The North Catholic High School flag football team warms up during practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Flag football is now an official PIAA sport, even though some high schools in Butler County have been training teams for the game for several years.
Flag football teams from North Catholic and Mars Area school districts faced off against one another in a season-opening girls flag football game Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Seneca Valley High School’s flag football team is also in the midst of its season.
Tim Aguglia, head coach of North Catholic’s flag football team, said the school has had a program since 2023, and it has gone from 19 players to around 30 in that time.
He said the sport differs from typical high school football in that the plays unfold seven on seven, and there is no blocking allowed between the offense and defense. Additionally, the first person to possess the ball after a snap cannot run it — but the second person who possesses it can run or pass.
This adds up to a fast-paced game that makes the job of the quarterback difficult.
“It's challenging to play quarterback, too, because you can't impede the blitzer,” Aguglia said. “The rusher starts seven yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and once the ball is snapped, the quarterback cannot cross the line of scrimmage.”
But the game has managed to excite a lot of girls in the school, and North Catholic has enough players to have both a varsity and junior varsity team for the sport. Aguglia added that his coaching staff is made up of men and women, some former flag football players of North Catholic, so the team has been developing well.
The move by the PIAA to sanction the game has changed some of the rules compared to what schools were playing with prior to this year, but Aguglia said they are simple to work through.
“There have been some further rule changes and adjustments, but I think we're in a really good spot this year,” he said.
North Catholic flag football head coach Tim Aguglia, right, discusses plays with the team during flag football practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic flag football assistant coach Chris Rizzo discusses offensive plays with the team during flag football practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic freshman Teresa Ravotti runs drills during flag football practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic senior Lizzie Fabian runs the ball in a scrimmage during flag football practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic freshman Alma Arroyo Martinez works on drills during flag football practice on Thursday, March 19. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley High School sophomore Jenna Berg practices passing the ball during a flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley flag football coach Chris Eden speaks with players during flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Seneca Valley flag football team warm up during flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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The Seneca Valley flag football team huddle before flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley High School junior Elliot Gawne warms up during flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Seneca Valley High School senior Abbi Speicher passes the ball during a scrimmage as part of flag football practice at Ryan Gloyer Middle School on Tuesday, March 24. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Gabby Valentine hands the ball to Simone Sharpless in a season-opening girls flag football game against Mars on Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Gabby Valentine looks to pass the ball in a season-opening girls flag football game against Mars on Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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North Catholic's Gabby Valentine hands the ball off to Lizzie Fabian in a season-opening girls flag football game against Mars on Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Gemma Fratto runs the ball as North Catholic players, from left, Ally Fabian and Naomi Wentz chase her in a season-opening girls flag football game on Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Mackenzie Powell runs the ball in a season-opening girls flag football game against North Catholic Monday, March 16, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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Mars' Gemma Fratto loses her flag to North Catholic's Katelyn Phillips in a season-opening girls flag football game Monday, March 16, 2026, at Mars High School. Matthew Brown/Butler Eagle
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