Colts push girls high school flag football toward full IHSAA sanctioning, with 83 Indiana schools committed

The Indianapolis Colts’ offseason work to expand girls participation in football moved another step forward Tuesday, as the organization announced that 83 Indiana high schools have committed to field girls flag football teams in 2026. The goal is not simply more programs, but full sanctioning as a high school sport under the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA), a milestone that the Colts say requires participation from 100 schools.

Girls flag football currently sits in the IHSAA’s emerging-sport category, a designation the league uses for sports that are in the process of becoming fully sponsored statewide. The emerging label is tied to a minimum threshold of participation, and the Colts’ effort is designed to close the gap between early growth and full sanctioning. With 83 schools now participating or committed, the campaign’s next target is to add 17 more programs to reach the 100-school requirement.

The Colts’ Road to 100 initiative builds on a longer pipeline the team began earlier in the decade. According to the Colts, the organization launched a girls high school flag football league in 2023, starting with eight teams. That league grew to 27 teams in 2024, and reached 78 teams during the 2025 season, when the sport officially earned emerging-sport status under the IHSAA framework.

In Tuesday’s update, the Colts listed five additional schools joining the effort, extending participation across northern and southern Indiana. The newest additions named in the release include Lake Central, St. John (Marian), Mishawaka, Northview, and Brazil, bringing the total number of committed programs to 83. The update also frames the statewide spread as part of a broader effort to make it easier for more communities to form teams and sustain them year after year.

Part of the Colts’ strategy is addressing the practical barriers that come with starting a new program. The organization said startup costs for a girls flag football team typically range from $5,000 to $8,000, covering items such as equipment, uniforms, coaching stipends, and training. As part of Road to 100, the Colts reported that they will provide up to $10,000 per school for programs launching through the campaign, effectively shifting more of the initial burden away from individual schools.

The Road to 100 push is also tied to the staffing required for any new sport to thrive, including officials. The Colts said they offer free training for current and aspiring girls flag football officials, reflecting an understanding that competition needs consistent rules coverage, not just participating teams. With the next milestone a statewide sanctioning decision that hinges on reaching 100 school commitments, the primary storyline for the rest of 2026 is whether the final 17 slots can be filled without slowing program growth.