GB seeks cross-sport athletes for Olympic flag football — SkimNews
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- British American Football Association (Bafa) is recruiting male and female athletes from other sports to boost Great Britain's flag football team for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with about 70 already registered for trials at Loughborough College this weekend.
- GB's women's team won the European Championships in 2023 and 2025 and entered the World Championships ranked third, but narrowly missed Olympic qualification after a 20-19 loss to Mexico in the bronze-medal game.
- The NFL is backing a new professional flag football league for men and women launching next summer in partnership with TMRW Sports, co-founded by Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods, with investors including Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Serena Williams, Billie Jean King and Alex Morgan.
- Flag football is now played by 20 million people in more than 100 countries and was selected as one of five optional sports for LA28, with a decision on Brisbane 2032 inclusion due before the end of 2026.
- A first talent qualifier for the pro league was held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday with 57 international hopefuls, including GB players, ahead of a Pro Flag Showcase planned for Super Bowl week in February.
- Several current GB players transferred from other sports: Phoebe Schecter (equestrian), Marta Mathews (football), Jochebed Frimpong (athletics), Jess Allen (badminton), Angelica Tait (athletics/snowboarding) and Brittany Botterill (football/softball).
- Chad Ehlertsen, Bafa's chief executive, said they are seeking 'elite athletes that have the potential [to transfer]' with good hand-eye coordination, agility, speed and decision-making under pressure, ahead of the 2027 European Championships and final LA28 qualifying spots in June 2028.
Why it matters: The recruitment push gives GB — ranked third in the world and a self-described potential medal threat at LA28 — a broader talent pool before final qualifying spots open in June 2028. With flag football now played by 20 million people and an NFL-funded pro league creating a professional landing spot, athletes in non-Olympic sports like netball and ultimate frisbee now have a concrete Olympic pathway that didn't exist a decade ago.
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