Flight School Football of Lachine and Longueuil won the International Championship for Flag Football the first weekend of August. The 14-year-old players represented Canada and beat the United States in a staggering triple overtime final. On a football field in Longueuil on Friday, the practice is full of laughs and high-fives because these young players are still excited after an amazing win. The players beat 12 other teams, including the 15-year-old players of Team USA in the International Division of the NFL Flag Championships in Indiana. Fourteen years old and six feet tall, player Derek Bastien says, “It was the most crazy game in the whole thing. I mean, the hardest one to do. But we did it. We did it!” Soft-spoken, yet stealthy Damian Alcine-Andrew says, “It feels good being a champion.” Head Coach for the Flight School Football U14 Flag team, Jamil Springers, says the win is huge and represents a lot of work along the way. “The sense of urgency that we instill in the kids, understanding that there’s going to be ups and downs. So the main word we used to instill in them is resilience,” Alcine-Andrew said. Resilience and perseverance certainly has to be demonstrated before anyone gets to wear the big, shiny championship ring, like Bastien did. “Got to give your work. You know, if you’re nonchalant or not giving effort, you’re never going to win,” he said. Alcine-Andrew, who is only 13 years old, said. “I’m proud of that. I was the youngest on the team, playing against some U15s.” Kingsley Hayford adds: “It feels amazing. Because playing for team Canada, playing for our country. You know, it’s really just an honour.” Teammate Jordel Springer explains: “Why do I love flag? I’d say because the teammates, the friends you make later on.” They are the youngest team in the International Division. Flight School Football won the NFL Flag Championships in 2025, too. Now, expectations for 2027 are high, but Jordel Springer sounds ready. “You have to have confidence to play the game and we know we’re the best,” Springer said. Hayford adds “It’s a challenge, you know? But we always overcome it.” Faster than tackle football, flag has guys and girls teams and will make its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028 with 5 on 5 teams. Coach Springer says they’re always looking for more talent. “Flag is open to every single person, gender, race, size. It doesn’t matter. So that inclusivity brings a lot of numbers to the sport, which makes it arguably one of the fastest growing sports in recent history,” he said.
