USA FOOTBALL & TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS TO HOST FLAG FOOTBALL TALENT ID CAMP
Talent ID Camps help identify the best athletes across the country for opportunities with the U.S. Flag Football National Team
TAMPA, FLA. – USA Football and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hosting a pair of USA Football Talent ID Camps on Saturday, March 29 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, March 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Buccaneers Indoor Facility. Saturday’s Talent ID Camp will feature athletes ages 11-19 years old while Sunday’s camp will be the first of the year dedicated to solely developing and identifying adult athletes. This is part of USA Football’s largest-ever cycle of flag football Talent ID Camps, designed to identify athletes capable of upholding our country's gold medal standard.
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 to level up their skills and compete for Select Team roster spots 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.
“As we prepare for the 2028 Olympics, USA Football is setting new standards for development and nurturing the next generation of talent to ensure that we leave no stone unturned coast-to-coast and beyond in the pursuit of our gold medal standard," said USA Football CEO Scott Hallenbeck. "We’re grateful to the Buccaneers for providing opportunities for all athletes to play the sport and supporting our efforts by granting us access to their worldclass facility. Their efforts have helped turn Tampa into a hotbed for flag football talent.”
USA Football Talent ID Camps are one-day events that feature combine testing, 1-on-1 competitions & drills and Olympic-style 5-on-5 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 in 2023. Flag football is a sanctioned high school varsity sport for girls in 14 states.
About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American Football in the United States. As a Recognized Sports Organization of the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the sole U.S. member of the International Federation of American Football, USA Football selects, trains and leads the U.S. National Teams in tackle and flag football disciplines, while delivering world-class football development resources, sport standards and competitive opportunities to empower athletes at every level. USA Football is committed to ensuring every athlete has access to develop and compete in the game through safer, inclusive and innovative pathways.