An exciting new chapter in Pahrump Valley High School athletics is officially underway, as the school announces the creation of its first girls’ flag football team. Head Coach Jeff Corbett, a familiar face on campus to many students, is leading the charge to bring this fast-growing sport to life. After several years of persistent advocacy and planning, Corbett is thrilled to see the team become a reality—and even more excited to see the girls take the field with the correct lines finally in place.
The journey began last January with a short-lived winter trial. “We got about 20 girls who were interested and wanted to kind of start,” Corbett explained. “But then track season started and that really ended things before we got going.” Still, that initial group showed him there was genuine enthusiasm for the sport. “I’m excited about the level of interest. It’s new, it’s fun—and I’m not too worried about having enough girls come out.”
What sets this year’s effort apart is that girls’ flag football at PVHS is now a fully sanctioned team rather than just a club. Under Title IX, which mandates that schools provide equivalent sports opportunities for girls when a boys’ program exists, the team was able to bypass the typical three-year probationary period required for new clubs. Corbett has officially taken on the role of head coach, and while an assistant coach has not yet been appointed, the groundwork has been laid to build a strong program from the start.
The inaugural season will officially begin on November 15, with games beginning in December. There will be no tryouts—any girl who wants to join will be welcomed onto the team. The season is expected to run through early February, overlapping with basketball season and giving girls another athletic opportunity during the colder months.
When asked who the team will face, Corbett said the schedule will include opponents from Las Vegas. “Nothing has been finalized yet, but once we are closer to the season, we’ll share more,” he said.
As the sport gains momentum, it’s also gaining institutional support. Nevada State University received funding from the Las Vegas Raiders to launch a women’s flag football team, presenting exciting collegiate opportunities for graduating seniors. Corbett hadn’t known about the funding until recently, but welcomed the news. “That’s really cool. It’s blowing my mind,” he said, impressed that the professional football organization is helping grow the sport at the college level.
Back at home, PVHS’s preparation for the new sport included some critical corrections to their field. The school’s turf was recently updated, but the initial field markings for flag football were inaccurate—something Corbett learned during a conversation with a Las Vegas coach at a football game. “He said, ‘Hey, your lines are too wide,’” Corbett recalled. “And, yeah, he was right. They were regular football lines, not flag football.”
After raising the issue, the school was able to have the lines corrected at no cost to the district. The company responsible for the turf installation agreed to fix their mistake after it was shown that the incorrect lines were a result of their error. Now, the field includes the proper purple markings for a 7-on-7 game, which requires a narrower, 80-yard playing surface (plus 10-yard end zones on either side, making a total of 100 yards).
Corbett explained the structure of the game: it’s played in four 15-minute quarters with a running clock, which only stops for penalties, timeouts, and during the last two minutes of each half. “It’s a running clock because the game moves fast,” he noted. “But in the last two minutes, the clock stops just like in regular football.”
The program already has a foundation of committed athletes. Corbett said he’s confident in a core group of about 15 girls, some of whom participated in summer workouts designed to help them adjust to the different movement patterns and play styles required for flag football. “We were doing some beginner stuff just to get them used to moving differently,” he said. “The enthusiasm is definitely there.”
Beyond the technical preparations, Corbett is excited about what the new program means for the school and its students. “I’m ecstatic—giving our girl students another opportunity for a sport, something that’s going to be in the Olympics, is big,” he said. “Kids are excited about it. I’ve been hearing the buzz, and now it’s finally happening.”
The addition of girls’ flag football is more than just another sport on the calendar—it’s a meaningful step toward expanding opportunities, leveling the playing field, and giving PVHS students a new avenue to shine.
