### Flag Football Tournament Kicks Off in OEFA
The Organization of Student American Football of Baja California (OEFA) is set to launch its first-ever Flag Football tournament, marking a historic milestone in its 35+ years of existence. The tournament will commence on Thursday, October 3.
Ten institutions will participate in the inaugural season of this discipline, which will honor one of the sport’s founding figures in Baja California: César Nafarrate Orozco. “The season will carry the name of the pioneer of Women’s Flag Football in Baja California, César Nafarrate Orozco, who has been integral in developing the sport in the state over the last 20 years,” said Argenis García Luna, the commissioner of OEFA.
This initiative aims to evolve the organization, offering Varsity and Junior Varsity (JV) divisions, with separate categories for men and women. The JV category will feature both male and female teams for players born in 2009 and 2010, while the Varsity division will be exclusively for female players born in 2006, 2007, and 2008.
Participating programs include the Federal Preparatory School Lázaro Cárdenas (PFLC) with three teams, Instituto México with three teams, and Universidad Xochicalco with teams from both their Tijuana and Mexicali campuses. Universidad Iberoamericana (Ibero) is set to return to the OEFA lineup with two teams, while the Baja California High School College (Cobach), Nueva Tijuana campus, will field five teams.
Additionally, Cobach La Mesa will participate with three teams, Colegio Argentino Los Pibes (CALP) from Ensenada with one team, and Centro de Enseñanza Técnica y Superior (Cetys) from Tijuana with another team. Club Galgos will join with two teams.
Matches will take place on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays at the participating institutions’ fields. The season is scheduled to run for eight weeks, concluding in early December.
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### Expansion of Flag Football Across Mexico
In other related news, the expansion of Flag Football continues to gain momentum across Mexico. According to recent reports, multiple regions, including Mexico City and the state of Jalisco, have announced new tournaments aimed at both youth and adult categories.
Flag Football has been growing in popularity, especially among women, thanks in part to the efforts of numerous organizations dedicated to promoting gender equality in sports. Initiatives like those by the Mexican Federation of American Football (FMFA) have played a critical role in fostering this growth by offering workshops and clinics for coaches and players.
As Alejandro Jaimes, president of FMFA, stated, “Flag Football provides an excellent gateway for more people to experience the sport of American Football without the physical intensity of tackle football. It’s a positive development for sports culture in Mexico.”
High schools and colleges across many states are now incorporating Flag Football into their athletic programs, attracting a diverse group of participants and fostering a sense of community and sportsmanship among young athletes.
With growing support and participation, the future of Flag Football looks promising, signaling a brighter and more inclusive landscape for sports in Mexico.