Flag Football Growth | NFL Football Operations

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</li> </ul> <a class="nav-header__menu-esc" href="#main-nav-btn">Close Menu</a> </div> </nav> </header>  <div class="content-frame topic " id="contentFrame"> <div class="hero hero-topic"> <button class="reduce-motion-toggle" data-pause="Reduce Motion" data-play="Resume Motion"><span>Reduce Motion</span></button> <div class="hero__bg hero__bg--img" style="background-position: center center;background-image: url(/media/rmjbpqn4/qmws8pahlvfvxsbtccs3.png?width=2000&quality=90&v=1d9e0392ff65210);"> </div> <div class="content"> <h1><span>Flag Football Growth</span></h1> <p></p> </div> </div> <div id="trigger"> <div aria-haspopup="true" class="social-share"> <h3>Share This Page</h3> <ul> <li><a class="share" href="#">Share</a></li> <li> <a class="facebook" href="#" data-method="feed" data-link="https://operations.nfl.com/learn-the-game/flag-football/flag-football-growth/" 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title="Flag Football for All"><span>Flag Football for All</span></a></li> <li><a class="active" href="/learn-the-game/flag-football/flag-football-growth/" title="Flag Football Growth"><span>Flag Football Growth</span></a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <h5>According to the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.americanfootball.sport/" target="_blank">International Federation of American Football</a>, 2.4 million kids under 17 are playing organized flag football in the U.S., while millions more participate in flag globally.</h5> <p>IFAF is the global governing body responsible for growing American football around the world and oversees the regulation, competition, performance, and development parts of the game.</p> <p>“Tackle [football] will continue as the professional game played in the NFL and its amateur pipeline from youth through college,” said Vincent, Sr. “But flag will dominate in neighborhoods, schools and recreational leagues around the world. It's happening in front of our eyes.”</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <h4><strong>International Expansion </strong></h4> <p>Across IFAF’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.americanfootball.sport/member-federations/" target="_blank">75 national member federations</a>, flag football is expected to overtake tackle football worldwide in terms of organized participation opportunities in the next few years.</p> <aside class="info normal"> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://operations.nfl.com/updates/football-ops/nfl-and-ifaf-announce-drew-brees-as-global-flag-football-ambassador/" target="_blank">Meet the members of the Global Flag Football Ambassador program</a></p> </aside> <p>To amplify and support the long-term growth and momentum of flag football across the world, the NFL and IFAF launched the Global Flag Football Ambassadors program in 2022. Ambassadors support the global efforts of IFAF and the NFL to increase international awareness, interest and participation in flag football and drive the development of the game.</p> <p>Flag football competitions have been a major part of the IFAF’s efforts since 2002, when IFAF held the first world championships for men’s and women’s flag football. Tournaments now occur every other year.</p> <div class="full-width"> <table border="0" width="905"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Year </strong></p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Men’s Flag World Champions </strong></p> </td> <td> <p><strong>Women’s Flag World Champions </strong></p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2002 </p> </td> <td> <p>Austria </p> </td> <td> <p>Sweden </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2004 </p> </td> <td> <p>Austria </p> </td> <td> <p>Mexico </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2006 </p> </td> <td> <p>France </p> </td> <td> <p>France </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2008 </p> </td> <td> <p>Canada </p> </td> <td> <p>Mexico </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2010 </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> <td> <p>Canada </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2012 </p> </td> <td> <p>Austria </p> </td> <td> <p>Mexico </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2014 </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> <td> <p>Canada </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2016 </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> <td> <p>Panama </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2018 </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> </tr> <tr> <td> <p>2021* </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> <td> <p>United States of America </p> </td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p><strong><em> *The 2020 IFAF Championships were postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. </em></strong></p> </div> <p>In 2022, flag football made its first appearance at The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama.</p> <p>The United States’ men’s team captured a gold medal in a victory over Italy. Mexico and star quarterback Diana Flores defeated the U.S. women to win the gold medal.</p> <aside class="sidebar" id="expandable-aside-ff6e505b-e9d5-40a2-9507-ce5d4d88d4e3"> <div class="intro"> <img src="/media/uftdy5ca/ap23054732549676.jpg?mode=max&width=300" alt=""> <p>Flag in the Olympics </p> </div> <div class="full"> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"><span class="normaltextrun">The International Olympic Committee voted in October 2023 to include flag football in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.americanfootball.sport/" target="_blank">International Federation of American Football</a><span class="normaltextrun"> (IFAF) led the push to elevate flag to an Olympic sport with support from the NFL and </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.usafootball.com/" target="_blank">USA Football</a><span class="normaltextrun">. </span></p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph">An estimated 20 million in more than 100 countries currently play flag, which is growing in tandem with the NFL’s popularity across the globe. Its popularity stems from its accessibility and inclusivity, most notably as a way for women to participate in football. It can be played by people of all ages and abilities on any field, gym, or open space and its non-contact and low-cost nature make it a perfect option for schools and recreational leagues worldwide.</p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"><span class="normaltextrun">“We want fans to know that flag presents a real, accessible pathway to participation in American football, including and especially in underserved regions,” said </span>NFL Executive Vice President of Football Operations <span class="normaltextrun">Troy Vincent, Sr. “We want to inspire millions more people of all ages, genders and abilities to put down their phones and get involved in athletics. We want to empower more women, raise up communities and change lives through the unique life-transferable values of American football.”</span> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"><span class="normaltextrun">Vincent also believes NFL players will volunteer to represent their home countries. At the beginning of the 2022 NFL season, there were 98 foreign-born players on NFL rosters, with 58 playing at least one snap. By 2028, this number is expected to grow. </span> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph"> </p> <p style="margin: 0in; vertical-align: baseline;" class="paragraph">“We are convinced that flag football will offer an exciting new dimension to the Olympic Games – uniting them, for the first time in history, with America’s number one sport in its youngest, most accessible and inclusive format, which is already spearheading extraordinary growth, particularly among youth audiences,” said Pierre Trochet, IFAF President. “We have no doubt that inclusion in the Olympic Games will further accelerate this dynamic.”</p> </div> </div> </div> <a data-text-swap="Close" data-text-original="Expand" class="button-red" href="#expandable-aside-ff6e505b-e9d5-40a2-9507-ce5d4d88d4e3">Expand</a> </aside> <p>The 2022 World Games marked the first time that flag football was part of an international, multi-sport event. More than 3,500 athletes from approximately 100 countries competed in the World Games with 192 competing in flag football competitions.</p> <p>“Being a part of the sports program in the 2022 World Games formalizes flag football as an international sport, which promotes the values and benefits of the game to fans around the world,” said Troy Vincent Sr., NFL executive vice president of football operations. “Flag football affords men and women, boys and girls, of all ages, body types, and athletic skills the opportunity to enjoy the values, fun and competitive environment that only football offers.” </p> <p>Momentum is growing behind the sports which has seen the NFL start NFL FLAG operations in several countries, with the highest participation in Canada, China, Germany, Mexico, and the United Kingdom. Although there isn’t an office in Japan, flag football is part of the physical education curriculum in primary schools with Australia and Ghana launching operations in 2022 and Kenya and New Zealand in 2023.</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block article-half "> <div class="content"> <h4><strong>The Future of Football in the States </strong></h4> <p>Across the U.S., the NFL, and its clubs are working with more than 2,000 schools to integrate flag football into the physical education curriculum. They are also working with eight states — Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, and New York on sanctioning flag football as a varsity sport in high schools.</p> <p>The growth is largely attributed to NFL FLAG, with more than 1,600 teams serving over 620,000 youth athletes (ranging from 4-17) in all 50 states. Behind the increase are NFL FLAG’s strategic campaigns and partnerships to bring flag football to thousands of schools, communities and families around the country.</p> <figure class="video-right"> <div class="video-wrapper"> <iframe title="Video" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/861399572?app_id=122963" style="width: 100%; height: 100%;" frameborder="0" webkitallowfullscreen="" mozallowfullscreen="" allowfullscreen=""></iframe> </div> <figcaption><p>The NFL hosted the Flag All 32 Summer Invitational in Washington, D.C. in July 2023.</p></figcaption> </figure> <p>College conferences across the country are recognizing flag football as an intercollegiate sport. The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics declared women’s flag football as an emerging sport in 2020.</p> <p>The Atlantic East Conference announced its plan to be the first NCAA Conference – Division I, II or III – to offer varsity female flag football with an anticipated start date of Spring 2025. While varsity level status will not begin until Spring 2025, there are plans to offer club level opportunities and weekend tournaments for all participating in Spring 2024.</p> <p>For the past three years, the NAIA has hosted the Women’s Flag Championship at Atlanta’s Mercedes-Benz Stadium with <a rel="noopener" href="https://ottawabraves.com/news/2023/5/20/womens-flag-football-womens-flag-captures-3rd-naia-championship-defeats-thomas-18-13.aspx" target="_blank">Ottawa University capturing the 2023 title</a>.</p> <p>Although the number of programs at the collegiate level continues to grow, high school flag football serves as the main pipeline for growth domestically with women continuing to drive some of the fastest growth in the game.</p> <aside class="info normal"> <p><a rel="noopener" href="https://nflflag.com/events/championships" target="_blank">Learn more about the 2024 NFL FLAG Championships at Pro Bowl Games</a></p> </aside> <p>With recreational flag football as important as ever, NFL FLAG is keeping a close eye on growth in that area with its partner, <a rel="noopener" href="https://rcxsports.com/" target="_blank">RCX Sports</a>. The official operating partner of NFL FLAG, RCX Sports announced a new partnership with <a rel="noopener" href="https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3818553-1&h=673150775&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnirsa.net%2F&a=NIRSA%3A+Leaders+in+Collegiate+Recreation" target="_blank" data-anchor="?t=0&l=en&o=3818553-1&h=673150775&u=https%3A%2F%2Fnirsa.net%2F&a=NIRSA%3A+Leaders+in+Collegiate+Recreation">NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation</a> in 2023 to increase flag football participation, programming and training across college campuses in the intramural and club sports arenas.</p> <p>The partnership is a continuation of RCX’s commitment to equip sports leagues with the resources, training and tools they need to promote accessible and inclusivity in the sport. </p> <p style="text-align: left;" align="center">"Not only is flag football growing rapidly across in the youth sports arena, but this collaboration also gives college students who want to continue their football playing careers past high school a chance to get back on the field," said Vincent, Sr. "Flag football is poised for even greater expansion as the cornerstone of the NFL's domestic and international participation and development strategies."</p> </div> </div> <div class="content-block related-content"><div class="content"> <div class="related-content-container clear"> <h2 class="header">Related Content</h2> <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/the-nfl-s-international-impact/international-flag-football/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/6020/ifaf-womens-4.jpg?rxy=0.46786632390745503,0.3269230769230769&width=352&height=235&v=1db34522cb2a770&quality=85" alt="International Flag Football"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">International Flag Football</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/learn-the-game/flag-football/flag-football-for-all/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/hh3hxijz/ap23038822019357.jpg?width=352&height=235&v=1db03b4528cfe10&quality=85" alt="Flag Football for All"> </div> <div class="title-container game"> <h3 class="title">Flag Football for All</h3> <p></p> </div> </a>  <a class="related-content" href="/journey-to-the-nfl/play-football/"> <div class="image-container kenburns"> <img class="related-image scale" width="352" height="235" src="https://operations.nfl.com/media/3813/youth-landing-page-hero-v3.jpg?rxy=0.4972067039106145,0.42016806722689076&width=352&height=235&v=1d528527f91f980&quality=85" alt="Play Football"> </div> <div class="title-container players"> <h3 class="title">Play Football</h3> <p>Promoting the values of football.</p> </div> </a>  </div>  </div></div> <div class="content-block pagetop game"> <div class="content"> <h3><a id="pagetop">Back to Top</a></h3> </div> </div> <div class="footer"> <div class="content"> <a href="/"> <img class="logo" src="/images/logo_nflops-lightbg300@2x.png" alt="NFL Football Operations Logo" style="width: 300px;"> </a> <ul class="footer-links"> <li><a href="/">Home</a></li> <li><a href="/#gameday--homepage-block">Gameday</a></li> <li><a href="/#learn-the-game-homepage-block">Learn the Game</a></li> <li><a href="/#officiating--homepage-block">Officiating</a></li> <li><a href="/#journey-to-the-nfl-homepage-block">Journey to the NFL</a></li> <li><a href="/#the-rules-homepage-block">The Rules</a></li> <li><a href="/#inside-football-ops-homepage-block">Inside Football Ops</a></li> <li><a href="/updates/">Updates</a></li> <li><a href="/search/">Search</a></li> </ul> <p class="intro-description"> NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. 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