Georgia at a glance
| Governing body | Georgia High School Association (GHSA) |
|---|---|
| Girls flag football | Sanctioned (source) |
| Headgear | Headgear required: Virginia Tech 5-star rated soft-shell headgear or protective headband |
| Takes effect | fall 2026 season |
| Youth concussion law | Return to Play Act of 2013, O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.1 |
Does Georgia require flag football headgear?
Every player in GHSA-sanctioned girls flag football must wear soft-shell headgear or a protective headband with a Virginia Tech Helmet Lab 5-star rating. A 4-star product does not qualify. The GHSA constitution also requires coverage of the forehead, temples and back of the head, a fit that follows the maker's instructions, and a maker with at least $5 million in product liability insurance whose product is sold through several retail or team channels. GHSA names no brands and publishes no approved list. The GHSA State Executive Committee approved the requirement 64-0 on April 13, 2026, a year after the Board of Trustees voted to recommend 5-star headgear.
GHSA's September 24, 2026 weekly bulletin says a team that arrives without the required headgear forfeits.
The GHSA has sanctioned girls flag football as a championship sport since 2020, after pilots in 2018 and 2019, and holds its finals in December.
What this means for Georgia leagues
- High school teams need every player in Virginia Tech 5-star rated soft-shell headgear or protective headband before the first game. Put the requirement on your equipment checklist and your registration form.
- Follow Georgia's youth concussion law: Return to Play Act of 2013, O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.1. Read the official text for who it covers and what it requires.
- Build your protocol from the youth flag football concussion protocol guide, and train coaches with CDC HEADS UP.
What this means for Georgia parents
- If your daughter plays high school flag football in Georgia, she needs Virginia Tech 5-star rated soft-shell headgear or protective headband. Check the model against the Virginia Tech headgear ratings before you buy.
- No headgear prevents concussions. Learn what to do from the CDC HEADS UP page on responding to a concussion, and talk to your child's doctor about any head injury.
- See girls high school flag football teams in Georgia, or find a flag football league in Georgia.
Sources
- Georgia High School Association, headgear requirement, checked November 5, 2026.
- GHSA Constitution, 2026-27 flag football section.
- GHSA State Executive Committee minutes, April 13, 2026.
- GHSA flag football weekly bulletin, September 24, 2026.
- Girls flag football status source. See every state on the girls high school flag football by state page.
- Return to Play Act of 2013, O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.1.
- CDC HEADS UP.