Flag Football Seeks New Talent for Great Britain Ahead of Olympic Debut
With flag football set to make its Olympic debut at the LA28 Games, Great Britain is scouting athletes from diverse sporting backgrounds to bolster its chances.
Great Britain's flag football team is actively seeking new talent to enhance its prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, where the sport will make its debut. The team is looking to recruit athletes from various sports who possess the potential to transition to flag football.
The non-contact version of American football is experiencing rapid global growth, a key factor in its inclusion in the LA28 Games. Great Britain's women's team has already achieved significant success, winning the European Championships in 2023 and 2025 and holding a third-place world ranking entering the recent World Championships. Despite narrowly missing an Olympic spot at the Worlds after a 20-19 loss to Mexico in the bronze-medal game, the team aims to leverage its existing talent pool and attract new athletes.
Athletes with strong hand-eye coordination, agility, speed, and the ability to make decisions under pressure are being sought. "We are an elite team already, we're a potential medal threat at LA28, but we're really aspirational so we're looking to widen our talent pool," said Chad Ehlertsen, chief executive of the British American Football Association (Bafa). He added, "In many ways we're not looking for elite flag players, we're looking for elite athletes that have the potential [to transfer] and then our coaches will help them understand the game."
Many current GB players have backgrounds in other sports, including netball, football, athletics, badminton, equestrian, and snowboarding. For example, Grace Conway transitioned from netball, a sport not in the Olympics, and now has a chance to compete at the highest level. "I think it's every athlete's dream to play their sport at the highest level, and what's higher than the Olympics?" Conway stated.
Internationally, the sport is receiving significant backing, including from the NFL, which aims for flag football's inclusion in the 2032 Brisbane Games as well. A new professional league, backed by TMRW Sports and notable investors such as Rory McIlroy, Tiger Woods, Tom Brady, and Serena Williams, is set to launch, with its first talent qualifier recently held in London. This league is seen as a significant pathway for athletes aiming for elite competition.
"We want flag football's elite, and we want the cross-sport athlete who doesn't even know yet that flag is their sport," said Champ Kelly, TMRW's senior vice president of flag football operations.
Great Britain's women's program will hold trials at Loughborough College on Saturday and Sunday. These trials are part of the team's preparation cycle leading up to the 2027 European Championships, after which the final qualification spots for the LA28 Games will be determined in June 2028. Current players encourage potential recruits to consider the opportunity, emphasizing the sport's fun nature and the chance to become an Olympian.