WOODY JOHNSON: Making flag football official gives girls a chance to catch their futures

On May 4, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association made girls flag football the 35th sanctioned varsity sport in the state. The vote took a few minutes. The work behind it took 15 years.

Sanctioning girls flag football as a varsity sport makes opportunity official. Too — turning years of grassroots effort by parents, educators, coaches, students and us into lasting equity through stable funding, structured competition and a clear pathway for girls to advance.

Football...