Excitement builds in Orange County for first season of CIF-approved girls flag football

Preparations are under way throughout Orange County for the first season of CIF-approved girls 7-on-7 flag football season.

A number of programs had been competing in the girls flag football when it was a club sport.

Now, those programs will be able to compete in a sport which has been added to the list of CIF-approved sports for the fall 2023 season.

Games can begin as early as Friday, Aug. 18. Teams are allowed up to 28 games during the season, which will conclude on Saturday, Oct. 28.

It appears that many of the games in Orange County will be played on Monday and Wednesday afternoons with others, which will include tournaments, held on Saturdays.

Games will include two 20-minute halves with a running clock, except for the last two minutes of each half.

As of Friday, representatives from about 100 of the 565 schools in the CIF Southern Section had indicated they would be fielding teams, according to Thom Simmons, assistant commissioner of the CIF.

CIF by-laws state that playoffs will not be held if there is less than 20 percent of schools fielding a team. The sport had not reached the 20 percent mark by the deadline for the inaugural season.

However, CIF Commissioner Rob Wigod indicated in the spring that he believes by the end of the first CIF season, there will be enough schools participating in flag football to have CIF playoffs in 2024.

Wigod added there will a season-ending tournament or tournaments this season.

Athletic directors in Orange County who were reached by OC Sports Zone indicated that plans are well under way for the season.

“All five Irvine teams will participate in girls flag football along with Laguna Hills to make a six-team Pacific Coast League,” said Mark Cunningham, Irvine Unified School District Athletic Director. “The plan is for a double round. Everyone is excited. (We’re) grateful to IUSD for their support in providing funds to make this a great experience for our girls.”

Portola Athletic Director Peter Abe, also the boys football coach, said excitement is building.

“Leagues will likely all play on different days and times, but the Pacific Coast League will play girls flag football on Mondays and Wednesday, varsity at 3:30 p.m. and JV to follow,” said Abe, who will be the league’s liaison with the CIF.

“Some schools will take either their Monday or Wednesday game and pair it with the tackle football game on Friday night in kind of a double-header situation to increase exposure.  There are also a couple quality mid-season tournaments in there as well on Saturdays that will continue to grow the sport. Exciting times for sure.

 “With no CIF playoffs (at least for now), our league will have an end-of-season carousel tournament to identify our champion.  We assume the following year or two CIF-SS will begin section playoffs, as there is so much energy/buzz around the new sport right now. I haven’t heard too many OC schools not fielding at least one level of girls flag football.  Looking forward to the action around the county this coming season.”

Among the teams competing will be University, coached by Justin Schulman. The Trojans will have tryouts next week. University captured the inaugural Matt Leinart title when flag football was a club sport.

Laguna Hills High School’s girls flag football team will be coached by Patrick Pollack.

Godinez High School will be fielding one level, varsity, for flag football, according to Bill Snyder, athletic director.

“We have 18 ladies in the program now which is being led by Godinez grad Alyssa Garcia-Saucedo,” Snyder said. “Finding fields are a challenge here as we have a joint use agreement with the city to use our facilities and the adjoining city facilities. Rental costs are significant and increasing.

“Our coaches felt it easier to start with one level as our school and athletic department adapt to the addition.  The newness and unknown of the sport with our student population will make our school build from the ground up.”

Snyder said that Godinez will compete in the Golden West League. League play will begin on Monday, Sept. 18.

“For example, the plan is to have all six league teams go to Westminster High School on Sept. 18,” Snyder said. “We play Segerstrom and the other four teams pair off and play.”

Godinez will host the games on Monday, Oct. 2 at Centennial Park, which is adjacent to Godinez.

Segerstrom will field varsity and junior varsity teams, according to Athletic Director Nick Canzone. The coach will be Erica Zamora.

Santa Ana High School Athletic Director Brian Lillie said the school will not be fielding girls flag football this season.

Crean Lutheran High School will field a varsity and JV team led by Coach Mike Shumaker, according to Crean Lutheran Athletic Director Eric Olson. Crean Lutheran has participated in the Matt Leinart League in previous years.

In addition, all six high schools in the Huntington Beach Unified School District: Edison, Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Marina, Ocean View and Westminster will field flag football teams, according to Kayla Holmes, public information officer with the district.

Orange High School will also field girls flag football, according to Athletic Director Alicia Seevers.

“We will be crossing into the Golden West for league play,” Seevers said. “Our head coach is Whitney Foster.”

Cypress High School is also fielding JV and varsity teams, according to Athletic Director Mark Slevcove. Cypress alum Danny Kruger will be the head coach.

GENERAL RULES

(Established by the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association and modified by the State CIF).

—A team consists of at least seven players and must have a minimum of five players to play a game.

—Games consist of two, 20-minute halves with a running clock until the last two minutes of each half.

—The width of the fields are 30 yards minimum to 40 yards maximum, the length is 50 yards minimum to 80 yards maximum plus two end zones (10 yards each). As a safety measure, no-run zones are located five yards from each end zone and five yards from each line-to-gain.

—All players must be wearing a flag before the ball becomes live. Failure to properly wear required player equipment when the ball is about to become live results a delay of game penalty.

—The football must be a size seven, youth or intermediate size football.

—Touchdowns are six points and there are no point after kicks. Successful conversions from five yards are one point and from five yards, two points.

—There is a 25-second play clock.

—No blocking or moving screens are allowed at any time on offense or defense.

—There will be no kick-offs. Teams will take possession of the football on their 20-yard line and10-yard line for 50 yard fields.

—Overtimes will be held if the game is tied after regulation and a mercy rule will be used when a team is 21-points ahead in the second half.

—All jerseys must have numbers on front and back; six inches in height on the front and eight inches in height on the back.

(For the complete rules, go to the CIF website, girls football and league rules).

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com