WESTFIELD, Ind. (WISH) — Girls’ Flag Football is one step closer to becoming a sanctioned high school sport in the Hoosier State. The Indianapolis Colts announced Sunday its completion of the “Road to 100,” campaign, an effort to recruit 100 Indiana high school girls flag football tea ms and develop girls’ flag as a fully sanctioned Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) sport. The announcement was made on the final day of the 2026 NFL Flag Football Championships at Grand Park in Westfield. The Colts have led the charge to develop girls’ flag as a sanctioned sport in Indiana. It started in 2023 with just eight teams. The Colts have recruited 108 Indiana high school teams to date. As excitement surrounding flag football only continues to grow, Colts owner and Chief Brand Officer Kalen Jackson is excited to face the next hurdle. “This is not a flash in the pan moment.,” she said. “You know this is, we built it this way and we built it right. I think the IHSAA has always done an incredible job. Every state is different in terms of rules and I think although 100 was a big number to get to, I think that’s smart the way they do that because it creates stability and I think that that’s what we hope to see across the country, in the world that this isn’t going anywhere.” Brian Flinn, NFL Senior Vice President for Global Flag Football, shared just how critical sanctioned status is for the sport. “We want coaching institutions,” he said. “We want funding from institutions and the state. And if we want statistics, so that there are verifiable ways that colleges can come and recruit young women for scholarships they can play at the next level.” While the “Road to 100″may be over, the next chapter in high school girls flag football has only just begun. “We’re going to continue to promote, push, twist arms, beg, do whatever it takes to have more schools to offer an opportunity to play girls’ flag football in the state of Indiana,” IHSAA Commissioner Paul Neidig said. Right now, 40 states have high school girls flag football programs, about half of which are sanctioned. 15-year-old Ryleigh Ramm, who plays for the Omaha Jr. Stockmen, is excited about what today’s announcement means for girls flag football. “Very proud of this sport,” she said. “Happy that it is finally growing so more girls can move on higher up and there’ll be more competition.” The IHSAA may vote to officially sanction the sport as early as next May. ...read more read less