DENVER — The basic requirements for a flag football player are as follows: a quick burst of speed for position and separation; swiveling hips for elusive jukes; the ability to throw, catch or defend — and, even better, do all three well.
You know, pretty much those skills you see on display every week in NFL games.
However, those aren’t the only things that will make a player a prime pick for the U.S. men’s or women’s team when flag football make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.
USA Football — which in April was certified by the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic committee as the first-ever national governing body for football in the United States — is taking a deep dive into just what skills and characteristics make an ideal flag football player. The organization responsible for picking what’s sure to be a star-studded roster is leaving nothing to chance to bring home a gold medal. It’s always on the lookout for even more talent, no matter the level of football experience or even the sport.
Time is ticking, too, because three Super Bowls from now, the Olympics will be on deck. Skills specific to flag football need to be honed ( if any NFL player wants to give it a go) and chemistry built (it’s more nuanced than showing up for the Pro Bowl, which has included the flag game as part of its exhibition activities since the NFL’s 2022 season).