ORGANIZATIONS

The global governing body for American football, including flag football, with over 75 member nations. IFAF hosts biannual World Championships and spearheaded flag football's inclusion as an official Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

A premier tournament operator that grew from U.S. roots into an internationally recognized flag football organization, hosting national championships and the world's largest flag football tournament, certified by Guinness World Records in 2025 with nearly 12,000 participants.

The official flag football league of the NFL and the largest youth flag football organization in the U.S., with over 500,000 athletes competing in all 50 states. NFL Flag also runs a schools program that has reached an estimated 1.3 million students since 2014.

The officially certified National Governing Body (NGB) for American football in the U.S. and the sole U.S. member of IFAF. USA Football selects, trains, and leads the U.S. Men's and Women's Flag National Teams, including for the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The national rule-making body for high school athletics across 51 member state associations, serving nearly 20,000 high schools. In 2025, NFHS published the first-ever official national flag football rules for the high school game, recognizing it as the nation's fastest-growing emerging sport.

One of the leading flag football league and tournament operators in the United States, running adult and youth recreational and competitive leagues nationwide with a focus on community-based participation and accessible play for all ages.

A leading competitive flag football organization in the U.S. offering youth, women's, and men's divisions. The AFFL is pioneering professional flag football with a planned pro division launching in 2026, aiming to establish flag football as a top-tier spectator sport.

A national flag football organization running one of the country's largest tournament circuits, including the biggest female flag football tournament series in the U.S. In addition to its own independent events, FFL operates official NFL Flag leagues and hosts a national championship. Over 10 years in operation.

The governing body for collegiate recreational sports in the United States, operating six regional networks across the country. NIRSA runs the de facto national collegiate flag football competition through its Championship Series, making it the primary home of flag football at the university level.

A national youth flag football league for Pre-K through 8th grade, powered by Under Armour and backed by Unrivaled Sports (Harris Blitzer). Operates across 32 regions throughout North America with seasonal leagues running year-round in Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer.

A youth flag football and multi-sport league operator running programs for grades K–8 across 22 states and 70+ locations nationwide. Offers 5v5 flag football for most grade levels and 7v7 for older players, with a particularly strong presence in California, Texas, and Florida.