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Fairfax County Public Schools is considering adding girls’ flag football to its athletic lineup, potentially bringing varsity competition to all 25 high schools at once.

Superintendent Michelle Reid told the Fairfax County School Board on March 13 that the division’s directors of student activities have discussed launching the sport during the 2025-2026 school year.

“We’ve been talking,” Reid said.

Reid noted that flag football players can earn college athletic scholarships and that the sport will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

Mason District board member Ricardy Anderson welcomed the possibility, saying the sport is “near and dear to my heart.” Anderson played flag football when she was younger.

If FCPS moves ahead, Reid indicated the varsity program would likely begin across the entire school division rather than at a limited number of campuses.

“When we start [new sports], it is as a school system, not a system of schools,” Reid said.

However, several high school directors of student activities said they had not received information about a launch date. They said flag football was also not discussed at a recent countywide meeting for activity directors.

One director suggested fall 2026 may be a more practical—and therefore more likely—starting point.

Madison High School Director of Student Activities John Kenny said games could be scheduled early in the week or on Saturday mornings to reduce conflicts with established sports.

FCPS is considering flag football after successfully introducing boys’ volleyball and girls’ wrestling. Reid said 440 students participated in the first boys’ volleyball season, while 239 joined girls’ wrestling.

Boys’ volleyball was played during the fall, and girls’ wrestling took place in the winter. Fairfax County athletes and teams earned district, regional and state honors in both sports.

“We’re thrilled with the success,” Reid said.

The school division also appears prepared to add junior varsity boys’ volleyball in the coming school year.

“We’ve made that step,” Reid said.