LA28: Why you may symbolize Nice Britain as flag soccer makes Olympic debut

Flag soccer is now performed by 20 million folks in additional than 100 nations and the fast progress of the ladies’s recreation was key to it changing into one in all 5 elective sports activities for LA28.

The sport has been backed closely by the NFL, which goals to assist it earn selection for Brisbane 2032 too.

The determination is due earlier than the top of 2026 so flag soccer may head into its Olympic debut understanding it is going to function in back-to-back Games.

Participation has boomed in Australia and scores of athletes are switching from Australian guidelines soccer, netball and rugby, whereas the American workforce has recruited basketball gamers.

GB’s Brittany Botterill (soccer/softball), Phoebe Schecter (equestrian), Marta Mathews (soccer), Jochebed Frimpong (athletics), Jess Allen (badminton) and Angelica Tait (athletics/snowboarding) all competed in different sports activities earlier than enjoying flag soccer.

US-born Emily Kemp even grew to become an final frisbee global community champion final yr, in the identical summer time she helped GB win the flag Euros.

“We are an elite workforce already, we’re a possible medal menace at LA28, however we’re actually aspirational so we’re trying to widen our expertise pool,” stated Chad Ehlertsen, chief government of the British American Football Association (Bafa).

“If you take a look at the highest flag gamers across the global community, they’ve typically come from sure sports activities. They have good hand-eye coordination, agility, pace, decision-making underneath strain. These are the qualities we’re in search of.

“In some ways we’re not in search of elite flag gamers, we’re in search of elite athletes which have the potential [to transfer] after which our coaches will assist them perceive the sport.”