Flag football is headed to the Olympic Games — but what does it actually take to build Team USA for LA28?

On this episode of Flags on Fire, Jason sits down with Scott Hallenbeck, CEO of USA Football, for an inside look at one of the fastest-growing sports movements in the world.

Scott discusses the remarkable rise of flag football, the explosive growth of the girls’ and women’s game, how USA Football is building a true athlete-development pathway, and the work underway to identify and develop the players who could ultimately represent the United States in Los Angeles in 2028.

We also dive into:

🏈 How flag football made its way into the Olympics
🇺🇸 How Team USA is identifying the country's best talent
🥇 Why winning Olympic gold is the ultimate objective
🚀 Why Scott describes flag football's growth as “rocket fuel”
👧 The incredible expansion of girls’ and women’s flag football
🏟️ The NFL's role in growing flag football in the U.S. and internationally
🏈 Why flag and tackle football can grow together rather than compete against one another
🌎 How Olympic inclusion is accelerating flag football around the world

From youth leagues to high school and college programs to the Olympic stage, the football landscape is changing incredibly fast.

If you want to understand where flag football is going next and how Team USA is preparing for LA28, this is an episode you don't want to miss.

#FlagsOnFire #FlagFootball #USAFootball #TeamUSA #LA28 #Olympics #OlympicFlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #Football

How do you help build a sport from the ground up—and then build one of the best programs in the state?

In Episode 25 of Flags on Fire, Hamilton High School head coach Matt Stone joins the show to tell the remarkable story behind the rise of girls flag football in Arizona and the development of Hamilton into a back-to-back state championship program.

Long before girls flag football became an AIA-sanctioned sport, Stone was pushing to create opportunities for girls to play. What began with powder-puff games at Desert Ridge eventually became a years-long effort to convince Arizona's high-school sports establishment that girls flag football belonged. At one early meeting, not a single athletic director raised a hand in support—but Stone kept pushing.

The journey also includes an incredibly personal chapter involving AIA president Art Wagner, who believed in Stone's vision and helped lay the groundwork for the sport before his tragic death just days before the proposal was scheduled to reach the AIA board. Stone then had to decide whether—and how—to continue the mission.

Years later, the vision became reality. Arizona girls flag football grew from 6 schools to 36, then 54, 102, 124 and approximately 148 schools, while Hamilton emerged as one of the state's premier programs.

Coach Stone also takes us inside the football side of Hamilton's success—defensive philosophy, film study, game planning, rule development and why he believes Arizona flag football can compete with anyone in America. Hamilton backed that belief on the national stage, beating state champions from Florida, Georgia and Illinois while losing to Colorado's champion by just one point.

This episode is part flag football history lesson, part coaching clinic, and part blueprint for what can happen when someone refuses to give up on an idea.

🔥 In this episode: the origins of Arizona girls flag football, the fight for AIA sanctioning, Hamilton's championship culture, building a powerhouse program, defensive strategy and film study, the evolution of flag football rules, and where the sport could go next.

#FlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #HighSchoolFlagFootball #ArizonaFlagFootball #HamiltonFootball #FlagFootballCoach #WomensFlagFootball #FootballCoaching #AIA #FlagsOnFire

What does it take to become a captain of Team USA?

In Episode 24 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Deliah Autry-Jones, co-captain of the USA Football Women's National Team, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, resilience, mental toughness, and the incredible growth of women's flag football as it prepares for its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

Deliah shares her remarkable journey—from picking up a football for the first time as a freshman at Robinson High School under legendary coach Josh Saunders to becoming one of the veteran leaders of Team USA. She opens up about overcoming imposter syndrome, developing into a leader by example, and why confidence is built through preparation, consistency, and earning the trust of your teammates.

As a pediatric physical therapist, Deliah Autry-Jones also brings a unique perspective on athlete development. She explains why ACL injury prevention is so important for female athletes, how proper movement mechanics can extend an athlete's career, and why specializing in one sport too early may actually do more harm than good.

One of the most powerful moments of the interview comes when Deliah discusses the importance of mental preparation. She shares how working with a sports psychologist transformed her own performance and why athletes must train their minds with the same commitment they train their bodies. She also offers practical advice for young athletes on avoiding burnout, separating their identity from their sport, and embracing recovery as part of the training process.

We also dive into the championship culture built by Coach Josh Saunders at Robinson High School, what makes Team USA successful on the international stage, and how women's flag football has evolved into one of the fastest-growing sports in the world.

🏈 Deliah Autry-Jones' journey to Team USA

🇺🇸 What it means to be a Team USA captain

🧠 Building confidence and overcoming imposter syndrome

💪 Injury prevention and ACL awareness for female athletes

🏃 Why multi-sport athletes often develop into better competitors

🔥 The championship culture of Robinson High School and Coach Josh Saunders

🌍 The rapid growth of women's flag football worldwide

🥇 Preparing for the 2028 Olympic Games

❤️ Mental health, sports psychology, and avoiding athlete burnout

👧 Deliah's mission to inspire the next generation through Camp 13

Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or simply passionate about the future of flag football, this episode is packed with valuable insights from one of the sport's most respected leaders.

Be sure to subscribe to Flags on Fire for more conversations with the athletes, coaches, and innovators shaping the future of flag football.

#FlagsOnFire #DeliahAutryJones #TeamUSA #USAFootball #FlagFootball #Olympics2028 #LA2028 #WomensFlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #Leadership #SportsPsychology #AthleteDevelopment #FootballPodcast #JoshSaunders #MentalPerformance

In this episode we discuss:

In Episode 23 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Charles Torwudzo, Head of Player Personnel for USA Football, for an exclusive look inside the player evaluation, scouting, and selection process as Team USA prepares for the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Charles shares his incredible journey from playing Big Ten football at Purdue, competing professionally in Canada and the Arena Football League, to helping oversee all six USA Football National Teams. Today, he leads player personnel for the men's, women's, and junior national teams, identifying the athletes who will represent the United States on the world's biggest stages.

We dive deep into how USA Football scouts athletes, develops its National Team Development Program, evaluates talent, and builds championship-caliber rosters. Charles also explains why finding elite athletes isn't just about speed or athleticism—it's about identifying players who fit specific roles, embrace development, and thrive under pressure.

One of the most fascinating conversations centers around the rapid growth of international flag football. Charles discusses how the sport has exploded since its Olympic announcement, the rise of international competition, and why countries around the world are quickly closing the gap on Team USA.

We also discuss the much-talked-about Fanatics Games, the debate surrounding NFL players entering Olympic flag football, and why Charles believes one concept separates elite flag football players from everyone else:

Time on task.

Talent matters.

Experience matters more.

Throughout the episode, Charles explains why years of mastering the nuances of flag football can't simply be replaced by elite athleticism alone.

🏈 Charles' journey from Purdue to USA Football

🇺🇸 Building Team USA for international competition

📈 How flag football has exploded since the Olympic announcement

👀 What scouts actually look for in athletes

📋 The National Team Development Program

🎯 Talent ID camps, Accelerators, and Digital Combines

💻 How unknown players can get discovered

🏃 Talent transfer from other sports

🏆 The pressure of representing Team USA

🔥 Why "time on task" matters more than raw talent

🏅 The road to the 2028 Olympics

Whether you're an aspiring Team USA athlete, coach, parent, or simply a fan of the fastest-growing sport in the world, this conversation provides an unprecedented look inside the organization building America's next generation of flag football champions.

Be sure to subscribe to Flags on Fire for more conversations with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping the future of flag football.

#FlagsOnFire #CharlesTorwudzo #USAFootball #TeamUSA #FlagFootball #Olympics2028 #LA2028 #OlympicFlagFootball #NationalTeam #FootballScouting #Quarterback #FootballCoaching #GirlsFlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #FootballPodcast

In Episode 22 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Lacie Nemchick, one of the nation's premier young flag football quarterbacks and one of Arizona's fastest-rising stars.

Already holding multiple college offers—including a Power Four offer from Nebraska—Lacie shares the journey that has taken her from playing on all-boys recreational teams to becoming one of the faces of girls' flag football in Arizona.

We discuss her development as a quarterback, how working with Slingit QB Coaching transformed her mechanics and confidence, and why competing against boys early in her career helped shape the player she is today.

Lacie also gives a behind-the-scenes look at her experience attending the prestigious Manning Passing Academy, where she learned from Hall of Fame quarterbacks, elite college players, and some of the best quarterback coaches in the country. She reflects on seeing the number of girls at the camp grow dramatically—a sign of just how quickly women's flag football is evolving.

During our Coach's Corner, Lacie breaks down one of her favorite offensive concepts and walks through exactly how she reads safeties, corners, leverage, and pressure before the snap. She also explains why today's elite flag football quarterbacks must master both traditional timing concepts and the ability to throw accurately while rolling out under pressure.

In this episode, we cover:

🏈 Growing up playing against boys
🎯 Quarterback training and mechanics
🔥 The Manning Passing Academy experience
🌽 Earning a Nebraska scholarship offer
🎓 College recruiting for women's flag football
🧠 Reading defenses before the snap
📖 Quarterback decision-making and progression reads
🏆 Arizona high school flag football
✈️ Club travel and national competition
🇺🇸 The future of women's flag football leading into the 2028 Olympics

Whether you're a quarterback, coach, parent, or simply someone excited about the explosive growth of women's flag football, this conversation offers a firsthand look at the mindset, preparation, and dedication required to compete at the highest level.

Be sure to subscribe to Flags on Fire for more conversations with the athletes, coaches, and leaders shaping the future of flag football.

#FlagsOnFire #LacieNemchick #FlagFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #Quarterback #QuarterbackTraining #Nebraska #ManningPassingAcademy #USAFootball #HighSchoolFootball #CollegeRecruiting #Olympics2028 #FootballPodcast #ArizonaFlagFootball

In episode 21, Todd breaks down:

🏈 How coaching his own child launched his flag football journey
🔥 Why he believed girls flag football was ready to explode
👧 How Apex created opportunities before a clear pathway existed
🏆 Building championship programs at the club and high school levels
🎓 The rise of collegiate women’s flag football
🇺🇸 Coaching within the Team USA pipeline
🧠 How he develops quarterbacks to read leverage and change plays at the line
⚡ Why elite quarterback play remains essential in international flag football
🚀 What the sport could look like after the 2028 Olympics
👩‍🏫 Why former players must become the next generation of coaches

During Coach’s Corner, Todd explains how he gives quarterbacks a primary play and a “kill” call, allowing them to read defensive leverage and change the concept before the snap. That freedom requires film study, repetition, and trust—but it also helps quarterbacks truly take ownership of an offense.

Todd also shares a powerful vision for the future: the next stage of growth will come when today’s college players return to the game as coaches, leaders, and advocates. In his view, there may not yet be a ceiling for women’s flag football.

Whether you’re a coach, athlete, parent, or fan excited about the road to the 2028 Olympic Games, this conversation offers a fascinating look at how the women’s game was built—and where it may be headed next.

Subscribe to Flags on Fire for more conversations with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping the future of flag football.

#FlagFootball #ToddThomson #FlagsOnFire #TeamUSA #NevadaState #ApexPredators #GirlsFlagFootball #WomensFlagFootball #CollegeFlagFootball #QuarterbackDevelopment #FootballCoaching #USAFootball #OlympicFlagFootball #LA2028 #FlagFootballPodcast

Episode 20 features Team USA Women's National Team coach MK Beach, who offers an inside look at what it truly takes to compete and coach at the highest level of international flag football.

MK shares her journey from playing youth flag and tackle football to representing Team USA as a player before transitioning onto the national team's coaching staff. She discusses the evolution of the Team USA selection process, the explosive growth of women's flag football, and why the Olympic pathway is changing the future of the sport forever.

One of the highlights of the conversation is an in-depth Coach's Corner segment, where MK walks through exactly how she breaks down game film, identifies tendencies, prepares scouting reports, and simplifies hours of analysis into just five key coaching points for her players. Whether you're a coach, player, or football junkie, this is a rare look behind the curtain at the preparation required to win on the world stage.

We also dive into:

• The growth of Team USA and the Olympic pathway
• Why multi-sport athletes often become elite flag players
• The psychology of coaching female athletes
• Why communication and simplicity win championships
• Defensive strategy, film study, and coaching philosophy
• Her thoughts on the most underrated position in flag football, intentional grounding, international rivalries, and much more.

If you're serious about becoming a better coach, player, or simply want to understand what separates the world's best programs from everyone else, this is an episode you won't want to miss.

In Episode 19 of Flags on Fire, I sit down with Josh Saunders, the head coach at Robinson High School in Florida, whose program has captured 11 state championships, including an incredible 10 consecutive titles. He also coaches with Team USA and the University of Florida club program, giving him a unique perspective on the evolution of the sport from the youth level to international competition.

In this conversation we discuss:

 How Robinson High School became a national powerhouse

 The culture that led to 10 straight state championships

 Why quarterback development is the biggest challenge in today's game

 The importance of timing, repetition, and throwing thousands of routes in practice

 How film study transformed his program

 Coaching standards vs. coaching the scoreboard

 How girls flag football has exploded in Florida

 Coaching with Team USA and the future of Olympic flag football

 Plus, Josh shares details about the upcoming flag football coaching book he's co-authored with Matt Hernandez.

Whether you're a coach, player, parent, or simply passionate about the growth of flag football, this episode is packed with practical coaching lessons and leadership principles that extend far beyond the football field.

If you enjoy conversations with the coaches and players shaping the future of flag football, be sure to subscribe and join us as we count down to the 2028 Olympic Games.

#FlagFootball #JoshSaunders #TeamUSA #FlagsOnFire #FootballCoaching #HighSchoolFootball #GirlsFlagFootball #QuarterbackDevelopment #Leadership #USAFootball #Olympics2028 #CoachLife #FloridaFlagFootball #RobinsonHighSchool #PlayCalling #FootballCulture #FootballPodcast

What separates great flag football coaches from everyone else?

In this episode of Flags on Fire, Team USA assistant coach and Baker University head coach Willie Perez pulls back the curtain on the philosophies that have helped make him one of the most respected offensive minds in flag football.

Willie shares his unlikely journey from a baseball player in Miami to coaching Team USA, how his daughter inspired him to begin coaching, and the sacrifices his family made so he could build Baker University's nationally recognized program from the ground up.

Then the conversation shifts into a true coaching masterclass.

Willie explains:

• Why he calls his offense a "circus"
• How he creates explosive plays using motion and eye candy
• The quarterback reads that separate elite players from average ones
• How to attack Cover 2, Cover 3, and man coverage
• Why Team USA's offense is so difficult to defend
• How he develops quarterbacks to make adjustments on the field—not just follow plays
• The recruiting traits he looks for in athletes
• Why versatility matters more than specializing in a single position

Whether you're a coach, quarterback, player, or simply love learning the X's and O's of flag football, this conversation is packed with insights from one of the game's brightest offensive innovators.

Subscribe for more conversations with the coaches, players, and leaders shaping the future of flag football as the sport heads toward the 2028 Olympic Games.

#FlagFootball #TeamUSA #WilliePerez #FlagsOnFire #BakerUniversity #Olympics2028 #FootballCoaching #Quarterback #PlayDesign #XandO #WomenInSports #USAFootball #CoachLife #FootballStrategy #SevenOnSeven #NFLFLAG

In this episode, I sit down with Team USA Women's National Team quarterback Akemi Higa, one of the brightest young stars in flag football and a rising leader on the road to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Akemi shares her incredible journey from growing up in Hawaii to moving to Las Vegas in pursuit of greater opportunities in flag football—a decision that ultimately helped her earn a spot as QB1 for Team USA.

We dive deep into much more than her story...

🏈 In this episode we discuss:

• How Akemi developed into an elite quarterback
• The sacrifices her family made to help her chase her dream
• The biggest differences between youth, high school, and Team USA flag football
• How elite quarterbacks study film and recognize defensive tendencies
• Reading defenses before and after the snap
• Quarterback mechanics unique to flag football
• Why leadership isn't always about being the loudest player
• What it was like competing for a spot on Team USA
• Summer Series, Canada, and preparing for international competition
• The future of women's flag football leading into the 2028 Olympics

Akemi also breaks down actual game film from one of her biggest high school playoff games, explaining her thought process before the snap, how she manipulated defenders with her eyes, and why timing is everything in elite flag football.

Whether you're a quarterback, coach, parent, or simply a fan of the fastest-growing sport in the world, you'll come away with valuable insight into what it takes to compete at the highest level.

👍 If you enjoy conversations with the biggest names in flag football, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode of Flags on Fire.

#FlagFootball #TeamUSA #AkemiHiga #Olympics2028 #Quarterback #WomensFlagFootball #USAFootball #FootballIQ #QBTraining #FlagFootballPodcast #FlagsOnFire #GirlsFlagFootball #OlympicFlagFootball #FootballCoaching #FilmStudy