Makena Prepare dinner made a reputation for herself as Orange Lutheran Excessive‘s deep-ball throwing quarterback. She led the Lancers to a Southern Section Division 1 flag football championship, clinching the title with a pass and ending the season with a 6,611 total passing yards.
In the first two years of CIF-sanctioned girls’ flag soccer, Orange Lutheran coach Kristen Sherman crafted a pass-heavy offensive scheme that has helped deliver eyes to the game in Southern California. Now, Sherman might need to refocus her playbook because the Nationwide Federation of State Excessive Faculty Associations builds its first standardized nationwide rulebook.
Brian Seymour, the CIF’s affiliate govt director, confirmed to The Occasions that new guidelines, such because the defensive rush line shifting from seven yards off the road of scrimmage to 1 yard in addition to the introduction of particular groups, will “potentially” be a part of the brand new rulebook. An NFHS spokesperson declined to touch upon particular rule modifications for the forthcoming rulebook, which is scheduled for launch in late Might.
“It’s one of the fastest-growing sports now across the country, and when we get sports that are played by multiple states, it works out better if everybody’s playing from the same set of rules,” Seymour mentioned.
Sherman believes the rule modifications, which she says Southern California coaches haven’t had sufficient of a say in, will solely change how groups play — pushing their type towards that of different states akin to New York, which moved to a one-yard rush line final 12 months. Sherman mentioned the rule will most likely drive extra quick passes and run performs.
“Prior to the snap, a legal rusher may be lined up anywhere along the rush line that is set 7 yards from the LOS,” reads the CIF 2024 women’ flag soccer playbook. In 2023, women’ flag soccer performed beneath a three-yard rush line.
Narbonne’s Religion Ugoje spins out of a deal with throughout a win over King/Drew within the Metropolis Part Division I title sport final season.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
“You’re gonna have to get rid of the ball extra fast if you have a girl one yard off,” Birmingham coach Jim Rose mentioned.
The change of play in New York has created extra defense-oriented video games whereas forcing new offensive technique. For instance, because the Occasions Union in Albany reported, a sport between Albany Excessive and Burnt Hills-Ballston on April 3 ended with a 8-0 remaining rating. A 12 months in the past, beneath the seven-yard rush rule, those self same groups performed to a 56-43 end.
“It changes some of the excitement of the game and the ability to see what those girls can do with their arms and with a downfield passing attack,” Sherman mentioned. “From that standpoint, it’s a little bit disappointing to not showcase these girls in the way that I think they should be showcased.”
Added Sherman: “I still believe we have one of the best quarterbacks in the country and she’ll adapt to the rule changes, just like the rest of the team will. It takes away from some of the excitement of these girls that have been working hard to show the way that they can push the ball vertical, just like any boys’ team could.”
Seymour, who famous that yearly the rulebook is mentioned and adjusted by a committee, mentioned the standardized rulebook may permit for interstate video games — akin to when Las Vegas Bishop Gorman performs in opposition to Mater Dei — on the women’ flag soccer stage.
“It begins to align states, and kind of gives every state a voice that offers flag football similar to all the other sports that are offered throughout the country,” mentioned Seymour, including that that is the primary rulebook the NFHS has created since 1999, when cheer was carried out nationwide.
Receiver Kaiya Cooke runs for a primary down in Ventura’s win over Agoura in a Southern Part Division 1 playoff sport final season.
(Steve Galluzzo / For The Occasions)
Throughout the primary two years of ladies’ flag soccer in California, particular groups have been nonexistent.
Groups begin a possession at their 20-yard line — and when a crew punts, there’s no kicking. The officers place the ball again on the different 20-yard line. For additional factors, as an alternative of kicking, groups have the choice of trying to attain from the five-yard line (one level) or the 10-yard line (two factors).
“We’re gonna have some punting, which is good because it’s another element where a different skill set is required, which may open up another roster spot for someone that does that skill set fairly well,” Seymour mentioned.
Sherman, like Seymour, mentioned she sees particular groups as a chance to get extra gamers on the sector — including that it creates sport time for “girls who can’t find another spot on the field.” Within the women’ flag soccer ranks in California, most of the athletes play two sports activities, certainly one of which is soccer within the winter.
Rose, who led Birmingham to a 13-1-1 document a 12 months in the past, isn’t thrilled with the potential addition of particular groups. He calls it “a terrible idea.”
“Special teams in high school [boys’] football, half the time, aren’t very good,” he mentioned, including that they’ll need to dedicate additional follow time to show a brand new side of the sport on prime of the upcoming rule modifications. “So how are you going to want to incorporate special teams with the girls? I think that will also cause scoring to go down.”
Going ahead, Sherman mentioned she’d wish to see higher communication from state officers in addition to the creation of a women’ flag soccer coaches affiliation to assist push by means of suggestions on the nationwide stage.
“I think feeling like we have an ability to get a group together that has a voice in the room to be able to weigh in on these kind of things going forward,” Sherman mentioned. “It would make everybody feel a lot better about changes coming up.”
