In Waipahu, Hawaii, on Sunday night, Keliana Malama stepped onto the Waipahu High School field with relatively low personal expectations. An 8th grader from Kawananakoa Middle School, she was one of about 40 players selected to participate in a girls flag football exhibition as part of the 808 Senior PRO Bowl day. This event was a gridiron showcase for under-recruited high school seniors.

What You Need To Know

The 808 Senior PRO Bowl day was held at Waipahu High School on Sunday. It served as a showcase for underrecruited high school football seniors and an opportunity to preview the first year of Hawaii high school girls flag football. About 40 players participated in the 40-minute flag football game, with Team Mauka winning 6-0 after two weeks of preparation. It was a learning process for some players who had never played organized flag football. The Oahu ILH All-Stars beat the OIA All-Stars 7-0 in the last of four exhibitions.

Player Preparation and Challenges

Keliana Malama got in two practices with new teammates across Oahu over the past two weeks and felt she was behind in ability and preparation. She knew she couldn't tackle and had to stay 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage on defense. However, as a soccer player with an interest in rugby, she performed well for Team Mauka, pressuring quarterbacks and getting several sacks.For many of the players, ranging in age from late elementary to high school, there was an initial shyness. Coach Andrew Ganaban said their practices were held in Ewa Beach and at Roosevelt High to prepare them with Zoom sessions to learn the intricacies of the sport. The rules for 7-on-7 girls flag are different from what he's used to, with a center eligible to catch a pass and a smaller field. But for these girls who never played football before, it made it easier to teach them in this new game.

The Game Dynamics

There were some fits and starts with learning the rules. One player's would-be touchdown throw was actually out of bounds as the flag regulation area is only 80 yards. The teams went for it on fourth down almost every time, resulting in quite a few interceptions. Players were encouraged to wear soft-shell helmets, and while some had them, others didn't. All players wore a mouthguard, and there was occasional contact flagged by the six-person officiating crew.The night ended with a hard-hitting matchup between OIA and ILH seniors, coached by Sterling Carvalho and Tupu Alualu. The ILH squad won 7-0. The objective of the day was to expose seniors who weren't invited to play in January's Polynesian Bowl. The games were live-streamed.

The Impact and Future

The 808 Senior PRO Bowl day had been in the works since May, with the flag football game being an important component. The Hawaii Department of Education announced flag football as an officially sanctioned sport in August. This event was a success, with volunteers and support from coaches and the community. Coach DJ and Dawny Jones from the WEAH organization, along with the officials from the XL 808 league, are expected to be part of the high school officiating. It's a new sport, and they ran the game well and it was very competitive.This event was a preview of the debut of sanctioned Hawaii high school girls flag football that will be played by 44 public schools and a few private schools starting in February and culminating in a 12-team HHSAA tournament in April. It's an exciting time for girls' flag football in Hawaii.