Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
The girls flag football season opens Saturday with a few new rules that coaches believe will make a “major” impact on the fastest growing sport in California.
The changes most cited by Orange County coaches relate to pass rushing, screen blocking and punting.
“(Pass rushing and screen blocking down field) are major changes that will make things very difficult for coaches and referees alike,” Newport Harbor coach Jason Guyser said.
The new rules arrive as the Southern Section enters its second season with playoffs in girls flag football. The sport debuted in the section in 2023 without a postseason.
On defense this fall, an unlimited number of pass rushers can start their pursuit from 1 yard off the line of scrimmage, or 6 yards closer than last season.
The change will challenge quarterbacks to make decisions much faster. Quarterbacks, in turn, can run on every play instead of once per series.
“(It) adds a completely different dynamic for both sides of the ball,” Huntington Beach coach Zack Pannell said of the rule change.
On offense, teams will be allowed to screen block, which is obstructing the path of an opponent without the blocker making contact.
High school and college official MaryAnn Menlove shared that definition in a rules review in late May for the Southern Section.
During the review, Menlove showed a video of a legal screen block with a blocker moving in the “same line” as a pass rusher. The screen blocker’s hands were across her chest as she slid to keep the pass rusher away from the quarterback.
“There may be incidental contact but intent is what refs are looking for,” said Fullerton coach Frank Ramirez, who has experience as a flag football official. “Contact will be ruled on by the refs.”
This fall, offenses will also be allowed to punt by kicking the ball. There are no fake punts, and the receiving team can return the ball.
“(Teams) must declare punt to the ref,” Ramirez said. “The ref will then allow substitutions for the defense and offense. Both teams must remain motionless until the ball has been punted. The offense may move down field to cover the punt.”
Last season, teams didn’t kick the ball when punting. If the offense elected to punt, the ball was placed by officials on the other end of the field.
“Punting will be interesting and will have an important impact on field position,” Santa Margarita coach Brad Finneran said.
JSerra coach Brian Ong added, “You can’t just flip the field anymore and put (the ball) on the your opponent’s 20-yard line. You have to punt.”
Screen blocking will be allowing anywhere on the field, including on punts, Menlove said in the rules review.
She cautioned that “right of place” would be a determining factor for calls against the offensive and defensive players.
“This is a different style of play,” she said. “But it’s still flag football.”
The CIF State recently reported that participation in girls flag football has increased 84 percent in the 2024-25 school year with almost 20,000 student-athletes.
Girls flag football ranks as the eighth popular girls sport, just behind swimming.
The Southern Section finals are scheduled for Nov. 7-8.
