Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) works to get though Corona Del Mar’s line in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos flag football celebrates their win over Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos girls flag football players get their game jerseys in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Alice DeLouche (11) tries to outrun Corona Del Mar’s Erika Wein (7) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) laughs with teammates during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ coach Laura Hart, left, and quarterback Rylee Robles go over plays against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) goes after a pass against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Los Alamitos flag football team joins competitors during the opening of the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos enters the field during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) grabs a flag from Fountain Valley’s Adriana Gordon (30) in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ flag football warms up before taking on Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) celebrates a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) and Katelynn Sheffield (25) celebrate a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32) goes after the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ quarterbacks Rylee Robles (24) shares a laugh with teammates as they take on Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) holds on to the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) and Kassidy Beach (15) celebrate a touchdown against Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ girls flag football prepares to take on Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) gets caught between two Highland defender during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) and Kassidy Beach (15) go after a pass intended for Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kennedy Bowe (1) works to remove a flag from Fountain Valley in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) goes up for the ball with Angela Herrera (19) against Corona Del in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) and Highland’s Leah Harris (4) battle for the ball during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Mackenzie McNeil (2) warms up before their game against Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) gets high-fives for scoring a touchdown against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) scores a touchdown against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Sanaa Trotter (12) catches the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) carries the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) looks to move past Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos quarterback Rylee Robles looks for an open receiver against Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Sanaa Trotter (12) goes after a pass against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) and Kassidy Beach (15) celebrate a touchdown against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) tries to get away from Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ quarterback Maddy Ryan looks to pass the ball against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Denvur Ramirez (4) looks to pass over Corona Del Mar’s Ava Simos (6) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) take a selfie during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32) and Denvur Ramirez (4) goes after Corona Del Mar’s Ava Simos (6) in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Corona Del Mar in Newport Beach, CA, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) runs the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Claire Daedelow (17) grabs the flag Highland’s Jayda Thompson (75) during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) carries the ball against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Rylee Robles (24) chats with referees after their game against Dos Pueblos during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos quarterback Rylee Robles (24) carries the ball against Edison’s Maddy Ryan (18) in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kennedy Bowe (1) celebrate a touchdown against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) carries the ball against Highland during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) dance on the sidelines during flag football senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Rylee Robles (24) passes the ball against Lakewood High School in Los Alamitos, CA, on Tuesday, August 22, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kassidy Beach (15) and Kennedy Bowe (1) go after a pass against Corona del Mar in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos head coach Laura Hart walks off the field with players after defeating Highland 38-0 in the first game of the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos flag football players sign autographs for young players during senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Kalice McCutcheon (26) acknowledges her teammates after a play against Edison High in Los Alamitos, CA, on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Charlotte Baliwag (3) gets caught between two Highland defenders during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos’ Bryn Pagett (32), left, Sanaa Trotter (12) and Kalice McCutcheon (26) play Heads Up with other teams as they wait for their game to start during the Inaugural Chargers Girls Flag Championship Tournament at the Great Park in Irvine, CA, on Monday, October 27, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Los Alamitos flag football team poses for a picture with young players during senior night in Los Alamitos, CA, on Monday, October 16, 2023. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
They started their season in borrowed volleyball uniforms with only three weeks of practice. A few months later, they finished their season losing by just two points to the No.1-ranked team in their bracket.
It’s not groundbreaking to see a girl playing football, but this school year they had their own CIF-sanctioned sport: Flag football. Dozens of teams formed in the state for the inaugural season that ended a week ago.
At Los Alamitos High School, the pressure to start a team came from their future quarterback, Rylee Robles, who said she was watching the boys practice and wanted to play football in high school.
Robles is no stranger to football, she’s been playing in Friday Night Lights, a youth flag football league, for a few years.
When she heard CIF officials were considering making it an official high school sport, she said she took action talking with school officials and posted flyers around campus. She was able to drum up enough interest to assemble a team and hire a coach.
The games are quick, with two 20-minute halves with a running clock and a five-minute halftime. Touchdowns are six points, but there is no kicking. The point after a touchdown is either a 1- or 2-point conversion based on the distance the team chooses.
The historic nature of the inaugural season wasn’t lost on Robles. Throughout the season, Robles said she thought, “Oh my gosh that was the first touchdown, that was the first flag pull.” It was small moments, she said, that gave her, “a real big perspective of this being the first time.”
Head Coach Laura Hart said, “The competitiveness of the level play has increased now that it’s an actual CIF sport … and it’s gonna increase as the years go on.”
Hart said she is pleased with the progress the team made throughout the season. And, after the season-ending 2 point loss, she told the team, “hold your head high because you played at a high level the whole time.”
