USA Football and GMTM will hold the second U.S. National Team Digital Combine with GMTM to identify elite athletes. The Digital Combine will be open from Aug. 14-Sept. 11. USA Football invites athletes from all sports interested in exploring or deepening their involvement in flag football to participate in the free online event.
Adult and junior athletes who complete the full U.S. National Team Digital Combine through GMTM will be included in the pool of athletes considered for invitations to the 2024 U.S. Flag Football National Team Trials. The Boys’ and Girls’ 15U and 17U National Teams will compete against international opponents in the annual Junior International Cup in 2024. The Men’s and Women’s National Teams will represent the U.S. in the 2024 IFAF Flag Football World Championships, in Lahti, Finland.
Last fall, USA Football received over 600 individual submissions in its inaugural Digital Combine. USA Football extended invitations to the National Team Trials to eight of the athletes who made positive impressions on the coaches who reviewed and evaluated their virtual submissions.
Flag football’s popularity is exploding both domestically and internationally. An annual participation study from the Sports and Fitness Industry Association (SFIA) revealed that 7.1 million people in the U.S. participated in flag football in 2022. The sport is also played by 20 million participants across more than 100 countries. USA Football is hopeful that flag football’s surging popularity will secure the sport a spot in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Athletes without prior experience in flag football are encouraged to participate in the Digital Combine by creating profiles and uploading their virtual submissions through GMTM. Many members of the gold-medal winning 2023 National Teams are talent transfers from other sports. This is the perfect opportunity for athletes to showcase the traits they cultivated across their athletic careers.
The seven unique activities in the Digital Combine do not require a football or a teammate. Activities are designed to be completed by individual athletes and test athletic ability. Each activity is accompanied by a tutorial.
The Digital Combine is split into categories for junior athletes ages 12-16 and adults 17 or older. If an athlete participating in the event turns 18 years old by Dec. 31, 2024, they will be considered ineligible for the 2024 17U National Team and should sign up for the adult category.
Athletes interested in the Digital Combine should download the GMTM app and create profiles. Participants who miss the opening Aug. 14-Sept. 11 combine window will have a second opportunity to complete the free event later this fall.
About GMTM: GMTM (pronounced Gametime) is a social network designed to connect athletes, organizations and brands, so that they can maximize their reach and access to opportunities. GMTM believes that all athletes should have access to opportunities regardless of income, geography, or background, at every level of their playing careers.
About USA Football: USA Football is the governing body of American football in the United States, the sole US member of the International Federation of American Football, and a recognized sports organization of the US Olympic & Paralympic Committee. Its non-profit mission includes designing and delivering premier educational, development, and competitive programs for American football, including tackle and flag football. USA Football is the only organization that selects and organizes men’s and women’s US National Teams in federation-sanctioned international competition.
