NFL Brings Flag Football to Schools Across Australia with National Kit Distribution

The National Football League today announced a nationwide initiative to provide free flag football kits to all schools across Australia, expanding access to the sport and supporting youth participation as part of its continued investment in the region.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the initiative during a youth flag football clinic on the Gold Coast during his visit to Australia, alongside International Federation of American Football (IFAF) President, Pierre Trochet. More than 400 local kids participated in the free clinic alongside Australian and International flag football players, including Global Flag Ambassador and Mexico Women’s Team Captain, Diana Flores, Australian captains, Jared Stegman and Abbie Leyshon, and former Australian NFL players Ben Graham and Arryn Sippos.

“Flag football is one of the fastest-growing sports in the world, and Australia is helping to lead the movement,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “These flag kits will give more young people an opportunity to learn the game, be part of a team and gain skills that will benefit them on and off the field.”

“We are thrilled to be making the announcement today that flag football kits will be offered to every school in Australia, with Queensland and Victoria being the first two states to receive their kits,” said NFL General Manager – Australia and New Zealand, Charlotte Offord. “We want to ensure that every school and student gets the same opportunity to play, so providing free flag football kits is a great way to ensure there are no barriers to playing the sport.”

The initiative is a key part of the league’s efforts to support youth health and wellness while expanding access to the sport, providing students with the opportunity to move, play and grow through flag football.

The program in Australia will also equip students and educators with the resources needed to introduce and grow the game at the grassroots level. Included in the kits will be 12 flag belts, three footballs, and NFL Flag curriculum and resources to support teachers introducing the game into their school.

Flag football continues to see rapid growth at a grassroots level in Australia and across the Asia-Pacific region. Started as a pilot program in ten schools in 2022, the national flag competition has now expanded to more than 500 schools and close to 100,000 students participating in state, national and international flag football tournaments. Last year, students from both the U13 (primary school) and U15 (high school) age groups flew to the US to compete in the NFL Flag International Championships.

With more than 8.8 million passionate fans in Australia, the NFL has a growing presence, and is committed to investing in the development of the game year-round across the entire Asia-Pacific region. The NFL opened its Australia office in 2022; officially launched its national flag football program in 2023; opened the NFL APAC Academy in 2024; and has established a strong, year-round calendar of events and fan activity across the country, culminating in the announcement of the first-ever regular season NFL game being played in Melbourne in September 2026.

Flag football is played by more than 20 million people in over 100 countries worldwide and continues to see rapid growth, particularly among youth and girls’ participation. The sport will make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, with growing momentum around its long-term inclusion in future Olympic programs. The NFL has continued to invest in international growth through grassroots participation, youth development and strategic partnerships, with Australia representing a key market in the league’s global expansion efforts. It is played across all states and territories in Australia, with almost 100,000 participants currently playing the game across more than 500 schools. In partnership with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) and American Football Australia (AFA) the league continues to showcase efforts to increase participation and inspire the next generation.