Girls' flag football moved a step closer to becoming an official Texas high school sport Oct. 19, and League City's three 6A programs could be in the mix when play begins.

The University Interscholastic League (UIL) legislative council voted that Monday to approve a girls' flag football pilot program set to launch no earlier than the 2028-29 school year, as first reported by ABC13. The pilot would include no more than two classifications and likely target Class 5A and 6A schools, according to Fox 26 Houston. Clear Springs, Clear Creek and Clear Falls all compete in Class 6A.

The proposal still needs approval from the Texas Commissioner of Education.

None of the three League City schools appear on the Houston Texans' She's Next participant list, which tracks the 96 Houston-area schools in the Texans-funded flag football program. Whether Clear Creek ISD has explored joining or plans to field teams for the pilot has not been publicly announced.

Funding is the big question

The Houston Texans launched their girls' flag football initiative in 2023 and have expanded it to more than 150 area schools, according to Fox 26. The Texans and Dallas Cowboys hosted their first girls' flag football state championship in June at the University of North Texas, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

But the Texans' funding model raises a sustainability question for districts considering the pilot.

"There's a lot of costs associated with it when you talk about teams and uniforms and officials and putting the games, something that we haven't experienced before because the Texans have been funding and sponsoring us," Pasadena ISD athletic director Patrick Longstreet told ABC13.

School districts will choose whether to participate, and costs for equipment and travel will fall on them, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported.

Season, format still undecided

The UIL has not determined when during the school year flag football would be played. UIL executive director Jamey Harrison said staff would evaluate all options, according to the Houston Chronicle. Harrison said he has heard suggestions for fall, early spring and late spring seasons.

That scheduling question matters for League City schools. A fall season would overlap with tackle football and volleyball. A spring slot would compete with soccer, softball and track.

UIL staff will present a full implementation plan at the June 2027 legislative council meeting, the Chronicle reported. The program would include a state championship in each conference, with district or regional qualifying events.

Growing momentum

A UIL survey of Texas superintendents found 52% of Class 5A and 6A respondents favor sanctioning girls' flag football, and 165 schools said they already offer the sport. Nationally, 25 states are expected to have sanctioned the sport by fall 2027. Flag football will also make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Hannah McNair, vice president of the Houston Texans Foundation, said in a statement that she was disappointed full sanctioning would be delayed another three years, according to Fox 26.

The UIL's next scheduled update on the pilot is the June 2027 legislative council meeting.