The objective of flag football is universal: chase down the opposing players’ flags to prevent them from scoring.
Women’s flag football teams across the Valley, such as at Corona del Sol High School, are not only chasing for flags—they’re also on the chase for change.
In 2023, the Arizona Interscholastic Association announced that girls flag football was coming to the desert. With the inaugural season in the rearview, the Aztecs now have their sights set on an exciting 2024 season as they look to launch the sport to new heights.
“The treadmill is moving at a fast pace, and everybody has to really just pick it up,” said Corona’s girls flag football coach Lacette Tirado-Holt, who will enter her first year as head coach for the Aztecs.
“We have a lot of girls coming out that are multi-sport athletes and sometimes, if they want to think about continuing to play after high school, they have to really pick what that sport is going to be.
“And if it’s flag football, we need a lot more colleges buying in.”
Tirado-Holt envisions a path for young women to continue playing the game they love. The sport is rapidly growing nationwide as well, as the International Olympic Committee approved the inclusion of flag football for the 2028 Olympic games in Los Angeles. “We have to pick up and everybody’s got to keep moving, because it’s growing, and we need to be able to offer all of that so that our girls can continue to play at a high level and beyond high school,” she said.
In years past, there weren’t as many opportunities for young women to participate in any form of football. Aztec linebacker and team captain Miquela Tammaro realizes what this can mean for future generations of girls looking to score touchdowns.
“It will be great for opening up opportunities for girls in the future,” Tammaro said. “As a kid, I loved watching football and going to all the ASU football games, but I could never play.”
Tammaro exudes enthusiasm for the way the sport has caught on, adding that she is excited to see more women engaging in it. In her eyes, it offers a lot more than just X’s and O’s.
“Flag football is a sport that anyone can learn, and it’s great for increasing physical fitness and social skills in today’s youth,” she added.
The Aztecs’ inaugural season was a tale of two stories as the program went 5-8 in 2023. They were off to a hot start, winning four of their first five games but then losing seven of the last eight games to end the year.
If all works out as expected, 2024 will serve as a new chapter for Corona’s flag football program. Instead of lingering on last year’s result, the team plans on channeling its momentum into motivation heading into the second season.
“We are working harder and have more dedication to this sport,” said quarterback and team captain Alana James, who is eager to lead her teammates to an improved season.
“We have more girls that have joined the team, and people can expect that we are all in this year.” With a season under their belt, it’s time for the Aztecs to flex their prowess on the gridiron. The Aztecs will open their 2024 season on the road against the West Point Dragons on Sept. 17.
