FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) — There are some new top dogs in the Central Valley as more young girls get the opportunity to showcase their skills on the field.
“When it first started, it was not common at all,” says Naveah Lewis. “It’s very rare. It grew fast, actually.”
Since the CIF voted unanimously to approve flag football as a statewide sanctioned sport, participation and excitement continue to grow.
“The minute I stepped out onto the field, I felt like I automatically loved it,” says Persaiah Leyva. “I felt like I was going to want to play for the rest of my life.”
In Fresno, the opportunity to compete is nonexistent.
“I want many high schools around Fresno to be able to start a flag football team, and I think I want Hoover High to be the first one,” says Joe Vargas, founder of Top Dogs Youth Football League. “So, Hoover High, take a thought at it.”
Vargas founded Top Dogs Youth Football League, the first all-girls flag football team in the Central Valley.
“We have so much talent here in the Valley, and I just definitely wanted to make sure that we had something in place for them to be able to showcase that,” Vargas said.
It’s providing girls of all experience levels a chance to grow their passion for free at open practices and register to compete.
“It’s not like regular football, and it’s like small-town kind of,” Lewis said. “You keep growing and growing, and hopefully get around the world.”
Growing the game from the ground up.
“Our practices are always free, open practices,” Vargas said. “Come check it out and if you’re interested, we can get you signed up for season five.”
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