SPRING, TX — Callie Brownson tugged at the brim of her black USA Football cap and surveyed the dozens of Olympic hopefuls who knelt at her feet on a turf field in a suburban recreational sports complex.
Brownson explained that over the next several hours, she and other coaches would closely watch how athletes performed in drills and interacted with teammates to discern who could potentially represent Team USA when flag football makes its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
“We’re also looking for people worthy of wearing those three letters across your chest,” Brownson said.
Flag football, known colloquially as “flag,” is one of the fastest-growing sports in the United States, where it is gaining traction mainly among women and girls. However, flag still lacks an established athlete pathway comparable to longtime Olympic sports that boast vast networks of youth clubs, college teams and high-powered professional leagues.
In the run-up to the L.A. Games, officials at USA Football, the national governing body responsible for tackle and flag football, are scouring the country for untapped potential by holding regional talent identification camps open to adults and kids ages 11 to 17.
