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‘It's an awesome sport:' Women's flag football touches down for special event in Ottawa
U16 Mustangs are one of 62 girls' teams playing flag football at RA Centre on Sunday Jun. 8, 2025 (Josh Marano/ CTV News Ottawa)
It's a special weekend for the National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA), hosting 62 girls' teams across four ages groups from around the region, in one location.
From u12 teams to u20, over 600 players gathered at the RA Centre on Riverside Drive on the same day, usually dispersed across the city at several sites.
The u16 South Ottawa Mustangs were among the teams playing and team president Dan Cooper says it's encouraging to see so many new players lacing up their cleats.
'On my teams especially, there's about 50 per cent new joiners this year which is fantastic,' Cooper said. 'That's people who otherwise would have nothing to do on a Saturday afternoon, be staying home looking for something. Instead, they're out here making friends, being healthy and learning a new sport.'
The NCAFA says they have seen substantial growth in the game over the past three years, with over 200 total teams and 2,000 players across all genders and age groups.
'What encourages me to do this over and over is the feedback we get from the families at the end of the day, where they say that this is really well organized, it's fantastic,' Cooper added.
'Their kids have a great time, the smiles on their faces is really what we're doing. Win or lose, everyone's here to just improve as an athlete and make some friends and have some fun.'
The sport is booming worldwide, making its Olympic introduction at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
'We've this year adapted to the rule set that will be used in the Olympics, we're training the feeder system that will basically build Team Canada for that,' Cooper said.
Sunday's event was the biggest girls' flag football event ever for the NCAFA, with teams from West Carleton and Carleton Place to Kemptville and Cumberland represented.
Flag football
U16 Mustangs are one of 62 girls' teams playing flag football at RA Centre on Sunday Jun. 8, 2025 (Josh Marano/ CTV News Ottawa)
