Flag football is rising across the country and has been added to the various sports offered at Laguna Beach High School. According to the NFHS, 1500 plus girls play flag football at over 700 high schools across the United States. The Laguna Beach flag football program is breaking barriers in women’s sports and creating new opportunities for student-athletes. This is the beginning of a program that will prosper for years.
The program has twenty dedicated girls who work hard every Monday night to bring home victories. Coaches Mitch Olsen and John Selbe take time out of coaching their CIF champions football team to assist the newly developed flag football squad. Jason Allemann, the principal here at LBHS, has expressed his overload of joy when he sees these determined and passionate student-athletes. Here, Dr. Alleman speaks his opinion on the new program.
Although the season ended with a 2-14 record, Dr. Alleman says it was “a very successful inaugural season”. This new addition to the school overall benefited the student body. He says that “anytime we can offer a program that has interest from students, it’s a good thing.” Passion and interest from students always benefit the school because it causes the students to be happier and healthier.
Does this program break barriers for women athletes? Although at our school girls are allowed to join the football team, some might feel like they need help to fit in with a male-dominated team. Dr. Alleman thinks that “having the program in place helps, but its students’ investment and involvement is what breaks barriers.” Again, he reiterates that “the student’s passion determines barrier-breaking.” However, creating the flag football team is a step in the right direction. The girls who are dedicated to the team are the ones who are breaking barriers.
Brighten Welch, a sophomore here at Laguna Beach High School, is an avid member of the girl’s flag football team. She says the group consists of “everybody lifting each other up.” As it is everyone’s first experience playing flag football, everyone is welcoming towards the new environment while evolving a new team. Welch’s opinion on the football team is that these barriers should have already been broken, meaning girls’ flag football should have started when boys’ football started. Welch is one of the 20 athletes building this team and making a difference in our small community.
Overall, the girls’ flag football team has been a great addition to the sports at Laguna Beach High School. The support and passion from the girls participating is why this program has been so successful. Determination and dedication lead to success, and the girls on flag football demonstrate this.
