Sage Hill will start a girls’ flag football team this fall, adding another opportunity for girls to display their athleticism and talent. In February 2023, the California Interscholastic Federation approved flag football as an official sport in California. Just a few weeks later, the Irvine Unified School District decided to add girls’ flag football to its high schools’ athletics programs. This decision gives female student athletes the opportunity to compete in this physical and intense sport. Sage’s flag football team will compete in the Pacific Coast League against other recently established girls’ flag football teams.
“It is a thrill to be on the cutting edge of a sport rapidly growing at high schools and beyond. I am so happy to support our female student athletes to have a passion for flag football and I cannot wait to see how the Sage Hill Lightning will bring their very best to the field,” Director of Athletics Megan Cid said.
Practices for the season will begin in August, prior to the start of school. Sage students can potentially participate in two sports during fall season, one of them being flag football, to guarantee that all female students interested are given the chance to be part of the team. There will be a Varsity team, but could offer lower level teams depending on student interest,
“I’m really looking forward to playing on the team and to watch the program develop,” junior Haley Li said. Preparation for the season is well underway as the search for a head coach continues. The goal is to find a coach for this spring to start working with student athletes interested for the fall season.
Female athletes that are interested in playing in the fall season should consider participating in the upcoming school-wide flag football event on Jan. 26, 2024. Each grade level will assemble a team of girls and compete against each other.
