Flag Football (Girls) | 4/12/2023 8:21:00 AM

The following is an excerpt from The San Diego Union Tribune article, "Girls flag football will become a high school sport starting this fall. Here's everything you need to know."

Girls flag football is coming as a CIF-approved sport in the fall, and no one knows what to expect.

Will girls flock to a new game as they have done to sports across the board? Or will interest be lukewarm?

"Early indications are that there is a lot of interest," said Joe Heinz, San Diego Section commissioner. "We're not sure yet if that means 50, 60, 70 schools or more. But there is a lot of buzz."

During the 2021-22 school year, 25,316 San Diego-area girls participated in 10 sports: soccer, volleyball, track, softball, basketball, swimming, tennis, lacrosse, cross country and water polo. Soccer was the most popular sport, with 4,277 girls competing.

Participation in the the top 10 San Diego Section boys sports — football, soccer, track, baseball, basketball, volleyball, cross country, wrestling, lacrosse and swimming — was 34,089. Football was the most popular boys sport, with 7,858 boys participating.

Statewide in 2021-22, boys sports had 428,493 participants while the girls were at 325,113.

Wrestling, the newest girls sport, is growing fast, lending to the idea flag football will take off.

Here's what we know about the new sport:

• Girls flag football will be a fall sport, with seven players on each side.

• The CIF has given the sport 20 points with each point translating into a contest.

• It figures to be a minimal-expense sport with no pads or helmets required. However, the costs for flags, cones, balls and uniforms could run as much as $3,000 per school.

• The season can begin as soon as Aug. 18, with the final contest set for Oct. 20.

• Games could be played as a lead-in to the boys varsity football games on Friday nights, much like a boys JV game. But Heinz said there is talk of Monday night doubleheaders and Saturday tournaments as well. With 20 games allowed, teams may play multiple games in a week. Games should take 60 minutes or less.

"There has been a lot of discussion on how flag football will impact the other girls sports if it takes off," Heinz said. "Field hockey is very popular in San Diego and is a fall sport. Will flag football take athletes from field hockey or lacrosse? There are questions about coaches, coaching stipends, game officials."

Field space may also be an issue.

Boys football — with varsity, JV and freshman levels — needs field time. At most schools, boys football makes accommodations for field hockey, generally giving up two days to the girls for practice and games.

So what would adding another fall sport do to field time?

"Interesting question," Heinz said.

Leagues and playoffs will be determined by the interest. CIF Southern Section officials said they will wait one season before holding playoffs. The State CIF will wait for interest from its 10 sections before determining sectional or state playoffs.

The CIF has already put out a 13-page packet with rules — dos and don'ts — for girls flag football.

Continue to The San Diego Union Tribune to continue reading.