Flag football will debut as an official sport at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. The fact that “football” is actually “American Football” and will be introduced on American soil is pretty sweet.
The rules of the sport are different than those followed in the NFL. Each team will feature 10 players total, as five players from each team take the field at a time. Even game time is different in that they will play two 20-minute halves.
Flag football is a sport that has been played in recreational associations, church leagues, and intramural programs. It is also becoming a varsity sport in a growing number of high schools as a prominent game for girls without all the violence and excessive contact.
OLY-2028-USA-FRANCE-LOS ANGELES Photo by ETIENNE LAURENT/AFP via Getty Images
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And now, it is headed to the Olympics.
But there was concern that NFL players would be excluded. Which is justified. Numerous players have clauses stipulated in their contracts that they cannot ride motorcycles, play basketball, participate in surfing, or enter volleyball tournaments. The reasons are related to the possibility of athletes becoming injured.
On Tuesday, the NFL owners passed a resolution at the Spring League Meeting that would allow its league players to participate in flag football in the 2028 Olympics.
There are some restrictions, however. Although the measure passed 32-0, there is a stipulation that only one player from each NFL team will be allowed to play. In addition, if any club has an international player on their roster, that athlete would be allowed to participate on their country’s team.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell stated:
“I think this news represents a great opportunity for the sport, for the NFL. It’s truly the next step in making NFL football and football a global sport for men and women of all ages and all opportunities across the globe. We think that’s the right thing to do, and this is a big step in accomplishing that.”
With the owner’s blessings, the league has forever advertised participation in flag football over television commercials. It is only natural for its players to become a part of history.
The NFL has worked tirelessly to bring American Football to the world. The Olympics are a huge stage to present the game to those who may not have seen it or understand the rules. If the league wants to grow the game internationally, it only makes sense to use NFL players instead of amateurs who are already playing in leagues across the country.
Few spectators who aren’t familiar with the game will not want to watch a bunch of no-names. But viewing NFL stars is a different matter. It also gives the NFL an opportunity to identify its individual teams and showcase logos. NFL players are a real draw, especially outside of the confines of Americans who are already familiar with the league teams and players.
It may not be contact American Football, but it is still the game of American Football.
NFL executive vice president of football operations Troy Vincent explained:
“We are now on a global stage, which is exciting. We can truly bring America’s greatest game on the global stage.”
It has been pointed out that participating in this sport is all fine and good until someone blows out a knee or suffers an Achilles tear. And that is certainly a possibility. But clubs will certainly ensure the players involved, and after all, it is the game of flag with minimal contact. The NFL has already gone through all the arguments about the sport when they decided to shelve the traditional Pro Bowl for flag football, which means the league is quite familiar with all the pitfalls.
2024 NFL Pro Bowl Games Geno Smith #7 of the Seattle Seahawks and NFC throws the ball while under pressure by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah #6 of the Cleveland Browns
Photo by Megan Briggs/Getty Images
This same thing occurred decades ago when pro basketball players were suddenly allowed to participate in the Olympics. Everyone pointed out twisted knees, jammed fingers, and severe hamstring pulls.
And now? Do people make any kind of fuss about NBA players playing in the Olympics? It is simply the norm nowadays.
Bringing flag football to the Olympics has been discussed for a very long time and was constantly tabled. But in 2023, the International Olympic Committee finally voted to include five sports: baseball/softball, cricket, lacrosse, squash, and flag football. This sport’s debut just happens to be featured in the country in which it was born and developed.
The NFLPA immediately got involved because it is common for team owners to shield their athletes from off-the-field activities that may cause injuries and alter a player’s career.
NFL executive Peter O’Reilly had these thoughts once the sport was accepted:
“It is the pinnacle of sport globally. Ultimately, that decision on the makeup of Team USA is a decision of USA Football and the national governing body or the governing bodies around the world in similar roles because we are thinking about Team USA.”
The decision to allow the international players an opportunity to suit up for their own country is another step towards broadening the NFL footprint. There were 113 foreign-born players on NFL rosters last year, including OT Roy Mbaeteka of the Browns who hails from Nigeria.
That opportunity for athletes to represent their countries is an asset to the league. The message would then be spread into their country, which would find its own following during the Olympics.
There would certainly have to be some coordination with the NFLPA, various NFL clubs, USA Football, and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) on the details.
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The playing surface is smaller than an NFL field. The Olympics will feature a 70-yard by 25-yard field, including 10 yards for each end zone. Teams will begin on their own 5-yard line and have four downs to make it halfway down the field via the run or pass. A down ends when a flag is removed from a player, when they go out of bounds, or when a forward pass hits the ground.
If a team reaches the halfway point in four downs, it has four more downs to score a touchdown. If it is unable to do that, the other team takes possession of the ball on its own 5-yard line.
This coincides with the origins of American Football. Walter Camp took the sport of rugby and made some alterations. The first thing Camp did was to award “possession,” which didn’t change if the offensive teams failed to advance their position. Then he instituted “downs.”
The origins of the game were 15 plays to drive the entire field. But this system bogged down because, many times, teams could not move or improve their position much and rarely crossed midfield. So, Camp changed that to gaining 5 yards with three downs, with a new set of downs if the distance was achieved. When the forward pass was created in 1906, end zones eventually needed to be added, and the rules were changed in 1912 to four downs to gain 10 yards.
In flag football, after a touchdown is scored, a one-point try is from the 5-yard line, or two points from the 10-yard line.
So, the only question remains: which player from the Browns will be involved in Team USA?