Historic Kauai Interscholastic Federation starts Girl’s Flag Football kicks off
HANAPEPE — The objective on defense is the taking of the encroaching player’s flag to end the offensive drive.
The objective on offense is to reach the goal of the field that is shorter and less wide than a traditional football field.
Sounds simple enough that the contest is waged without the traditional football protective gear in 12-minute running time quarters during the Kauai Interscholastic Federation Girls Flag Football games that played out for the first time on Thursday before a nearly full Hanapepe Stadium that has been configured for baseball seating.
Playing for the first time before an audience, the KIF Girls Flag Football outing took on an atmosphere of the traditional Pop Warner Football Jamboree of yesteryear as the outing served as an opportunity for players, coaches, game officials, and fans to become acquainted with on-the-field play of the game’s rules and format.
This allowed coaches and players to adjust to the game. It also allowed other officials to get a feel for game. KIF officials and dignitaries took advantage of “Halftime” to speak with the audience as well as present a commemorative shirt to all of the players from the KIF four member schools, including Waimea, Island School, Kauai, and Kapaa high schools.
The Hawaii High School Athletic Association, the Hawaii Department of Education teamed up with the National Football League, the Seattle Seahawks, Nike, and other private contributors to bring high school girls’ flag football to Hawaii starting in August. The move to sanction girls’ flag football makes Hawaii the 12th state in the country to embrace a fast growing sport that is increasing in popularity. Flag football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
“With the potential for 1,000 female athletes statewide to participate in the augural season, these young women are not just making history, they are trailblazing a path for future generations of female high school athletes,” said HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi. “Their involvement will inspire and empower countless others in the years to come.”
Games for the KIF girls flag football get underway in earnest on Thursday at the Bryan J. Baptiste Sports Park stadium where three games will be played starting at 5 p.m.
Kauai High School will meet Waimea High School in the 5 p.m. kickoff, followed by Kapaa High School meeting Island School at 6 p.m. Kapaa will face Waimea High School in the final contest of the night starting at 7 p.m.