BEAUFORT, S.C. — Beaufort County’s high schools are fielding a brand-new girls flag football league this fall, giving athletes a structured season ahead of the sport’s planned Olympic debut in 2028.
The Beaufort County School District built six teams, one for each of its high schools, after athletic director Carlos Cave pushed past informal powder-puff games toward a full league. A Carolina Panthers grant program supplied the seed money once the district applied, Cave said, calling the pitch an easy yes.
Interest ran so high that the district could have fielded more than six sides, and most schools used every jersey slot. Rosters play seven-on-seven without blocking, stop the play when a flag is pulled, and keep quarterbacks from running the ball themselves. Rushers must raise a hand, and no more than two may chase the passer.
The Panthers grant totaled $15,000 for equipment kits, Nike uniforms in school colors, extra gear, and protective guardian-halo headbands meant to cut down on head-to-head contact. Cave said he required the halos from day one because of the expected physical energy, and no concussions have been reported so far.
South Carolina has not yet sanctioned girls flag football as a varsity sport, though Cave expects that within about two years. Until then the league crowns a district champion, and that squad will represent Beaufort County at a Panthers-hosted tournament in Charlotte in November. The district serves every municipality in the county, from the city of Beaufort to Hilton Head Island and Bluffton.
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