Newly sanctioned Girls' Flag Football likely not making way to East Tennessee just yet

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (WCYB) — On Tuesday, the TSSAA Legislative Council met in its final session to approve several pieces on the agenda ahead of the 2024-25 sports calendar year.

The meeting concluded with several changes from changes in the calendar, to sanctioned sports.

And one of those sanctioned sports happens to be Girls' Flag Football. After approving the new language regarding 'emerging sports,' Girls’ Flag Football was approved as a sanctioned emerging sport for 2024-25.

"Out of the over 400 TSSAA member schools, you have to have a certain number - around 60 schools - that would tell us that they will be filling a team," said Science Hill Athletic Director and Vice President of the TSSAA Legislative Council, Keith Turner. "That would be the low-requirement in order to sanction that sport. That's what happened with flag football."

According to Turner, most of the Girls' Flag Football commitment came from the Middle Tennessee area where there is a large support from the Tennessee Titans.

As for East Tennessee, at least in 2024-25, it may be on the shelf for later down the road.

"As far as this end of the state, I'm not aware of any teams or schools that have a it, but that doesn't mean that won't happen," added Turner. "I'm sure that conversation will start soon."

On a more understanding of what it means to be an 'emerging sport,' this is the direct explanation from the TSSAA:

"A sanctioned emerging sport will be treated the same as all other TSSAA sanctioned sports, except that at state championship will not be offered. Instead, TSSAA will work to classify participating schools into districts, regions, and/or sections for a postseason invitational. All emerging sports, regardless of initial participation numbers, must go through a one-year trial period before a state championship will be added."