CFL, Physical and Health Education launch national flag football initiative in schools
CFL.ca
TORONTO -- The Canadian Football League (CFL) and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) are embarking on a new five-year partnership to expand flag football education and participation in schools across Canada, by providing students with an accessible introduction to the sport, while helping educators deliver engaging and inclusive physical education experiences.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston. “By making football and flag football more accessible in schools, we're helping more young Canadians develop fundamental movement skills, experience the benefits of team sport and build lifelong connections to the game.”
Through the initiative, the CFL and PHE Canada will deliver a comprehensive Flag Football in Schools program, in English and French, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 9. Beyond introducing students to flag football in the classroom, the program is designed to create lasting connections between schools, local football programs, provincial football organizations, CFL clubs and the broader football community, helping more young Canadians continue participating in the sport beyond physical education classes.
Flag Football in Schools introduces programming specific to the flag variation of the game to build on the success of the original Move Think Learn: Football in Focus resource. Launched in 2019 for age groupings of K-3, Grades 4-6 and 7-9, the program has provided over 2,000 educators with skill-development activities, practice games and instructional tools, reaching more than 1.13 million students.
Hosted on PHE Canada’s Teaching Tools platform, Flag Football in Schools will extend the partnership’s reach, equipping an additional 5,000 educators with the resources needed to teach the sport safely and effectively, while engaging another one million students.
Through the two resources, the CFL’s ongoing collaboration with PHE Canada and the Provincial Sport Organizations aims to increase participation, support player development and create more opportunities for Canadians to engage with football at every level.
“Schools are where lifelong relationships with sport often begin,” said Melanie Davis, Executive Director and CEO of PHE Canada. “The CFL Flag Football in Schools Program gives educators the tools to introduce flag football in a way that’s accessible, inclusive and built for every student. And beyond any single class or unit – it’s about fostering belonging, building capacity in schools, creating pathways into the broader football community, and ensuring more young people have the opportunity to discover the fun and benefits of a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. We’re proud to help make that happen alongside the CFL.”
The Flag Football in Schools program will be introduced through a phased rollout, which will include:
Launch of Grades 4-6 resources in November 2026
Expansion to Kindergarten-Grade 3 and Grades 7-9 programming in 2027
Introduction of a CFL Flag Football Skills Challenge
Home-to-school engagement resources
CFL certificates and student recognition opportunities
Connections to community football programs and events
Future flag football resources and equipment kits