Girls’ Flag Football Takes Root in Visalia
Visalia’s high schools are introducing flag football for girls, led by experienced coaches who are seeing strong participation and early success on the field.
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Visalia’s high schools are introducing flag football for girls, led by experienced coaches who are seeing strong participation and early success on the field.
Blake Duncan’s first‑play touchdown not only rewrites Visalia Unified’s record books but also signals a growing movement of girls’ flag football across the Central Valley.
Jesse Lira, a former Golden West football star, has taken on his first head coaching role at El Diamante High School, a program that has struggled to find stability in recent years. Inspired by his late coach Rod Starr, Lira emphasizes character, accountability and teamwork, drawing on Starr’s coaching philosophy. With a new coaching staff and key players like Gauge Rivas, Lira plans to implement a spread offense and 4-2-5 defense, focusing on building a positive culture and resilience among players. Despite a 0-10 record, his vision centers on fostering commitment and overcoming challenges through mentorship and teamwork.