Most women who want to play turn toward flag football, but tackle is gaining traction.
The latest: At the high school level, 17 states' athletic associations have sanctioned girls varsity flag championships, including Pennsylvania, and other states have pilot programs in play.
Independent collegiate leagues, including the NAIA and NJCAA, already have flag football.
In February, an NCAA committee recommended that Divisions I, II and III add flag football as an emerging women's sport.
Zoom in: The Philadelphia Eagles launched a girls' flag football league in 2022, and it has grown to more than 90 teams across Pennsylvania.
Reality check: Access to tackle football remains scarce for women, and many athletes who wind up in pro leagues come from sports such as basketball and track.