This is a joint press release from the Eagles and the Yinzers:

MECHANICSBURG, PA [September 18, 2024] – The Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers are thrilled to learn of today’s announcement from the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association, Inc. (PIAA), declaring high school girls’ flag football an officially sanctioned sport in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The PIAA Board of Directors meeting took place on Wednesday, September 18 in Mechanicsburg, PA, where girls’ flag football was reviewed and approved on the third and final reading to be designated as a state sanctioned sport.

A sport is considered for sanctioning when it has adopted a set of operational and safety standards set forward by a governing body. When these standards and best practices are fully implemented within the overall framework of a program, events create a more positive and structured experience for participants. In the case of girls’ flag football in Pennsylvania, it was required that there be at least 100 participating teams across the state. That threshold was achieved in April with 65 schools from the eastern side of the state (Philadelphia Eagles) and 36 from the western side (Pittsburgh Steelers).

“We’re thrilled that we can offer another opportunity for girls to participate in interscholastic athletics,” said Frank Majikes, PIAA President. “This is the second girls’ sport in two years to be approved. In recognizing the National Federation of High School Associations (NFHS), we will be initiating development of a girls’ flag football rules book in January 2025. This will allow us to develop our process to host a championship. The structural changes to the sport won’t begin until the 2025-26 school year. The PIAA thanks the National Football League, Eagles, and Steelers for their support and efforts for girls’ flag football.”

As part of a collaborative approach to get girls’ flag football sanctioned, the Eagles and Steelers worked in tandem over the past three flag seasons to grow the game at the youth level for girls through education, engagement, distribution of equipment, and resources. In July 2023, the PIAA designated girls’ flag football as an emerging sport in Pennsylvania thanks to the efforts of both clubs. This designation served as the next step in the process of getting girls’ flag football sanctioned and ultimately becoming an official sport in PA.

This is pretty cool. The Eagles and Steelers spearheaded the campaign. They started in the Spring of 2022 with 16 schools from the Philadelphia region, and the Birds say their league now has more than 1,600 girls participating. The Steelers did the same thing with six schools, which grew to 17 schools and 22 teams a year later.

What’s important now is that these girls run the damn ball. No throwing to the running back on 3rd and 3 in the red zone. And no prevent defense. Figure out the pass rush. Once we get girls’ flag football at Boyertown, we’re gonna dominate the PAC-10. We’re gonna shove the ball down Spring-Ford throats. And we’re gonna go up to Wilson in the non-conference and kick their asses. My daughters will be playing girls’ flag football, if God wills it. And maybe the NFL will too, if they keep limiting what defensive players can do.