Jackie Bayona said she has been looking for the right opportunity to return to her alma mater for some time.

Bayona was a basketball player at Rancho Cucamonga High School during the mid-2000s, but over the past decade she has earned a reputation for being one of the best women’s flag football players in the world. Bayona has been a member of multiple championship club teams and also has had stints with the USA and Philippines national squads.

And so Bayona embraced the chance to get the girls flag football program up and running at Rancho Cucamonga.

“Rancho Cucamonga was the school that raised me, and I really want to give back in some way,” said Bayona, who is a risk management coordinator for the City of Rancho Cucamonga during the day. “I got so excited when I heard Rancho was going to have a program this year. ... Laying down that foundation here is something I am passionate about and take very seriously.”

Girls flag football became the newest California Interscholastic Federation sport last season, and 18 Inland schools were part of the initial wave. The buzz surrounding flag football continues to grow and more schools are jumping on board, making it one of the fastest-growing sports in the state. This season, at least 56 Inland schools are fielding a varsity team.

And this is a trend that can be seen throughout Southern California. There were 115 CIF Southern Section schools playing girls flag football last year. Kristen Palle, the CIF Southern Section assistant commissioner who oversees the sport, said that number has grown to 272 schools (as of Aug. 15) this season. That’s nearly half of the section’s total membership.

And there is enthusiasm for Year 2, which now has enough teams to conduct Southern Section playoffs for the first time. The section originally had planned for four playoff divisions, but a fifth division was added because of the number of schools with teams.

“The growth that we have been seeing is pretty awesome, and we anticipate more growth in the future,” Palle said.

Roosevelt coach Jennifer Constuble has been involved in the world of flag football for two decades and is excited to see more schools adding programs. Roosevelt was among the original 18 Inland schools that had a varsity team in 2023.

“I expected there to be a substantial amount of growth from Year 1 to Year 2, but these numbers are jaw-dropping,” said Constuble, who also is a youth engagement coach for the Los Angeles Rams flag football program. “I think there’s so much room for growth. These girls have a real passion for this sport, and that’s something we really should invest in.”

Amy Campbell played basketball and softball while growing up in Chino, and she currently is an assistant coach for the boys basketball and softball programs at Ayala High School. Campbell already had plenty on her plate, but she went all-in when the school announced it was adding flag football this season.

“This is an opportunity I wish we had when I was growing up,” said Campbell, who also is history teacher at Ayala.

Campbell credits her love of football as the reason for taking the job. She went to Oklahoma State, while her late husband, Barry, went to Boise State. They would often make trips together to their alma maters to take in football games.

And this new venture continues to be a family affair for Campbell. Her nephews Xavier and Zachary play flag football and helped design Ayala’s uniforms for its first season. Campbell has other family members who are involved with football.

Campbell said her players are dedicated and driven and often arrive at school for practices at 5:30 in the morning.

“I could have not asked for a better group of players to start this program with,” Campbell said. “These are some of the toughest athletes I’ve ever coached. They are fierce and tough competitors who want to learn and get better.”

Ayana Goodwin helped the Ramona girls soccer program claim a CIF Southern Section championship during the winter of 2023. When the fall season rolled around, Goodwin was one of the 19 players suiting up for the school’s first flag football team.

Goodwin is a senior wide receiver and safety for the Rams this season and hopes to leave her mark on the program.

“I love starting new things and try to be someone who makes a difference,” said Goodwin, who also is a sprinter on Ramona’s track and field team. “It’s pretty special to build something from the ground up and have the eyes on you.

“We are out here each and every day trying to prove to everyone that this is not a joke. Girls can play any sport they want to.”

Alani Lopez is a senior on Summit’s first flag football team. She is a softball player who decided to try a new sport.

“I like exploring new things, and I wanted to see for myself how I would adjust to this,” Lopez said. “I think this will help me became even stronger mentally as an athlete. I’m glad to have this opportunity because I know not everyone does.”

Constuble believes the sport’s popularity and growth will continue. Flag football will be part of the Olympics program for the first time at the 2028 Games in Los Angeles. And scholarship opportunities could increase as more colleges add teams as an official sport. Most of those programs are at the NCAA Division III and NAIA level, but Constuble said there is the possibility the NCAA could declare flag football as an emerging sport within the next five years.

That is something Campbell would like to see, as well.

“Just look at what has been happening with college softball and college basketball in recent years,” Campbell said. “I’ve always said this: Invest in women’s sports and watch them grow. Bet on women, because it pays off every time.”

GIRLS FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUES WITH INLAND TEAMS

Ambassador: Aquinas, Linfield Christian, Ontario Christian, United Christian Academy, Western Christian

Baseline: Chino Hills, Etiwanda, Los Osos, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland

Big VIII: Centennial, Corona, King, Norco, Roosevelt, Santiago

Citrus Belt: Beaumont, Cajon, Redlands, Redlands East Valley, Yucaipa

Hacienda: Alta Loma, Colony, Los Altos, San Dimas, South Hills

Ivy: Arlington, Hillcrest, North, Riverside Poly

Montview: Azusa, Baldwin Park, Duarte, Edgewood, Garey, Nogales, Sierra Vista, Workman

Mt. Baldy: Chaffey, Chino, Don Lugo, Montclair, Ontario

Palomares: Ayala, Bonita, Claremont, Glendora

River Valley: Indian Springs, Loma Linda Academy, Norte Vista, Patriot, Ramona

Sunbelt: Canyon Springs, Lakeside, Moreno Valley, Valley View, Vista del Lago

Sunkist: Arroyo Valley, Fontana, Jurupa Hills, Kaiser, San Gorgonio, Summit

Freelance teams: Banning, Temescal Canyon