News Release – Ohio High School Athletic Association
Executive Director Doug Ute
For Immediate Release – July 14, 2025
National Flag Football Event This Weekend in Canton to Welcome Ohio Student-Athletes and OHSAA Staff
Willoughby South among teams competing; OHSAA press conference scheduled for Thursday at 3:15
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton and the surrounding Hall of Fame Village complex will host the second annual NFL Flag Championships presented by Toyota this weekend. The Ohio High School Athletic Association will have staff in attendance and will participate in a press conference on Thursday at 3:15 p.m. with representatives from the NFL, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
The press conference on Thursday will follow the girls flag football skills showcase, which begins at 1 p.m. and will feature a number of Ohio student-athletes. Willoughby South High School, which was the state runner-up to Hamilton Badin at the inaugural girls flag football state tournament in May, will participate in the girls high school team division.
Girls flag football is not currently one of the OHSAA’s 28 sanctioned sports. Three years ago, there were 20 schools in Ohio that had a team. There are currently 80 high schools in Ohio that have a team and that number is expected to continue to grow. In 2024, the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association added girls flag football to its membership and representation.
Flag football will be included as a new sport in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“We have seen the growth of girls flag football in Ohio and across the country over the last several years and are excited that so many young ladies have taken up this sport,” said Doug Ute, OHSAA Executive Director. “Our staff has been involved in many conversations about flag football and we look forward to being there this weekend in Canton. The Pro Football Hall of Fame does a great job hosting our football state championships in December and there’s no doubt they will do the same for this event.”
ESPN, ABC, Disney and the NFL will provide coverage, spanning 33 hours from Friday through Sunday. ESPN will showcase 15 games from the girls high school division, including the national championship game on Sunday.
The NFL Flag Championships presented by Toyota is the world's premiere youth flag football tournament, held at ForeverLawn Park by Unrivaled Sports at the Hall of Fame Village in Canton. The Championships, operated by RCX Sports, will feature approximately 300 NFL FLAG regional winning teams of girls and boys participating across 12 divisions, including eight international teams.
“We are thrilled to bring the NFL Flag Championships presented by Toyota back to Canton for the second consecutive year,” said Stephanie Kwok, NFL vice president, head of Flag Football. “The Championships are a strong showcase for the growth of flag football at the grassroots level across the country and around the world. Flag is inclusive and accessible for all, and we are excited to see the competition across all age groups at the 2025 NFL Flag Championships.”
Helpful Links for the NFL Flag Football Championships in Canton
Hamilton Badin Wins Inaugural State Championship
In May, eight Ohio high schools traveled to Paul Brown Tiger Stadium in Massillon for the inaugural girls flag football state tournament. Hamilton Badin defeated Willoughby South 40-16 to win the state championship.
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