The University Interscholastic League approved the launch of a girls flag football pilot program set to begin in the 2028-29 school year, opening a new chapter for high school sports in Texas. The program will start with no more than two classifications, with details about the season’s timing and competition format still pending.
The decision came during the UIL’s annual fall meeting in Austin on Monday, following years of advocacy from the Houston Texans, Dallas Cowboys, and leaders across Texas school districts. The sport has gained traction nationally, with 25 states expected to sanction girls flag football by fall 2027.
The UIL legislative council authorized staff to develop rules and an implementation plan, which must be presented at the June 2027 meeting. The plan includes staging a state championship in each conference, supported by district and regional qualifying events.
A survey conducted in fall 2026 showed that 52% of superintendents from Class 5A and 6A schools favored sanctioning girls flag football. It also found that 165 schools already participate in the sport, signaling grassroots interest ahead of UIL’s formal adoption.
Executive director Jamey Harrison acknowledged multiple logistical challenges remain. He said the UIL team will consider the cost of adding a new sport, how competitions will be structured, and how the season fits within the existing calendar. Availability of officials, playing fields, and coaches were also discussed.
“We will consider all 12 months on the calendar,” Harrison said. “From the time we start the first day of volleyball practice in early August until the last pitch of the state softball tournament at the end of May, there is not a single day in between those two that there is not at least one team sport in process.”
Suggestions for the season’s timing varied, with some proposing a fall schedule and others early or late spring. Harrison said the UIL would work with affected groups to find the best fit.
The Houston Texans have played a significant role in promoting girls flag football. Since launching their program in 2023, 96 Houston-area schools have participated. Hannah McNair, the Texans’ chief community officer, highlighted that the Texans and Cowboys programs expect to reach more than 270 schools and nearly 6,000 athletes by 2027.
Currently, the UIL sanctions 13 sports. The most recent addition was boys and girls water polo, which started as a pilot in 2022 and gained full status in 2025.
Alongside the flag football pilot, the UIL also approved a mandated 35-second shot clock for basketball beginning in the 2028-29 season for Class 6A and 5A schools. The rule will be optional in 2027-28 before becoming mandatory the following year. Smaller classifications may adopt the shot clock in future years, with a tentative schedule extending to 2032-33.
The UIL has discussed shot clocks since 2016. Recent surveys by the UIL and Texas Association of Basketball Coaches helped build support, with advocates citing benefits to player development and college readiness. The National Federation of State High School Associations approved shot clocks in 2021 but left implementation to states.
The UIL will also expand home-field or home-court advantage for first-round playoffs to volleyball, basketball, soccer, and team tennis, as well as smaller classification football teams. Previously, only Class 6A and 5A football teams could earn home-field advantage based on district standings. This change will take effect in the 2027-28 school year.
According to Yahoo Sports.