For years, Powderpuff has been a long-standing tradition at Camas High School, bringing students together for a night of football, cheer leading, and school spirit. Now, a new opportunity for female athletes wanting to play football is beginning to take shape alongside it: girls flag football.

Although the two activities may seem similar, students and coaches said they serve very different purposes.

“Powderpuff is more casual,” senior Emily Parker, one of the students helping organize the event, said. “It’s mainly meant to be a senior event where everyone can have fun.”

Powderpuff originally started as a “gender role swap,” where girls play football while boys take on the role of cheerleaders. Football players also help coach the teams leading up to the game.

“The guys get really into it,” Parker said. “The girls get really into it, and it’s more chill than an actual officiated sport.”

Unlike Powderpuff, the new Camas flag football program is being approached as a competitive sport with hopes for long-term growth as a regular season-long sport.

Head coach, Adam Matheson, said the idea came after girls flag football became state-sanctioned in other parts of Washington. Schools along the Interstate 5 corridor have already started programs, while Southwest Washington is still beginning to develop interest.

“We wanted to do it for our kids,” Matheson said. “We figured it was best to dive in and try to get some experience.”

The surrounding districts have not fully adopted the sport yet, so the current season is operating as a short, three-week introduction period. Players practice three evenings each week and will compete against Washougal May 29 at Doc Harris Stadium.

Assistant coach Alisa Wise said flag football focuses more on movement and strategy than physical contact.

“There’s no physical blocking or anything like that,” Wise said. “It’s more about spatial passing and running.”

Wise also said growing support for women’s flag football at the collegiate and state levels helped motivate Camas to begin its own program.

For participants, the early response has already been encouraging.

“It was so much fun,” flag football player Presley Hobbs said. “There were a lot of girls there, and it was exciting to see because Mr. Matheson really wants to get this going.”

Hobbs said she hopes younger students continue participating so the program can keep expanding after this year.

“I’m hoping the younger girls who showed up don’t just take this as a one-time thing,” Hobbs said. “I hope they continue with it and help boost the program next year.”

While Powderpuff continues to serve as a lighthearted school tradition, flag football could become something more permanent for female athletes in Camas. With growing student interest and increasing statewide support, the program may continue to expand in the years ahead.