Program Launch and Teacher Training at CEU Paraíso-Alvorada
The NFL Flag program officially launches with a comprehensive training initiative at the CEU Paraíso-Alvorada center, where 100 physical education teachers will receive professional instruction. These educators will spearhead the implementation of the sport across the participating municipal schools, integrating the non-contact sport into regular physical education classes using the schools’ existing courts. Each participating unit receives specialized equipment kits containing five footballs and 30 flags. The municipal administration structured the rollout to align directly with Guarulhos’s broader educational curriculum, which emphasizes lúdico—or play-based learning—as a fundamental component of student development and social interaction.
Equipment Distribution and Rules of the Game
Unlike traditional tackle football, flag football eliminates body contact by requiring defenders to pull fabric tags, known as flags, from a belt worn around the ball carrier’s waist to halt an offensive play. The curriculum relies on the newly delivered equipment kits to teach fundamentals safely in school gymnasiums and outdoor courtyards. Secretary of Education Rafael Carvalho noted that introducing the sport to the municipal network broadens athletic offerings while fostering teamwork, discipline, and respect among students. The initiative follows the nationwide expansion pattern of the NFL Flag program, which originally debuted in Brazil in 2023 and currently reaches more than 10,000 children and young adults across free community projects in cities including São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis, and Curitiba, according to league figures.
Tournament Pathways for Participating Students
Beyond physical education classes inside the classroom network, students in Guarulhos gain direct entry into the broader competitive ecosystem managed by the league. Beginning next season, regional tournaments organized under the NFL Flag umbrella in Brazil will operate exclusively for educational institutions and non-profit social projects enrolled in the initiative, as outlined by league organizers. Luis Martinez, general manager of the NFL in Brazil, emphasized that the Guarulhos partnership reinforces the league’s strategy to invest deeply in the grassroots sporting foundation of the country. This localized growth coincides with the global elevation of the sport, as flag football prepares to make its official debut on the program of the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, a milestone expected to drive participation and interest worldwide.
