The Tennessee Titans and Hamilton County Schools are teaming up to launch an interscholastic girls flag football league in East Tennessee, expanding the program’s reach across the state. This development comes after successful seasons in Williamson County, Metro Nashville Public Schools, and Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools in Middle Tennessee.
The inaugural Hamilton County league kicks off this winter (October-December). Participating schools include Chattanooga School for the Liberal Arts (CSLA), Chattanooga Central High School, Brainerd High School, East Hamilton High School, East Ridge High School, The Howard School, Sale Creek High School, Signal Mountain High School, Soddy Daisy High School, Tyner Academy and Ooltewah High School.
The official schedule structure will be announced later.
“We couldn’t wait to partner with the Tennessee Titans to bring girls flag football to our East Tennessee athletes,” said Tim James, Athletics director for Hamilton County Schools. “So many talented young women play sports in our district, and this offers a new avenue to engage with football and further develop their athletic abilities. The Titans have already opened doors for girls in Middle Tennessee, and we are thankful to have the same opportunity here in Hamilton County.”
This initiative coincides with the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association’s (TSSAA) recent approval of girls flag football as a sanctioned high school varsity sport. The Titans, Hamilton County Schools, and the TSSAA will collaborate on areas like game officiating, championship planning, tournament formats, and rule interpretations, fostering a strong foundation for girls flag football’s growth in Tennessee.
NFL FLAG, a leader in expanding women’s flag football across the US, will also partner with the program, offering training and guidance.
The Titans have been instrumental in bringing girls flag football to Tennessee. In Spring 2022, they partnered with the Williamson County Sports Conference to establish the state’s first-ever league in that district’s schools. Similar partnerships followed in Metro Nashville and Clarksville-Montgomery County. These leagues are all continuing play in 2024.
The TSSAA’s decision to sanction girls flag football as an “emerging sport” reflects the growing popularity of the sport, with 15% of TSSAA members already participating or committed to doing so.
The Titans remain dedicated to supporting football at all levels. They provide engaging programs, unique experiences, and strategic support to programs across the state and region. Their focus areas include football development, non-traditional participation growth, coaching support for youth and high schools, flag football adoption, and utilizing Titans legends and players as ambassadors for the sport.
“Our goal is always to advance and promote the game of football, especially as it relates to offering young women a chance to directly engage with the sport,” said Josh Corey, Titans senior director of Cause Marketing. “When we launched girls flag football in 2022, we hoped this day would come. We are thrilled to expand this league to East Tennessee and look forward to seeing the impact continue to grow.” Aspiring female flag football players in Hamilton County can visit https://www.hcde.org/cms/one.aspx?pageId=173083370 to express their interest and receive updates as the winter season approaches.