Firsts for Flag Football
In Feb. 2023, California officially added flag football, a variation of American football, as a sanctioned high school sport. One of the standout aspects of flag football at the high school level is that girls are allowed to participate, as opposed to regular football, which has different rules. Each team consists of seven players: five players playing offense or defense, one quarterback and one center. Players wear flags around their waists, and the defensive team is tasked with removing their opponent’s flags, rather than tackling them to the ground. The game runs at a faster pace, with two 20-minute halves and a smaller playing field, only 50 yards long and 40 yards wide. With many schools in the Bay League already having a girls’ flag football team, Peninsula appointed head coach Patrick Daley and assistant coach Brian Helmich, and began recruiting players to form their own team. In May 2023, the sport was first introduced to the school and the first tryout for the girls’ flag football team was held, followed by a second tryout in August. Before trying out, potential players were familiarized with the basics of flag football and were then tested on their catching and throwing ability, speed, agility and overall knowledge of the game. After careful consideration, 19 players were selected to be a part of the first varsity girls’ flag football team at Peninsula. Senior Rylee Izumo expresses how excited she is to be playing a new sport and what she is looking forward to in the season.
“Growing up, I always used to watch ‘Bella and the Bulldogs’,” Izumo said. “The idea of a girl playing a sport [stereotypically for guys] drove me to try out for the team as this is a really great opportunity for girls to showcase their skills in football. We are the first team playing this sport at Peninsula, so there are no expectations on how we should perform. We are just looking to create a memorable experience.”
The team has been practicing five times a week since the season started, Monday through Friday. Although the team practices consistently, the girls are still facing conflicts, as they are unable to compete against non-league teams to gain playing experience, due to budget limitations. As a newly-formed sport, the team is encouraging students to donate money to pay for buses, uniforms and new equipment to train with. Regardless of the ongoing budget issue, during practices, the team works on different areas within the game, such as offense and defense formations, minimizing penalties, lining up in the formation and understanding each position’s role. In addition, the team focuses on conditioning by running laps to improve their stamina in games. Players who are multi-sport athletes have proven to be an asset to the team, bringing in various athletic skills they have picked up in their other sports. Helmrich believes the players possess important characteristics which are going to lead the team to success.
“The girls bring a lot of energy at every practice,” Helmrich said. “As coaches, we see their desire to learn and set high goals for themselves to perform well. They are willing to hear new suggestions from us and learn from their opponents, which is going to be a huge aid in constructing a successful season.”
The girls’ flag football team competed in their first official scrimmage against Mira Costa High School, which was an important learning experience for the team, as they were able to cooperate and execute the plays they practiced. In addition, they were able to grasp the rule technicalities and how referees make calls throughout the game. For their first official preseason game on Sept. 14, the Peninsula girls’ flag football team defeated the Torrance High School girls’ flag football team 7-0. Many boys football players and students came out to show their support, subsequently raising the morale of the team. Eventually, the coaches hope to expand the sport by starting a junior varsity girls’ flag football team for more girls to compete in the sport. To senior Natalie Ponce, this win was incredibly meaningful, as it started the season on a high note.
“I love the atmosphere on our team,” Ponce said. “We are all growing and learning the drills and plays together. Our team is like a family, which makes it so enjoyable to be a part of. Our goal is to make sure all of our hard work pays off by winning and dominating the league.”
