East Ventura News

California Lutheran University is set to introduce women's flag football as a club sport in the upcoming spring season. The university aims to develop it into an NCAA Division III-sanctioned program by the 2026-27 school year. This move aligns with the growing popularity of flag football in high schools across California, including Ventura County.

Athletic Director Howard Davis expressed enthusiasm for the decision, stating, "The demand in our area and throughout the state is unmistakable, given its growth and success. Very quickly, flag football will be ubiquitous throughout the college athletics landscape." He added that he is proud Cal Lutheran is an early adopter of this sport.

Flag football has seen significant growth over recent years. It is now a sanctioned girls’ varsity high school sport in 11 states and offered at 25 NAIA schools along with several NCAA Division III institutions. The sport will also debut as an Olympic event at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

According to USA Football, over 230,000 girls aged 6 to 17 played flag football in the United States in 2023, marking a 44% increase since 2014. The NFL supports this growth as part of its strategy to expand football's global reach due to its accessibility compared to traditional tackle football.

Cal Lutheran joins other Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference member schools like the University of Redlands in adding women’s flag football programs. "We’re very confident that we’ll be able to build a schedule come spring and, in the coming years, recruit some of the best student-athletes around," Davis stated.

The university plans to form a team from current students beginning activities in January while searching for a head coach. Practices will take place on Memorial Field with games at William Rolland Stadium.

Interim President John Nunes highlighted Cal Lutheran's commitment to expanding athletic offerings: “Cal Lutheran has a long history of meeting student needs at an elite level by providing a comprehensive educational experience.” He expressed excitement about leading this new initiative and supporting Regals football.

California Lutheran University continues its mission since being founded in 1959 as a Hispanic-Serving Institution recognized federally since 2016. It serves over 2,200 undergraduate and more than 1,000 graduate students from diverse backgrounds globally.