SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. – In an exciting development, the Bedford County Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the addition of Girls’ Flag Football at Shelbyville Central on Thursday.

Shelbyville principal Charlie Pope announced that SCHS plans to be on track to begin TSSAA varsity competition by the Spring of 2027. The sport was only recently sanctioned by the TSSAA Legislative committee with the first year of competition taking place in the spring of this year. The sport features a 7-on-7 format with 40 minutes of game time split up into two 20-minute halves. The complete official rulebook can be found on the TSSAA website.

“We want to play [in 2027], if given permission,” Pope said. 

Due to current TSSAA rules, Shelbyville Central must wait one year before joining varsity competition, so the school plans to begin junior varsity play during the upcoming spring semester. Due to the sport’s recent introduction, the 2025-26 school year will be the first season featuring a postseason tournament designed to crown an official champion. 

As far as some of the logistical questions surrounding the addition of a brand-new sport at the school, Pope says that the flag football program will utilize the new girls’ soccer locker rooms while in season. Other schools nearby that participate or plan to participate in the sport include Warren County, as well as a number of schools in both Rutherford and Williamson County. 

In total, 66 schools participated in the inaugural flag football campaign this past spring, and Shelbyville Central is planning to join the ever-growing number of schools by the spring of 2027.