.
The N.C. High School Athletic Association board of directors voted Wednesday to officially sanction girls flag football and boys volleyball, expanding athletic opportunities for student-athletes across the state beginning in the 2026-27 school year.
Girls flag football will debut as a fall sport, with the first NCHSAA state championship scheduled for late 2026. Boys volleyball will be played in the spring, culminating in its first state championships in May 2027.
The addition of girls flag football marks a significant milestone for female athletics in North Carolina, following several years of rapid growth at the high school level. The sport will now be governed by the NCHSAA and played under National Federation of High Schools rules.
"Today's decision represents a meaningful investment in the future of our student-athletes … and the continued evolution of school-based athletics in North Carolina," NCHSAA commissioner Que Tucker said. "Girls flag football offers an inclusive, fast-paced and highly engaging opportunity for students to compete, connect and grow through sport."
Flag football has become one of the fastest-growing sports nationally, bolstered locally by partnerships with the NFL and the Carolina Panthers. What began as a 19-school pilot program in 2022 has expanded to more than 150 schools statewide.
"Sanctioning high school flag football marks a major milestone for girls athletics in North Carolina," Carolina Panthers owners David and Nicole Tepper said in a statement, citing the league's role in helping grow the sport.
The board also approved boys volleyball as a sanctioned championship sport, formalizing years of steady growth and grassroots organization across the state.
"Today is a red-letter day for men's volleyball in North Carolina," Tucker said. "Sanctioning men's volleyball allows us to provide more championship opportunities and continue our mission to expand participation."
Participation in boys volleyball has climbed in recent years, with advocates and coaches building programs and competitive opportunities despite the absence of official NCHSAA sanctioning.
"This decision formalizes what has been building over the past decade," said Sarah Conklin, director of the N.C. Boys High School Volleyball Association. "Boys volleyball has been steadily growing and has created strong communities, with thousands of high school athletes already playing."
NCHSAA officials said additional details, including championship formats and implementation timelines, will be shared with member schools in the coming months.
Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.