CFL AND PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION CANADA LAUNCH NATIONAL FLAG FOOTBALL INITIATVE IN SCHOOLS
New five-year partnership expands flag football education and participation to reach more than one million Canadian students
TORONTO (November 10, 2026) – The Canadian Football League (CFL) and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) are embarking on a new five-year partnership to expand flag football education and participation in schools across Canada, by providing students with an accessible introduction to the sport, while helping educators deliver engaging and inclusive physical education experiences.
“Today’s students are tomorrow’s players, coaches, officials, volunteers and fans,” said CFL Commissioner Stewart Johnston. “By making football and flag football more accessible in schools, we're helping more young Canadians develop fundamental movement skills, experience the benefits of team sport and build lifelong connections to the game.”
Through the initiative, the CFL and PHE Canada will deliver a comprehensive Flag Football in Schools program, in English and French, for students from Kindergarten through Grade 9. Beyond introducing students to flag football in the classroom, the program is designed to create lasting connections between schools, local football programs, provincial football organizations, CFL clubs and the broader football community, helping more young Canadians continue participating in the sport beyond physical education classes.
Flag Football in Schools introduces programming specific to the flag variation of the game to build on the success of the original Move Think Learn: Football in Focus resource. Launched in 2019 for age groupings of K-3, Grades 4-6 and 7-9, the program has provided over 2,000 educators with skill-development activities, practice games and instructional tools, reaching more than 1.13 million students.
Hosted on PHE Canada’s Teaching Tools platform, Flag Football in Schools will extend the partnership’s reach, equipping an additional 5,000 educators with the resources needed to teach the sport safely and effectively, while engaging another one million students.
Through the two resources, the CFL’s ongoing collaboration with PHE Canada and the Provincial Sport Organizations aims to increase participation, support player development and create more opportunities for Canadians to engage with football at every level.
“Schools are where lifelong relationships with sport often begin,” said Melanie Davis, Executive Director and CEO of PHE Canada. “The CFL Flag Football in Schools Program gives educators the tools to introduce flag football in a way that’s accessible, inclusive and built for every student. And beyond any single class or unit – it’s about fostering belonging, building capacity in schools, creating pathways into the broader football community, and ensuring more young people have the opportunity to discover the fun and benefits of a sport they can enjoy for a lifetime. We’re proud to help make that happen alongside the CFL.”
The Flag Football in Schools program will be introduced through a phased rollout, which will include:
- Launch of Grades 4-6 resources in November 2026
- Expansion to Kindergarten-Grade 3 and Grades 7-9 programming in 2027
- Introduction of a CFL Flag Football Skills Challenge
- Home-to-school engagement resources
- CFL certificates and student recognition opportunities
- Connections to community football programs and events
- Future flag football resources and equipment kits
ABOUT PHYSICAL AND HEALTH EDUCATION CANADA
Founded in 1933, PHE Canada is a national charitable association and Canada’s recognized leader in physical and health education. PHE Canada empowers the Canadian Physical and Health Education Community with quality programs, professional development services, and community activations to ensure equitable access to the benefits of quality physical and health education and healthy learning environments for all 5 million students and 15,000+ school communities across Canada. By promoting and advancing quality physical and health education and healthy learning environments, PHE Canada helps ensure each and every child and youth in Canada has the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to lead resilient, active, and healthy lives.
For more information on PHE Canada, please visit www.phecanada.ca.
ABOUT THE CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE
The Canadian Football League is committed to delivering world-class competition and entertainment. Built on more than a century of history and tradition, the nation's leader in professional football prioritizes on-field action, technological innovation and elevated fan experience to grow the game and inspire fans across the country and around the world. Each season culminates in the Grey Cup, Canada's largest annual single-day sporting event. Off the field, the league champions meaningful community engagement to support and strengthen the nation. For the latest news, scores, league information and more, visit CFL.ca or download the Official App of the CFL (iOS|Android).