Flag football is booming. In Illinois, coaches say an IHSA change sends the wrong message

As high school girls' flag football is exploding in popularity nationally, Illinois coaches feel the sport is taking a hit locally.

The Illinois High School Association is modifying the 2026-27 flag football season to move up the state playoffs, which means one less week of the regular season. Illinois coaches are upset about the change, to say the least, for a sport that will be part of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"It is actually the shortest season of any sport season in the country, including golf, including tennis, including everything," Oak Park River Forest High School Jim Geovanes told USA TODAY Sports.

According to IHSA Associate Executive Director Tracie Henry, the length of the entire season is not being shortened. The regular season is shortened to accommodate growth in the sport's numbers and its playoffs.

Henry said the IHSA Flag Football Advisory Committee, which features several coaches from the state, made the recommendation.

"The advisory committee supported starting the state series one week earlier to preserve the philosophy that every girls' flag football team would have the opportunity to be in the postseason," Henry said. "So most coaches, including those on our committee, wanted more time for recovery and coaching preparation during the postseason.

"The only thing that's happening is the quarterfinal games are being played one week earlier."

When does IHSA flag football season start?

In 2025, the IHSA flag football season began on Aug. 11, with the first allowable game falling two weeks later on Aug. 25. The state playoffs began on Oct. 6-7.

Similarly, practices can begin on Aug. 10 in 2026 and the first games can be played on Aug. 24. The major shakeup comes with the state playoffs beginning one week earlier, on Sep. 29-Oct. 1.

"I would love for them to give us a week back, allowing us to play a week earlier," Taft High School coach Germaine Padilla said. "...It would allow us to spread our games a little more versus playing multiple weeks of having to play back-to-back-back nights."

According to Padilla, Taft was one of 20 schools to play in the pilot program for Illinois girls' flag football in 2021. Since the state sanctioned the sport in 2024, the sport has seen exponential growth, with close to 280 schools expected to participate in the 2026-27 season.

"It just keeps multiplying at a rate that I've never seen in 27 years of coaching here in Illinois," Padilla said. "Anytime there's been an intro to a new sport, it's always welcomed, but I just never see anything grow this fast."

Padilla added that he's heard from player's dad's that they bond over Chicago Bears games due the experience of playing flag football.

How many games can be played in IHSA flag football season?

Just as was the case last season, schools can schedule up to 25 games for their regular season. However, with one less week to play, schools have to figure out how to reach that quota while also working in practice schedules and time to recover.

"Our first day of the season as of today is Aug. 24," Geonaves said. "Our games need to be over by Oct. 1. And so when you take away Sundays and the Rosh Hashanah holiday, on which our Jewish population cannot play on Fridays or Saturdays, it is 25 games in 29 days."

The claim that the changes are made for the "health and safety" of the players is something that Illinois flag football coaches have a tough time buying.

More games in a shorter time could lead to more injuries, with less recovery time.

"You get a girl that gets a sprained ankle, they miss half the season," Padilla said. "If you get a high-ankle sprain, you're done for the season. I think we can do better."

How does the IHSA flag football season compare to its tackle football season?

While the girls' flag football season loses a week of its regular season, boys' tackle football is actually gaining a week. In 2025-26, the high school season began on Aug. 11 with first games allowed to be played on Aug. 28. The first round of the playoffs began on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

In 2026-27, the first football practices start on Aug. 5, with the first games being allowed to be played on Aug. 20. The playoffs also start one week earlier, beginning on Oct. 23-24.

"It's ironic because the boys are lengthening their (season) and they're expanding their playoffs," Niles West High School girls flag football coach Scott Baum said. "We have an opportunity to play 25 games, our max, but I think this year we have five weeks to play it with the changes they made."

"The girls that I've talked to, it doesn't make sense to them," Geonaves added. "There's nothing behind it. They're looking at it as a Title IX issue, as an equity issue. Why do the boys get his and the girls don't?"

Geonaves questioned if the schedule makes sense for a sport that is sanctioned by the IHSA.

"What is this, an intramural sport, or is it an IHSA sport? I'm hoping it's an IHSA sport," Geovanes said.

Shortened season impacts college recruiting

Women's flag football is likely headed toward championship status for the NCAA. The first official women’s flag football could come as soon as the spring of 2028.

That means many colleges around the nation are in the beginning stages of putting together rosters for teams in the future. With a shortened season, coaches are worried about the impact that could have on recruiting.

"Because of the schedule change, we'll play less games than we should," Baum said. "Now all these colleges are offering it. There's an opportunity for us to play at the next level. For us, we're going to have less games because we can't fit those in. So, it's taking away opportunities to showcase talents."