When Ramona High School ed around an informal sheet for flag football in the spring, 30 girls responded.
When almost 40 showed up for the tryouts in August, it made life easier for coach Robert Bash.
“I wasn’t going to make cuts because it’s a first-year sport,” said Bash, “so we have numbers for varsity and junior varsity teams.
“Actually, which girls are on the varsity and which are on the junior varsity changes. Every day is an open tryout and those on the junior varsity can be brought to the varsity anytime. So, we say we have 40 girls on the varsity.”
Unlike some schools, the Bulldogs do not have a single player with extensive flag football experience beyond P.E. classes. It can be expected that the learning curves will vary.
Bash got a preliminary look at who performed beyond practice when Ramona participated in a scrimmage hosted by Del Lago Academy. The Bulldogs played El Camino, San Diego and Hoover in abbreviated “games.”
“There were 10 schools and we played three half-hour games all on one day,” Bash said. “It was so successful they’re thinking of adding JV next year.”
Heading into last weekend, the Bulldogs had played only one real game, losing to Steele Canyon 24-0. The junior varsity had yet to take the field.
It isn’t just a learning experience for the players.
“This is the first time I’ve coached girls,” said Bash, who played boys football before switching to an adult flag football traveling team. “It’s very difficult to balance a full-time job with coaching but I love it and so do the girls.
“A lot of girls always wanted to play football and this is just a different version. It’s very fast-paced. Its popularity is growing and because it’ll be part of the 2028 Olympic Games, it’s just going to get bigger and bigger.
“Although the NCAA doesn’t yet offer scholarships, 18 NAIA schools do, so there is even a possibility that playing flag football can help you get into college.”
Because none of the players had experience, Bash was forced to get down to the basics.
“I’d find myself explaining something using football and the girls didn’t know what I was talking about,” he said with a chuckle. “Every Saturday we have a classroom session and go over the rules and strategies.
“We go through film and once we start playing regularly, we’ll break down film. Because we’re still learning, we’re not going 100 percent full speed. That will come.
“In our first game, the defense missed grabbing flags, so we’ve been emphasizing how to position yourself to grab both flags. When you do that, your chances of getting one flag are much better. It’s called double-pulls.”
Ramona will play on Tuesday and Thursday evenings with the Thursday games coming before the freshman boys play. The Bulldogs host Central Union this Thursday at 4.
Bash, who did not want to single out any of his players because at this point they’re all equal, said the Bulldogs will be competing in the Valley League with San Pasqual, Escondido, Valley Center, Rancho Buena Vista, Vista and Sage Creek.
“We have an 18-game season and right now we’re pretty much a ing team that runs occasionally,” said Bash, noting that he can see the team’s communication and understanding improving virtually every practice.
“I played flag for 15 years and I’m more comfortable throwing the ball. I’ve done that as a coach, too. We’ll run some—probably more as the season progresses.
“The hardest part of flag football is reading on defense. The whole team is working hard to have some of the things I’m saying soak in, but it’s a process.”
Bash, whose wife Robyn also coaches the team, says he expects to have a group of eight to 10 girls of all ages go down the hill to Poway to participate in the NFL Flag program in the off-season.
“ESPN showcased the girls’ 18-under and boys 15-under flag football teams during the summer and the NFL is very involved,” said Bash. “That kind of exposure will really help grow the sport.
“I fully expect to have a lot more interest heading into next year. I’m happy with the numbers and enthusiasm of the players we have — who come mostly from soccer and softball — and I can see a big learning curve while they’re still having fun.”
