This may come across as a minor deal to some, but is definitely a long term boon for the game. I can see flag football taking off in the years to come, a positive thing for our version of the sport as well.
I hear Gronk wants to be on the team for the USA.
I thought you were joking!
full of shinanigans as I am that was very true
Why not full contact?
I’m guessing it’s easier to get a higher amount of players to try out for a national team in South Korea and other countries if there is no tackling involved. Also they can play more flag football games in a shorter amount of time. For example tackle football typically would be played twice in two weeks and flag football could be played +14 times in two weeks I’m guessing. Higher amount of participants = more games which = more money.
I had completely forgotten the whole one game per week thing.
I pretty much never watch the Olympics, but this could be interesting for those who do. Plus, I agree that it may help expand North American/gridiron football to other parts of the globe.
I assume the IOC will be using American rules (4 down, 11 players), so not as convinced that it will help the Canadian game to close the gap on its larger cousin.
The rest of the world is using 4 downs and 11 players. Not sure who will count the steamboats and how many. Will it be 3 steamboats or 4?
Less injuries
Gives those with good football skills who do not play contact a chance to shine.
Are there kickers in flag football?
You’ve got a one track mind there, BTGP.
. Watch out or your workload may double.
there was when I played
Last flag football I saw, it was live hitting at the LOS.
that is the way it was played in the last flag league I played in. Then again, that was over 30 yrs ago.
The CFL should be all in on this. Organize a mini flag football tournament in the offseason or even an East vs. West all-star game before the pre-season kicks off.
It could happen. Randy is currently licking his chops.
https://twitter.com/RandyAmbrosie/status/1713930071994413111
A reminder for those attending Grey Cup festivities that they have set up a football field at the John Weir Foote Armory and have flag football games running in multiple age groups over several days.
Go cheer on the future football players and future Olympians!
American flag football is actually played 5v5 on a tiny field 25 yards wide, with 10 yard long end zones and 50 yards excluding the end zones. Teams have 4 downs to get to centre, then 4 downs to score. In Canada, the field is a bit shorter and teams only have 3 downs.
There is no kicking, there is no blocking, you can only rush the QB if you start the play 7 yards behind the LOS.
Here is a video of a reasonably competitive USA vs Italy game, which is likely to be structured very similarly to how Olympic flag football is structured. It’s kind of amusing to see people here and elsewhere online discussing this like it’s regular gridiron football just with no tackling.
I doubt that we see very many CFL/NFL players, though there will be a few that have the correct skillset and can make their country’s team.