Women’s flag football to be featured in Canadian universities under pilot program

A Montréal Carabins quarterback from the 2026 Canadian Collegiate Flag Football Championship. (Source: Michael Scraper/Scrapes Creatives/Football Canada)

Women’s flag football will be featured across Canadian universities for the 2027-2028 season as part of a pilot program.

U SPORTS – which is a governing body for university sports in Canada – said flag football has grown significantly in recent years, particularly with the sport’s upcoming inclusion in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.

The pilot program will allow the sport to develop under the U SPORTS structure. It will retain its pilot status for five seasons.

Women’s flag football is the second pilot program for U SPORTS, following men’s and women’s tennis in the 2023-2024 season.

“The adoption of Women’s Flag Football as a pilot sport by U SPORTS is a landmark moment for our game and for the future of sport in Canada,” said Jo-Anne Polak, chair of Football Canada, in a news release. “This decision creates a clear pathway for thousands of young women to continue their football journey from community fields to university competition and beyond.”

U SPORTS says the addition of women’s flag football will increase their number of national championships to 24.