A sport that has been emerging in Espírito Santo, flag football is a variant of traditional American football and will be on display at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028
4min read Flag Football: American football that will be at the Olympics in 2028, has been receiving fans in ES. (Disclosure)
A modality very similar to both American football and the famous pike flag, flag football has been gaining prominence among new sporting practices. And also because it is already among the Olympic sports on display for the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028.
It is a more accessible version with less physical contact when compared to traditional American football. The name of the sport refers to the flags – flag, in English – that are tied to the athletes’ waists and must be removed by opponents if they want to stop the plays.
Rafaela Alves Moreira, 29 years old, lawyer, and resident of Serra, has joined the practice of the sport. She says that there is a commitment among those who practice the sport to make the sport more noticed, especially here in the State. “Our dream is to have our players in the Brazilian team. It is a wonderful sport that deserves to be highlighted, not only because of the inclusion of several people, but because it promotes social integration. More than that, we want to go to the Olympics in 2028. The more visibility in our State, the more supporters to reach the base, we can reach the Brazilian Nationals and the Olympics”.
Athletes train on Saturdays at Pedra da Cebola, in Vitória, on Wednesdays in Vila Velha, and on Sundays on the beaches, as there is also beach flag football. According to Rafaela, this is a modality that requires more strength and resistance. “Playing in the sand is harder to bear.”
Rafaela discovered flag football after going to a tournament at Marista, in Vila Velha. “Tritões was the only American football team in the state. The flag sport was on a smaller, separate team when I started, and there was a women’s team. After I started, I took my husband and today I am public relations for the sport.”
Espírito Santo still does not have a representative at national level in flag football, as there is dependence on selection based on prominent national teams. However, Rafaela’s husband, Victor Ferreira Miranda, analyst, 32 years old, was called up to the traditional American football team. “Our aim is to gain visibility so that we can qualify for competitions at national level. We were unable to advance to the Brazilian Championship, but we are starting here in ES”, she says.
Flag football offers a different context in my life. During the week I’m a lawyer and I wear gray. At the weekend I have different energy, loose and colorful.
Rafaela Moreira•Lawyer and Flag Football practitioner
Flag Football also has mixed categories, especially when played on the beach. (Disclosure)
About the sport
Flag football, according to the Brazilian Confederation of American Football (CBFA), is a form of American football without impact and this would be one of the biggest differences between the modalities, in addition to the absence of some positions. The only thing in common between the two is the presence of the Quarter Back (QB). Clothing, such as shoulders or helmets, is also not used. The flag leans towards running tactics and aims to gain yards and score touchdowns. Contacts between players, when they occur, do not necessarily result in fouls.
At flag, each team is made up of five players and the match is divided into two halves of 20 minutes. The role of the players with the flag is to not let the defense get to the opposing flag. And whoever has the ball in their hands must run and not be caught. In fact, there is a great similarity with the pike-pike.
“We don’t try to get the flag to return, we take the ball forward to get yards and get it to the touchdown area”, explains Rafaela. In fact, she highlights, that “Capture the Flag” – the American version of the flag aimed at children – is the way to introduce little ones to American football. “This way they gain game technique.” The flag has three categories: male, female and mixed. The beach flag, in particular, is mixed.
Rafaela Moreira is a lawyer and also plays flag football. (Disclosure)
As for the championships, there are those held by the CBFA and the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), which command and form rules, ordinances and regulations for the flag, and determine results in each part of the country in regional championships. At the beginning of June there will be a competition in São Paulo for the Copa Sudeste and Flag Tritões will represent Espírito Santo. In the teams that represent each state of Brazil, there are no Espírito Santos selected.
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2024-05-23 18:49:36
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