Apr. 19—Handoffs, forward passes, crossing routes and reverses are taking place as usual at Welcome Stadium.
Whatever you are used to seeing on a football field still occurred Thursday, April 9, as a triple header of girls games were held — just with fewer players on the gridiron and no contact taking place.
Girls flag football is still football and it's growing in numbers.
This is the first year the Ohio High School Athletic Association is sanctioning girls flag football and will conduct a state championship tournament. Ohio is the 17th state to sanction the sport.
Flag football first came to Ohio in 2021 with several schools in the Cleveland area organizing teams. The number of teams has quadrupled to 80 across the state over the past three years, according to the OHSAA.
Both of Ohio's professional teams, the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals, have played parts by helping organize teams and holding camps and events.
"I believe that with this OHSAA-sanctioned change, the excitement has grown," DPS Athletic Director Victoria Jones said. "We are continuously learning the rules together, while adjusting to the officials and competing. It's nice to have another option for girls as we approach equity and inclusion. Overall, this experience is supported by our district and community, and we look forward to continued development and growth."
Badin was one of 20 schools in Southwest Ohio to field a team and won the inaugural girls flag football state tournament in 2025 conducted by the Ohio High School Football Coaches Association.
This is the third year for Dayton schools, with all six Dayton Public Schools — Belmont, Dunbar, Meadowdale, Ponitz, Stivers and Thurgood Marshall — creating teams and holding a league championship in late April.
It's also the second year that DPS middle schools also are fielding teams.
"I am excited that Doug Ute and the OHSAA have sanctioned this as a sport," Jones said. "Especially since girls can now receive scholarships to participate. This is definitely a win for female sports, and we are proud to support this new initiative. In addition, we are excited to partner with the Bengals, and our teams look forward to participating in the tournament and playing on their field."
Ponitz has won the league twice and have not lost either of its first two league games this season. Their first year they lost only once and then proceeded to go undefeated last season.
"We have some new players here this year that have a lot of talent, and they're growing," Ponitz head coach Calvin Hunt said. "What I see now is a good chance for us to go to the playoffs and make a nice playoff run."
The opportunities beyond high school participating in the sport are also beginning to expand.
Wilberforce University is the latest college to announce it will begin a flag football program {span style="text-decoration: underline"}starting in 2027{/span}. Wittenberg University also has a flag football team.
Dunbar's Aunesty Ramey gets off a pass as Belmont's Emmerance Malike rushes in during a girls flag football game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Welcome Stadium. STEVEN WRIGHT / STAFF
Donisha Davis of Dunbar leaps for a catch in the back of the endzone during a girls flag football game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Welcome Stadium. STEVEN WRIGHT / STAFF
Belmont's Julianna Robinson-Young takes a handoff from Lillian Rup during a girls flag football game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Welcome Stadium. STEVEN WRIGHT / STAFF
Dunbar's Ava Howard chases down Belmont's Julianna Robinson-Young near the sideline during a girls flag football game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Welcome Stadium. STEVEN WRIGHT / STAFF
Belmont's Jha'kinah Crockett holds up the flag taken from Dunbar's Mariyah Miller as she attempted to bring the ball up the field during a girls flag football game Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Welcome Stadium. STEVEN WRIGHT / STAFF