FLAG FOOTBALL

GENERAL INFORMATION

1. Girls’ Flag Football is a state championship event organized on an Area basis in five (5) divisions with eight (8) areas in each division, playing during the late Fall each year. Schools must indicate their desire to play Flag Football on the “Intent to Participate” by March 1 each year. NOTE: Classification and georgraphic location are factors used to create playing area and division placement.
2. The maximum number of games allowed (not including the State Tournament) shall be 20 at the varsity level and 14 at the sub-varsity level.
   
   1. Host schools shall schedule a minimum of two (2) games each playing date.
   2. Teams shall not play more than (2) games each playing date.
   3. Varsity level teams are allowed to play (1) scrimmage/jamboree play date after the first official practice date, and prior to the first regular season game of either participating school.
   4. Beginning and ending dates are listed on the GHSA Calendar and in the front of this publication.
   5. Try-outs may be held on five (5) days anytime after May 1 and prior to the final day of school attendance with the following restrictions:
      
      1. The five (5) days are not required to be consecutive and schools may use a non-school facility.
      2. Limited to current enrolled students maintaining athletics eligibility for the subsequent school year (grades 9-11), and current year 8th graders (rising 9th graders).
      3. The 5th and final day of the tryout period may be used as an official jamboree event with a minimum of three (3) schools participating.
3. Schools must enter team schedules, rosters and weekly game/meet results during the season on MaxPreps and be responsible for updates as needed. This information will support statewide media, event programs, broadcasts partners and GHSA Region Standings. Teams are encouraged to maintain team/individual statistics on MaxPreps.
4. PLAYING RULES – Official Girls Flag Football playing rules may be found on the GHSA web site.
5. HEADGEAR - All players are required to wear soft-shell protective headgear or headbands during GHSA-sanctioned flag football competition. Any such equipment must meet the following minimum standards:
   1. Safety Performance Standard - All headgear must:
      
      1. Be independently tested and verified by a recognized third-party laboratory; and
      2. Achieve a 5-Star Safety Rating as determined by the Virginia Tech Helmet Lab.
   2. Product Liability Insurance Requirement - All manufacturers of approved headgear must:
      
      1. Carry a minimum of $5,000,000 USD in active product liability insurance coverage; and
      2. Provide proof of such coverage upon request to GHSA.
   3. Commercial Availability & Accessibility - Approved headgear must:
      
      1. Be readily available for purchase at scale; and
      2. Be distributed through multiple recognized retail or team sales channels to ensure equitable access for all member schools.
   4. Non-Proprietary Language
      
      1. No specific brand name, trademark, or proprietary product shall be referenced or mandated within GHSA rules.
      2. All approved equipment shall be referred to generically as "soft-shell headgear" or "protective headband."
   5. Coverage & Fit - All headgear must:
      
      1. Provide full circumferential coverage of the head, including the forehead, temples, and occipital region; and
      2. Be properly fitted and secured according to manufacturer specifications.
6. STATE TOURNAMENT
   1. The (32) teams advancing to the State Tournament will be determined by the PSR System.
   2. In the first and second rounds, the higher seed in each of the four-team quadrants will host two games to be played on the same date.
   3. In the quarterfinal and semifinal rounds, the higher seed will host a single game. In the event of equal seeds matching up, a universal coin toss will determine the host school in each quadrant.
   4. The championship finals for each division will be played at a neutral site to be determined by the GHSA Executive Director.