Flag football will be included in the 2028 Olympics, and Canadian university sports are actively involved in nurturing talent for the national women’s team. U Sports and Football Canada have announced a partnership to introduce women’s flag football as a pilot sport for the 2027-28 season. This initiative was revealed during U Sports’ annual general meeting in St. John’s.
A pilot sport, such as women’s flag football, has a lower threshold for participation and a five-year evaluation period to determine its suitability for full-sport status. According to U Sports CEO Pierre Arsenault, this move aligns with the organization’s focus on providing gender-inclusive opportunities in sports.
Women’s flag football has already gained traction in Quebec, with the RSEQ conference hosting eight teams since 2021. The University of Montreal recently clinched the title, showcasing the growing popularity of the sport. This development has been welcomed by athletes like Elisabeth Ashkar, a quarterback from Blainville, who sees it as a pathway for young girls to pursue flag football at the university level.
The upcoming world championship in Duesseldorf will feature a Canadian team dominated by Quebec players. Additionally, around 500 women currently participate in flag football at 14 Ontario universities through the Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Football Association.
Players like Samantha Hopkins from Calgary, a defensive back on the national team, are optimistic about the sport’s future. Hopkins hopes for improved resources, better practice schedules, and increased support from universities for student-athletes like herself. The elevated status of flag football opens doors for high school athletes to transition into collegiate programs, retaining talent within Canada.
With the upcoming world championship offering Olympic qualification opportunities for 2028, the spotlight is on the development of women’s flag football. Head coach Rachel Lessard emphasizes the need for standardized competition and increased services for athletes across all provinces.
The inclusion of women’s flag football will expand U Sports’ championship offerings to 24, including 13 women’s sports. This move follows the introduction of men’s and women’s tennis as pilot sports in 2023-24. U Sports, a key sports organization in Canada, boasts a significant presence with over 15,000 student-athletes competing in varsity sports across 58 universities nationwide.