As we marvel at the success of the talented local high school girls’ volleyball teams, it is interesting to analyze the sport from the first days of high school girls’ sports.
Before the early 70’s, girls’ sports were only in physical education classes and competition between schools was organized by the P.E. teachers (known as GAA) with masses of girls playing, visiting and enjoying the interactions with no scoreboards. With the development of Title IX which had a trial period form 1972-1975 before President Ford signed the final on May 27, 1975, schools were required to provide equal opportunities for girls’ and boys’ sports which include playing dates, equipment, number of participants and, at the collegiate level, equal scholarship opportunities. This basically expanded the need for success in the arena of girls’ interscholastic sports.
High school girls’ P.E. teachers began a transition into their school teams just like the boys had done for years. The first CIF volleyball girls’ volleyball championships were started with Mira Costa winning the first two (some things haven’t changed) in 1972 and 1973 while Louisville of Los Angeles won in ’74 and ’75. The next four years were dominated by our area teams. It happened in conjunction with the start of a girls’ volleyball club that was organized and coached by Dale Flickinger. The Orange County Volleyball Club teams which had started as junior high teams in 1972 were forming the majority of the rosters on the local high school teams.
