FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Establishing a new tradition, the Atlanta Falcons will host the inaugural Atlanta Falcons Girls Flag Football Week beginning Feb. 15. The weeklong celebration will bring the state's top high school girls flag football athletes to IBM Performance Field in Flowery Branch for competition, training and recognition of the sport's explosive growth across Georgia.
The week culminates with the 2026 GACA Girls Flag Football All-Star Game on Saturday, Feb. 21, where approximately 60 players – selected by the Georgia Athletic Coaches Association – will compete in a four-team tournament at the Falcons indoor facility. A Girls Flag Football Clinic on Feb. 17 will give nearly 300 registered players specialized training and direct access to Falcons Legends and local coaches in the sport. Both events are presented by Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
Before taking the field, All-Star athletes will hear from Diana Flores, Two-Time World Champion Quarterback of Mexico's national flag football team, NFL Global Ambassador and one of flag football's most prominent advocates worldwide.
"The Falcons have been committed to growing girls flag football in Georgia for years, and this week is a chance to celebrate the athletes and the momentum behind the sport," said Amanda Dinkel, Senior Director of Community Relations for the Atlanta Falcons. "We're excited to host these events at our facility and continue shining a light on the opportunities being created for girls across the state."
Atlanta Falcons Girls Flag Football Week highlights a period of remarkable expansion for the sport in Georgia. With the support of the Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation (AMBFF), in partnership with the Falcons, girls flag football began as a pilot program at Gwinnett County's 19 high schools in 2018. Less than a decade later, 307 Georgia high schools offered girls flag football as a varsity sport in 2025, and approximately 8,500 girls are expected to compete across the state in the upcoming fall season.
This spring, every accredited Georgia high school is eligible to receive grant funding from AMBFF, in partnership with the Falcons to establish a girls flag football program or support their existing program for the 2026 season. Last year, nearly $2 million in grant funding from AMBFF was distributed to more than 300 Georgia high schools.
Girls Flag Football Week aligns with another major milestone, as today the Georgia High School Association (GHSA) announced the girls flag football state championships at Mercedes-Benz Stadium will now have their own standalone championship day, reflecting the sport's elevated status and expanding fanbase.
"Children's Healthcare of Atlanta is proud to continue empowering young female athletes and making experiences like this possible," said Linda Matzigkeit, Chief Administrative Officer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. "Young women in our state deserve great equipment and support from the top athletic trainers at Children's, which reflects our commitment to these All-Stars and teen athletes statewide. We're excited to be part of a week that continues to elevate girls flag football in Georgia."
As part of the week's broader awareness efforts, the Falcons will feature girls flag football milestones and statistics on billboards throughout Metro Atlanta, helping shine a spotlight on the sport and the young athletes driving its success.
