Coming soon to high schools throughout Southern California and the rest of the state: girls flag football.
The sport, which has seen soaring popularity with girls athletes in recent years, got the final approval it needed Friday to become an official sport at California high schools.
The California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), the state’s athletic governing body, approved a proposal to sanction the sport by a vote of 146-0. That approval opened the door for the formation of teams, leagues and playoffs at every level — section, regional and state.
In the fall, the CIF Southern Section supported the proposal to add girls flag football as a sport, and local athletes, coaches and parents had waited anxiously since then for the final vote at the CIF State level.
Sa’Mir Braccey throws a pass as she tries out for the Redondo Union High School girls flag football team on Thursday, Sept. 1, 2022. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
So what happens next?
A lot of decisions need to be made and details have to be worked out. Flag football will be starting from scratch, without players, coaches, officials, a rule book, practice and game fields, etc.
CIF State officials said specific bylaws for girls flag football will be drawn up before the next CIF Council meeting in late April.
The CIF approved girls flag football as a fall sport that will begin next school year, 2023-24. But each section will choose when it will have its season, and that will be a contentious issue in the Southern Section.
School athletic directors have expressed concerns about field conflicts in the fall with tackle football, in the winter with soccer, and the spring with baseball, softball and lacrosse.
Related Articles
Signing Day: Calabasas football’s Domata Peko Jr. signs with Hawaii
National Signing Day: Recap of the high school football signings in December
National Signing Day updates: High school football players sign NLI
The 2022 All-CIF football team selections and award winners
All-City football: Peyton Waters, Dijon Stanley earn Player of the Year honors
But those issues and others can be worked out now that girls flag football has been given the green light.
The games will be seven on seven, with four 12-minute quarters and a running clock for most of the game. The field will be smaller than tackle football’s field dimensions, perhaps 70-80 yards long instead of 100.
There’s still a lot to learn, and figure out, about girls flag football, but probably the most important decision has been made — it’s part of the future for female high school athletes, no longer just a dream.