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.<\/p>\n
“When it first started, it was not common at all,” says Naveah Lewis. “It’s very rare. It grew fast, actually.”<\/p>\n
Since the CIF voted unanimously to approve flag football as a statewide sanctioned sport, participation and excitement continue to grow.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
In Fresno, the opportunity to compete is nonexistent.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Vargas founded Top Dogs Youth Football League, the first all-girls flag football team in the Central Valley.<\/p>\n
“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.<\/p>\n
It’s providing girls of all experience levels a chance to grow their passion for free at open practices and register to compete.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
Growing the game from the ground up.<\/p>\n
“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.”<\/p>\n
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