USA FOOTBALL & CHICAGO BEARS TO HOST FLAG FOOTBALL TALENT ID CAMP AT SPORTS ZONE DOME
With flag football’s Olympic debut on the horizon, Talent ID Camps help identify the best athletes across the country for opportunities with the U.S. National Team
AURORA, ILL. – USA Football, in partnership with the Chicago Bears, is hosting a USA Football Talent ID Camp on Saturday, Dec. 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Sport Zone Dome at 1900 Hill Ave in Aurora, Ill. This is the third of more than 15 Talent ID Camps that will be held nationwide in the coming months.
USA Football is the sport’s governing body responsible for fielding the U.S. National Teams for international competition, including the 2028 Olympics. Talent ID Camps are part of USA Football’s National Team Development Program, which serves as the primary pathway for flag football players aged 11-23 to level up their skills and compete for a Select Team roster spot and future U.S. National Team Trials invitations. Talent ID Camp participants are eligible to receive invitations to join Select Teams or attend future U.S. National Team Trials at the adult, 15U or 17U levels.
“USA Football is dedicated to nurturing the next generation of talent, ensuring that we leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of our gold medal standard," said USA Football CEO, Scott Hallenbeck. "With the LA28 Olympics on the horizon, we’re committed to setting new standards for development in the sport."
USA Football Talent ID Camps are one-day events that feature combine testing, 1v1 competitions & drills and Olympic-style 5v5 scrimmage & situational play. Talent ID Camps are designed to identify and develop the best flag football talent across the country as the sport grows worldwide and prepares for its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Summer Games. Talent ID Camp participants receive elite coaching and evaluator feedback to refine their skills and develop the tools to become part of USA Football’s National Team Development Program and one day represent the U.S. in international competitions.
USA Football personnel will be on-site to evaluate top performing athletes for opportunities with the National Team Development Program’s Select Teams and the U.S. National Team. Athletes invited to join Select Teams will compete this summer at USA Football’s Select Bowl against other Select Teams chosen from regions across the country.
Flag football’s popularity is exploding in the U.S. According to USA Football research, the number of boys and girls ages 6-17 playing flag football increased 38% from 2014-23, reaching a peak of more than 1.6 million this past year. Flag football is a sanctioned high school varsity sport for girls in 13 states.
About the Chicago Bears: One of the founding franchises of the National Football League, the Chicago Bears were established in 1920 as the Decatur Staleys by legendary player, coach and owner, George S. Halas. The team moved to Chicago in 1921. In 1922, Halas changed the team’s name from the Staleys to the Bears and the team has gone on to win nine NFL Championships, including one Super Bowl. The Bears 32 Hall of Famers are the most of any team in the NFL. A pillar in the community for more than a century, the Bears strive to be civic leaders throughout Chicago and its suburbs by supporting initiatives focused on social justice, youth and high school football, the military, health equity, education, volunteerism and civic involvement.
About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s U.S. National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.