New group hosting inaugural free OC girls flag football clinic at Irvine Valley College

Girls flag football continues to grow in Orange County and more girls, including those who are part of Females for Football, are expected to compete this year. (Photo courtesy Females for Football).

Orange County girls interested in improving their skills in the growing sport of flag football are invited to sign up for a free clinic on Sunday, Aug. 25 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Irvine Valley College.

The clinic will be run by Females For Football, a newly-formed non-profit organization based in Irvine, according to Merrick and Niza Nguyen, who are co-founders.

The organization notes on its website that it is “Breaking barriers and scoring touchdowns.”

About 80 girls have signed up and 20 coaches have volunteered to help out. Organizers are hoping to have between 120 and 150 girls signed up. The clinic will be for girls 5 to 18 years of age.

“We started it in the beginning of 2024, I started coaching my daughter’s girls flag football team about a year and a half ago and it became a new-found passion of mine,” said Merrick Nguyen. “We’ve come to love flag football, so I wanted to be the best coach that I could. I went out and bought a book on how to coach girls, because I grew up with a brother and played football. That book helped a lot.

“I coached in the Matt Leinart Flag Football League and over the years we continued to get better and the girls have had tons of fun, we’ve won championships. I talked to my wife (Niza Nguyen) and she is the co-founder and she really likes flag football as well. I didn’t really see anything out there like what we’re trying to do.

“Our goal is to (get) as many girls as possible to at least try flag football and who knows where that will take them. Like most team sports, you learn a lot, you learn to work with other people and discipline and responsibility not only on the field but off the field and a lot of life skills they will be able to learn just by playing flag football, not to mention it’s a lot of fun to play.

“We wanted to be able to give back to the community and provide a safe, inclusive platform for all girls, especially for girls who are less fortunate and can’t afford to play in a league.”

The sport continues to grow. Last year girls flag football was a CIF sanctioned sport for the first time and this year, the number of teams has risen allowing the sport to have CIF playoffs for the first time.

Merrick added that women’s flag football will be a sport for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Irvine Valley College will also launch women’s flag football in the spring of 2025.

Nguyen said the clinic is the main priority for the organization.

“Maybe somewhere down the road where we partner with an organization that puts on tournaments … but at the moment we’re not in a league and have no plans to be in a league or putting on tournaments; we’re trying to provide as much resources and support and the goal is provide scholarships for girls to play at the next level,” Nguyen said.

“The sky is the limit, it’s going to continue to grow.”

One Orange County parent said she sees how the sport can have a positive influence on girls.

“From personal experience, my daughter Stella has gained so much,” said Cynthia Huynh, a board member for the organization. “We’re letting girls know, you can play and taking it one step further and having it translate to life skills and incorporate dealing with different personalities. I think a lot of girls can benefit with their self esteem and their confidence. Playing football, they got to go out there and be brave and show people what they have.

“She’s (her daughter) been playing with Merrick for a year and a half, and she loves it, all the girls on the team love it. They all look forward to practices, they don’t want to miss.”

Girls attending the clinic this month need to dress in athletic attire and bring cleats, Nguyen said.

“We will provide all of the equipment, the footballs and the flags and we will teach them how to throw and and catch and run essentially,” he said.

The organization is also looking for sponsors.

“Corporate sponsorship would really help to put on more events like this,” Huynh said.

Information about clinic sign-ups are available by going to the organization’s website.

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