Girls High School Flag in Southwest Ohio will have 41 participating schools for the 2026 Spring Season, increasing from 20 in 2025.
The Bengals are hosting two events for participating schools before the season officially kicks off on Feb. 23. First, they will host a coaches' clinic on Feb. 17, followed by a skills clinic for athletes on Feb. 21. Ahead of the events, the team has partnered with Coaches Tool Chest to promote athlete safety and coaching resources related to emergency response and mental health, as well as with RefReps to help educate and train more officials in Southwest Ohio.
Games begin in late March, and all schools are required to play at least 10 games to be eligible for championships. The Bengals will also host the Regional Championship on May 11, and, in partnership with the Cleveland Browns and the OHSAA, will host the Sanctioned State Championship at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on May 16.
"The Bengals are excited to provide more opportunities for women in football through the fast-growing sport of flag football," Bengals Director of Community Engagement Taylor Conklin said. "We are focused on developing the next generation of athletes and helping them prepare for more opportunities after high school, including college and beyond. We're proud to give more girls the opportunity to be part of a team, improve their physical and mental health, and develop skills that will carry over into their adult lives."
Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country: It is a sanctioned varsity sport in 17 states, with Ohio becoming the latest state to sanction it last summer. The sport will also make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.