CHARLOTTE, N.C. — It's one of the fastest growing sports, soon to be part of the Olympics, and the U.S. national team is training right here in Charlotte.
Sixty men and 60 women competed for a spot on USA Football's flag national team on Friday at UNC Charlotte during the USA Football National Team Selection Tournament.
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Athletic testing and practice sessions will be held on campus throughout the weekend.
Only 18 men and 18 women will advance from trials to training camp, after which only 12 will become members of each national team.
At UNCC, where the continental championships were held this summer, both men and women won gold medals. Next up is the IFAF World Championships to be held in Finland in August.
In 2028, flag football will also be included in the Los Angeles Olympics.
“It was amazing,” said Mary Kate Bulla, a former player and assistant coach who lives in Charlotte. “I shudder to think about the first time I tried out for Team USA. 24 people were invited and now we're down to 60. And now we're aiming for the 2028 Olympics. I am.”
One of the prospects on the women's team is Haley Van Voorhis. In 2023, she played safety at Shenandoah University in Virginia, becoming the first female non-kicker to play in an NCAA football game.
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“It wasn't that big of a deal for me, but it had a big impact in inspiring the football community and female footballers,” Van Voorhis said. “The drive for the 2028 Olympics is you want to get better. You want to represent your country. The reason we're here today is to bring home a gold medal.”
According to a 2022 study conducted by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA), approximately 7.1 million people play flag football in the United States, of which 2.5 million “engage in the sport on a daily basis.” .
