The Dads Defending Daughters Act establishes regulations for the designation of athletic teams and sports in public institutions of higher education and public school entities in Pennsylvania. Under this act, all interscholastic, intercollegiate, intramural, or club athletic teams must be explicitly categorized as male, female, or coed based on the sex of the participants. The act prohibits female-designated teams from being open to students of the male sex and ensures that students retain the right to participate in teams designated for their sex or in coed teams. Additionally, it protects educational institutions from complaints or investigations related to maintaining separate teams for females.

The act also creates legal avenues for students who experience harm due to violations of these designations. Students deprived of athletic opportunities or facing retaliation for reporting violations can seek injunctive relief, damages, and other legal remedies against the offending institution or organization. Schools that suffer harm from violations of the act's provisions can also pursue legal action. The act includes a two-year limitation for bringing civil actions and contains a severability clause to ensure that if any part is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be enforceable.