CIF Flag Football
OCFOA Leading the Way
Girls flag football was officially sanctioned by the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) on February 3, 2023, via a unanimous 146-0 vote. This decision made California one of the first states to adopt it, establishing a statewide competitive framework and paving the way for college scholarship opportunities.
OCFOA was on the forefront of girls flag football, providing highly trained officials during its formidable years. OCFOA’s Maryann Menlove was entrusted as the inaugural CIF State Rules Interpreter for Girls Flag Football and also took on the role of CFOA Girls Flag Instruction Chair.
In 2025, OCFOA voted to keep CIF Flag football under the OCFOA umbrella for the foreseeable future.
Pilot Programs
Before CIF adoption, the Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers operated highly successful pilot high school leagues in Southern California to demonstrate interest and test rules.
Inaugural Season – Fall 2023
Just months after the vote, the first official CIF season kicked off with unprecedented participation. Over 430 schools and nearly 11,000 student-athletes joined statewide, marking the largest initial entry for a new sport in the organization’s history.
Rapid Expansion – Fall 2024
Interest surged, with the number of participating schools jumping to nearly 700 and participation growing to over 19,000 female student-athletes – making up 29% of all high school female flag football players nationwide.
Regional sections, like the CIF Southern Section (CIF-SS), expanded to offer multi-division championships.