Piedmont girls flag football hits pay dirt
PIEDMONT, Calif. — There鈥檚 no shortage of teams to root for on the football field in the Bay Area. The 49ers and Raiders are well into their season. The annual Big Game between Cal and Stanford football is right around the corner.
In 2023 it鈥檚 also a time for girls鈥� high school flag football and Piedmont High School is getting ready for its next opponent in the WACC conference.
Beth Black is the head coach of the second-year program. The longtime PHS department chair and Honors English program teacher jumped at the opportunity to coach the team. Once she was tapped for the job by Athletic Director Bradley Smet her first job was to create interest.
鈥淚 committed to it,鈥� Coach Black said. 鈥淭his was in April 2022. I hyped the program. But I watched a lot of videos. I played a little flag football in college.鈥� Black was an accomplished distance runner at the University of Toledo. But growing up in a football household 鈥� and an Ohio State University football fan – it was an easy commitment for her.
The interest and turnout for the program has been nothing less than tremendous. The team is made up of 40 girls from freshmen through seniors.
鈥淚 was mind blown (by the turnout). It was so inspiring,鈥� sophomore cornerback Dahlia Osman excitedly shared. Once the team was set the next job for the coaching staff was to teach the game to the girls.
鈥淥ur first goal was to get the girls knowledgeable鈥� said Black. 鈥淭he girls are smart and they are making adjustments .鈥�
Some of the girls never threw a football before. But Black explained, 鈥滻f they feel confident throwing, catching on the run, they can learn the plays.鈥�
One of the benefits of the program for Coach Black and her players is their profile on campus. Coach Black shared about her relationship with her players. 鈥淭here is so much more closeness. I can spend time one on one where I don鈥檛 have that chance in a larger classroom.鈥�
Since coaches and players started at ground zero with this sport it has been a learning experience for everyone. 鈥淐oach Black is enthusiastic. She鈥檚 intense,鈥� said Osman. 鈥淲e are learning as they are learning. There鈥檚 a closeness with the coaches since we鈥檙e learning together and we get to see them outside of class.鈥�
鈥淭here鈥檚 a dynamic between the different grades,鈥� sophomore wide receiver Malia Williams said. “We all practice together. The team bonding is a big thing.鈥�
Senior Captain and quarterback Mia Leggett continued this thought. 鈥淚t gives all the girls a chance to shine. We respect each other鈥檚 talents and strengths.鈥�
鈥淚鈥檝e never had a female coach before,鈥� free safety Ruby Gudzar explained. 鈥淲e feel more comfortable asking questions.鈥�
Most of the girls either watched football on television or had a male family member that played. The maturity and growth of these athletes was best explained by Guzdar. 鈥淚 was watching a game on TV and understood the formation, their set up and was anticipating where the players would go.鈥�
But Coach Black wants to focus on the opportunity for the student-athletes.
鈥淚 want people to know this (having this sport) is a no brainer. They鈥檙e athletes,鈥� Black said. 鈥淭hey were just never given a chance. It鈥檚 not a celebration of what a girl can do. It鈥檚 a celebration of the opportunity.鈥�
And maybe years from now when people talk about the Big Game they just may be talking about girls鈥� flag football.
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