Tennessee at a glance
| Governing body | Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA) |
|---|---|
| Girls flag football | Sanctioned (source) |
| Headgear | No headgear rule found |
| Youth concussion law | Tenn. Code Ann. 68-55-501 et seq. (enacted as Public Chapter 148, 2013) |
Does Tennessee require flag football headgear?
We found no statewide flag football headgear rule from the Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association as of November 5, 2026. That means we checked and found none, not that headgear is banned. Check the TSSAA website for the current season, and ask your league, which can set its own rule.
The TSSAA added girls flag football as an emerging sport in April 2024 and held its first state championships in spring 2026, in Class A and AA.
What this means for Tennessee leagues
- No statewide rule applies, so your league decides. If you require headgear, name a minimum rating, such as Virginia Tech 4 or 5 stars, and put it in your rulebook.
- Follow Tennessee's youth concussion law: Tenn. Code Ann. 68-55-501 et seq. (enacted as Public Chapter 148, 2013). 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 Tennessee parents
- Ask your league or school whether it requires headgear. If you buy it anyway, compare models in the Virginia Tech headgear ratings.
- 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 Tennessee, or find a flag football league in Tennessee.
Sources
- Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association, checked November 5, 2026.
- Girls flag football status source. See every state on the girls high school flag football by state page.
- Tenn. Code Ann. 68-55-501 et seq. (enacted as Public Chapter 148, 2013).
- CDC HEADS UP.