Time for CIAC to add flag football

The California Interscholastic Federation approved a plan on Feb. 3 to make flag football an official sport for high school girls in 2023-24.

A couple of days earlier, the New York State Public High School Athletic Association announced it will recognize high school girls flag football as a state championship sport for the spring of 2024. Raise the flag. It is time for the CIAC to join California and New York and add girls flag football as a varsity high school sport.

There is a rising tide of popularity. The sport already is being played in boys and girls leagues at the youth level across the country. A growing number of states are bringing it to the high schools.

In fact, Brandon Jubrey, president of the Connecticut Flag Football League, said the goal is for the CIAC to adopt such a move for the 2024-2025 school year.

“I think it would be awesome,” said Northwest United's Jennifer Garzone, the first female tackle football coach in Connecticut high school history as well as the first to take a team to the state playoffs. “Absolutely, think it's a great idea.”

The CIAC has a multi-level procedure for approval. An email was sent to CIAC director of media John Holt asking if anything formally has been brought to the organization and if it is currently under consideration.

Holt answered that he has decided to no longer respond to any of my questions. CIAC executive director Glenn Lungarini and associate executive director Gregg Simon have not answered my questions for months.

Jubrey hasn't been in contact with the CIAC, but he said Windsor athletic director Chris Fulton has been in conversations.

Ashley Landis/Associated Press Aly Young, 17, left, and Shale Harris, 15, reach to catch a pass as they try out for the Redondo Union High School girls flag football team in Redondo Beach, Calif.