By Lydia Jane Allison
Official partnership will help accelerate the growth of Flag Football at all levels in the UK
June 27, 2023: The National Football League and British American Football Association (BAFA) have announced a strategic partnership that will see the NFL and the National Governing Body for American Football in Great Britain accelerate the delivery and participation of Flag Football at all levels of the game.
The partnership will see an increase of Flag Football programs delivered within primary and secondary schools, community teams, Universities and across the NFL Foundation UK, with a focus on creating more pathways to play for women and girls. Education programs for teachers, parents and sports delivery professionals, will also be introduced as part of a shared goal to upskill and recruit more coaches to the game.
Flag Football is the most accessible and inclusive format of football, and one of the fastest growing sports globally. The non-contact and gender-equal game requires minimal equipment and is played by over 20 million people around the world across more than 100 countries, with women and girls driving some of the fastest growth.
“Growing the game of Flag Football across the world is a major strategic priority for the NFL, and our partnership with the British American Football Association will help us continue to accelerate the development of the game in the UK in the years ahead,” said Henry Hodgson, Managing Director NFL UK. “We know Flag Football helps young people discover the importance of sportsmanship, teamwork and friendship both on and off the field and with this BAFA partnership we will inspire and enable more people to play Flag Football in the UK than ever before.”
“The NFL and BAFA share a mutual ambition to develop and grow the game of Flag Football, providing more opportunities for young people to play the sport,” added Pete Ackerley, BAFA Chief Executive Officer. “BAFA’s deep knowledge of the sport and our breadth of network will no doubt complement the work the NFL has already done to engage new audiences and help to create a culture of lifelong participation whilst establishing the best structures to deliver sustainable growth in all formats of the game.”
NFL Flag Football is currently played in 470 schools by 28,000 people in 26 regions across the United Kingdom.
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About the NFL Foundation UK
The NFL Foundation UK launched in 2021 as part of the NFL’s international charitable endeavors and in partnership with the Mayor of London’s ‘Sport Unites’ fund that saw the duo commit a combined £1 million to the deliver NFL Foundation UK’s work in the capital.
The program has since received funding from Sport England to expand beyond London to Manchester and Birmingham, using the power of sport to reach communities to help achieve positive outputs and outcomes for young people around education, employment, building inclusive communities and improving physical and mental wellbeing.
The NFL Foundation delivers NFL Flag Football programs, training, and equipment to help young people aged 12-20 access positive pathways and develop the skills, confidence, and self-belief to create their own future, impact society and reach their potential. NFL Flag has been proven to be a strong engagement tool with diverse and underserved groups, in particular young people.
The program currently works with 15 community groups across 18 London boroughs, delivering youth football to engage over 4000 young people in the capital, 50% of which are female and 78% who are from a diverse ethnic background, helping underrepresented young people have equal access to opportunities.
About Vision 28
Vision 28 is the strategic partnership between the NFL and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to further accelerate the global development of flag football, one of the world’s fastest growing disciplines and the cornerstone of the NFL and IFAF’s participation and development strategies. As part of the partnership, the NFL and IFAF are working together to promote the fast-paced, non[1]contact, accessible and inclusive format, which is currently played by 20 million worldwide. Flag football is also one of nine sports shortlisted for inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028.
COURTESY NFLmedia.com
