The decision to officially recognize girls flag football as a sport for high school girls in Colorado was made by the Colorado High School Activities Association (CHSAA) after a successful two-year pilot program. This makes Colorado the 11th state in the country to do so, and it will become the 18th CHSAA-sanctioned sport for girls in the state and the 33rd sport overall. Larry Bull, Director of Athletics and Activities for Cherry Creek School District, expressed excitement about the decision, noting that the first year of the pilot program was a huge success.
Cherry Creek was one of three school districts in Colorado to offer girls flag football as a pilot program in 2022, alongside Denver Public Schools and Jefferson County Public Schools. The initiative experienced significant growth in participation and popularity during the pilot seasons, leading to its official recognition as a sport. Athletic directors across all three districts hailed it as a resounding success, with participation growing by 161 percent in the past year.
The Denver Broncos and Denver Broncos Foundation funded and managed the pilot seasons of girls flag football. Carrie Walton Penner, owner of Broncos Owner and founder of Denver Broncos Foundation Board Chair, called it a historic moment for Colorado and for girls in the state. She emphasized how empowering, inclusive, and teamwork that this sport provides creates a powerful sense of belonging and community for next generation leaders. The foundation plans to continue supporting girls flag football as it becomes part of fall sports lineup by offering coaching clinics and seasonal programming to promote participation and development within