3C2A Announces Addition of Flag Football

Sacramento, Calif. - The 3C2A is proud to announce the addition of women's flag football to its sports offerings, beginning as an emerging sport during the 2026-27 academic year, released Tuesday.

Women's flag football will be recognized as an emerging sport for up to its first four years, allowing for member institutions to grow their athletic departments and the foundation to be laid as the sport continues to grow. Once flag football has 10 or more varsity programs for two consecutive years, it can be elevated to championship status in the following year. The initiative was led by the 3C2A Gender Equity Committee, who reviews and moves forward emerging sports for consideration by the board for adoption.

"Women's flag football is experiencing high interest everywhere, but especially at the collegiate level," 3C2A Executive Director Jennifer Cardone said. "As we continue to provide opportunities for our student-athletes, we're excited to create another avenue specifically for female student-athletes and continue to work with our member institutions to help grow the sport, while building a solid framework for success."

Flag football has been rapidly growing at the collegiate level as well as in high schools. The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) reported nearly 20,000 female student-athletes participated this past season, nearly doubling the participation from its first year, and making it the eighth most popular sport for girls statewide. And the number of schools offering the sport also nearly doubled to 697.

Many 3C2A institutions are already offering flag football as a club sport. In the Orange Empire Conference, Irvine Valley captured the first championship in May and finished ranked No. 4 in the country, No. 2 in California. Nine 3C2A programs were on the JCGridiron.com Top 20 list at the end of the season with Ventura ranked No. 3 overall. Three additional programs fell just outside the Top 20. Other publications such as womenscollegeflagfootball.com (WCFFB) have also recognized 3C2A programs and ranked teams in its Top 25.

"The addition of women's flag football as a 3C2A emerging sport expands meaningful athletic participation opportunities for women," Santa Ana College Associate Dean of Athletics and 3C2A Gender Equity Chair Mary Hegarty said. "This initiative reflects the sport's rapid growth and creates exciting new pathways for scholarships and advancement at the four-year level. The impact of sport for women extends far beyond the field - research shows that 94 percent of women in C-suite leadership positions played sports with more than half competing at the collegiate level. By investing in opportunities like women's flag football, we are not only supporting athletic participation today but also helping develop the next generation of leaders.

Hegarty added, "Thank you to Irvine Valley Dean/Athletic Director Keith Shackleford for spearheading this effort for the 3C2A Gender Equity Committee and for his leadership in expanding opportunities for female student-athletes."