Press Row: Girls have a ball on football field

REDLANDS, Calif. – Former Redlands resident Brian Billick coached the Baltimore Ravens to the 2001 Super Bowl title.

Billick also played football and basketball at Redlands High in the early 1970s. But one thing he didn’t do was root his girlfriend to glory in flag football. The fledgling sport did not exist for girls then.

The door is now open for Redlands High girls to make an impact in their own sport on the football field. 

Title IX, the gender equity law that increased the participation of girls and women in sports, was not passed until 1972. As recently as 1965, only seven percent of high school athletes were girls. Now 3.5 million girls play high school sports.

Girls flag football is exploding. About 500,000 girls ages 6-17 played the sport in 2023, a 63 percent increase since 2019.

“We’ve come a long way,” Redlands High flag football coach April Berry said. “I’m excited to take part in history.”