Photo Courtesy of SheRocksSD
By Ashley Bueno Leon
Flag football has taken the field.
Once the redoubt of rural and low-income America, the lower-contact version of football is taking hold in urban high schools thanks to a new population of players – young women.
South County got a high-profile start thanks to a Super Bowl commercial filmed at Chula Vista High School. The NFL’s FLAG 50 program is an effort to expand its American fan base by luring in girls and young women.
Sweetwater Union High School District administrators have added flag football as an official district sport. Athletics Director Alex Estrada said the California Interscholastic Federation has given flag football its blessing.
“Once (the CIF vote) was official, we ran with it,” he said. “We were able to purchase uniforms and equipment. We are proud to say that every one of our high schools has a varsity and JV team.”
CVHS senior Jasmine Araujo joined her school’s flag football team and said she loves it.
“We did not get coaches until a month and a half after school started,” she said. “I’m very grateful we have three coaches. Our new coaches are going to get the word out about the team.”
Dr. Kenneth P. Gonzalez said his experience as a kicker for Brigham Young University inspired him to coach a flag football team for his daughter. He is now the coach of the Chula Vista Shockers of the She Rocks Flag Football League.
Team sports has many benefits for young people, said Gonzalez.
“I enjoy seeing the girls get better and (having fun),” he said. “The camaraderie they develop is really cool.”
Flag football can be a confidence builder, he said.
“(I saw) a player that didn’t really know how to play flag football and become more comfortable and confident,” he said.
Dwayne Brown, founder of She Rocks, said flag football is the fastest growing sport in the area.
“To continue the growth of flag football, we need to invest (at the) local, national and international levels,” he said. “For-low income areas, starting a league can be as simple as organizing community games, engaging volunteers and seeking equipment donations.”
Estrada said the NFL has supported local high schools.
“(The NFL) has offered grants to our schools and application processes for equipment,” he said. “(It has) also offered clinics and camps. Ultimately, the NFL is trying to gain female fans while giving back and providing resources to promote flag football, which I think is a good partnership.”
Flag football is played with belts with two velcro “flags” on each player’s hips. When a defensive player pulls off a flag, the offensive player is considered tackled and has to stop forward progress. There is blocking and other physical contact, but no tackling or cut blocking. Flag football players generally play in shorts and jerseys without helmets, shoulder pads and other tackle football equipment.
Speed and agility are more important than size and strength. Talented flag football players are adept at making opponents miss their flags by pulling their hips away or spinning through the other team’s defenders.
Some American schools that have banned tackle football due to the risk of brain injuries have switched to flag for their boys teams. Small, rural schools and low-income schools that cannot afford to field an expensive tackle program have played flag football since the 1960s.
CVHS player Araujo said she hopes more women will try flag football.
“(It is nice to) have the ability to play a sport that everybody knows and loves,” she said. “(It is enjoyable) to be surrounded by women working together to build something. It is very empowering.”
