The 2023 NCAFA Flag Football season will commence Friday May 26 and will conclude Sunday June 24. Our past season saw the addition of boys (open) divisions to our girls program. Clubs formed 108 teams and there were more than 1300 participants. Clubs generally begin registration early in the new year. Introduction and skill development can begin with winter opportunities but all clubs really get things going in late April or early May. See below for club contact information. 

The Ontario Flag Football championship will in all likelihood take place May 20-22 in a location to be determined. This championship is more of a competitive opportunity for very keen and able players. NCAFA will have a role in helping form Ottawa teams in open and female divisions (U16, U18, U20 and Senior). Stay tuned for winter and early spring opportunities to learn about and take part in the formation of Team Ottawa (multiple teams at each age group). 

The 2022 Senior National Flag Football championships for men and women will take play in Ottawa at Carleton University from Friday August 5 - Sunday August 7. 

Teams from across Canada will battle it out for national supremacy and the opportunity to represent Canada in international competitions (2023). 

Carleton University is a great venue to hold this competition with its 2 turf fields. Game play will run from 11 am - 11 pm on the first two days and from 9 am - 3 pm on Sunday. 

NCAFA, Football Ontario and Football Canada are looking for youth and adult volunteers to help run the tournament. Adults can help administer the gate, supervise youth volunteers , field setup, and general assistance. The main area for youth to volunteer is scoring and timing the games. Two players per game is desirable and we have 2-4 games running at the same time. 

Please email rodmoors12@gmail.com if you are interested in helping out. Youth volunteers would sign up for 2-4 hr time slots while adults would sign up for 2-6 hr time slots. 

The 2022 NCAFA Flag Football season concluded on Sunday June 26 at Ben Franklin Field. 110 teams participated in 8 divisions (Open U10, U12, U14, U16 and Girls U12, U14, U16, U20). It was a fantastic day of sun, competition and fun. Thanks to all of the coaches for their passion, commitment and skill as we fully immersed ourselves in a new style of football. 

Come back and take a look at this page as we post pictures of teams and individuals.

Remember the 2023 season will begin the week of May 22 and conclude with our championship on Sunday June 25. 

Hello everyone. Here we go with an exciting 2022 flag football season. I am really looking forward to it as well as being nervous about what we are trying to achieve. 

First some important reminders.

We are playing the Football Canada flag rulebook. We are using the U16 and younger variation which means we are all playing the shorter field and no forward handoffs or passes that don't cross the line of scrimmage. U10 starts play with ball in qb hand. At U16 and above coaches aren't allowed on the field (they could have huddles at the sideline if the team hustled back and forth). 

So here is a status report of what is happening. 

Fantastic turnout. 110 teams. Incredible. Big challenges ahead because of it. 

Schedule is bigger than anything we have ever made. It is important you look at field layout maps on this page. 

Getting everyone to the correct field will be a challenge.  Coaches keep letting me know of scheduling issues. Your coordinators have the link to schedule master spreadsheet. 

I will be telling you about the final weekend schedule June 24 and June 26 soon. Both dates have playoff games, one game on Friday two games on Sunday just like all of our regular season games. 

To understand the game better read the condensed rules on this page and then move on to the full rulebook on this page. 

This year is very challenging as we really begin learning a new game (players, coaches, parents and refs). It is going to take 2-4 years to really get this going. We all have to be patient with each other so that we can move together to achieving a great league that provides players with a great chance to participate and excel in the great game of football. 

Our need for refs is very large. About 20 per Friday or Sunday (not including U10 games). Previously it was about 14. Covid has decreased the number of officials participating. I have recruited a number of female high school touch football players to work U10 games and as they progress some older divisions. Please be patient with them. They will get better and better every week. 

The recent storm has not helped the ref situation. More than a few are without power and have difficulty returning messages or getting web access to accept games. It has come to light that some would love to ref but are a bit reluctant because they are new to the flag game. At the end of the day I am working non-stop to have refs for every game but I don't know what is exactly going to happen in this regard. If you don't have any refs it is expected that coaches will provide the reffing. I have tried to schedule a number of interclub games on Friday, I hope this helps the coach reffing if this has to occur. 

The enjoyment and healthy activity that I see every week at practices gets me very excited about this great expansion of youth flag football. We have already begun to see the better provincial and national opportunities as two Ottawa girls teams (U16 and U18) recently won the provincials and are attending Nationals in PEI in August. 

Flag football is a wonderful game to learn how to run, catch, throw and think! No game combines as many fundamental movements as flag football. 

Exiting covid, a damaging storm and incredible league growth will challenge us this year.  Understanding and patience will get us through it.  My hope is that each week our league gets better and better, culminating in a fantastic championship weekend. 

Thanks for your time. 

Rod Moors (NCAFA VP (Flag Football))

#1

Monday Night NCAFA Flag Football at TD Place 

Monday Night Football is coming to TD Place. Join us on Monday June 6th for an opportunity like no other. You and your team are able to register for the NCAFA Flag football event happening from 6-10pm. Teams will have the chance to play one of their flag football games on the same field as the REDBLACKS. On top of this, every player participating in the event will get a ticket to the REDBLACKS game on June 30th! Registration is $35 per player. Contact your coach or club to express interest in having your team participate. 

#2

Volunteers needed to help with the tournament. Scores, statisticians and general helpers. Please email rodmoors12@gmail.com (NCAFA VP non-contact) to apply or learn more about these volunteer positions. This is a great way to get involved and see the action and great players up close. 

Come out and watch two great aspects of women's football. The first ever women's intercollegiate flag football championship and the National Women's tackle football tryout. All of the action is at Carleton University. 

The 2022 season is rapidly approaching. Please check the contacts for participating clubs below. We have flag (open) and flag (girls) divisions. Last year NCAFA offered U12, U14, U16, and U19 teams. This year some clubs are offering U8 and U10 programs as well. Girls have open boundaries for registration while the open division has the same boundaries as tackle programs. If a club does not have a flag program then players from that region are free to go to other clubs in NCAFA.  Remember you must always return to your home club for the tackle season (no exceptions). 

The flag season begins Friday May May 27 and runs for 5 weeks total on Fridays and Sundays culminating in the championship on Sunday June 26. 

Any general questions or questions that can't be answered by the contacts below can be directed to rodmoors12@gmail.com.

Please check out Jumpstart and Kidsport at right for financial assistance if needed. 

NCAFA Clubs held a mini-flag season in July and August that was a great success. Cumberland Panthers, South Gloucester Raiders, South Ottawa Mustangs, Nepean Eagles, Bell Warriors, Kanata Knights and West Carleton Wolverines fielded boys and girls teams. Over 1000 players took part in this summer initiative that culminated in a Cumberland tournament in late July and a Bell tournament in early August. 

This was the first time for interclub flag football play in NCAFA and everyone learned a great deal about how to make it even better in the years to come. With the smaller flag field the whole new flag football dynamic  was great to see. 3-4  flag football fields fit into a full sized field creating a great energy among players, coaches and parents as they could see so many other teams playing before during and after their games. 

NCAFA looks forward to having flag football in its regular May  and June time slot in 2022.  Football Ontario has more flag football opportunities planned for next year such as provincials and Ontario representative teams in older age groups.  NCAFA will keep you updated on this page. Also check out ontariofootball.ca

NCAFA - Changing the way we play Non-Contact

Monday January 25, 2021

(OTTAWA) – The National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) is excited to announce changes to their non-contact programs offered throughout the National Capital region. Building on the great success of its girls touch football program, NCAFA will be transitioning to now offer flag football to both Girls and Boys (ages 8 - 21).  This transition to flag football will provide a new and better opportunity for girls who participate in the non-contact program.  The introduction of the boys flag football program is a wonderful development to the programs offered by NCAFA. Keep your eye on www.ncafa.ca for further updates.

The season is scheduled to run from May through the end of June 2021, while continuing to follow provincial and municipal directives associated with COVID-19.  The safety of players, coaches, referees and families remains paramount while seeking innovative solutions so our valuable sports programs can endure and thrive.

“ the introduction of  flag football programs for both girls and boys within our participating clubs is a great opportunity for kids to get on the field and experience a great sport.  Whether it be tackle or flag or both, NCAFA has a goal to make sure that every child interested in football has a chance to experience it  - no matter what and we look forward to making this a reality with the continued support of the OSEG Foundation.” said Gawain Harding, President - NCAFA.  

 Through NCAFA's continued partnership with the OSEG Foundation, “Our huddle includes everyone” remains a mission at the forefront of our objectives  to ensure that all players have the opportunity on the play either contact or non-contact football on the field, with the aim to build not only essential football skills but also develop life skills and friendships for years to come.  The league encourages sportsmanship on and off the field, and provides fun and exciting competition while promoting a healthy, active lifestyle for Ottawa youth.  

National Capital Amateur Football Association (NCAFA) - A 66 year old league and counting, NCAFA is the oldest and largest youth football  league in the Ontario Football Alliance. With over 2200 players from Ottawa and the surrounding areas, NCAFA is one of the most inclusive leagues, providing opportunities to kids from the ages of 8 - 21 to learn the game of football in all formats (contact and non-contact).

OSEG Foundation – The OSEG Foundation goal is to ensure all children and youth in our community have the opportunity to play, learn and develop through sports.  At the OSEG Foundation, we believe that by sharing our passion for sports through structured youth development programs, kids will have an opportunity to excel and reach their full potential.  The OSEG Foundation will be a catalyst for social change by leveraging the power of sport to improve the lives of children and youth.

Here is a plan for Team Ontario Flag Football 2022.

Selection camp (U16, U18, U20, Senior)

Saturday April 16 Megadome 5315 Abbott St E, Stittsville, ON K2S 0X310 am - 1 pm (younger groups probably first, older second), fee-about $60

Ottawa tournament : Saturday April 23, Minto field sportsplex. fee-$40 or less for U16, U18, U20, $30 or less for Senior

Ontario Provincials: London May 21-23, fee-about $40

Nationals (Senior): Ottawa August 5-7, fee-about $40

Eastern Regionals (U16, U18, U20): PEI August 9-14, fee-about $40

U16, U18, U20 practices and exhibition games would be scheduled so as not to conflict with the NCAFA season. 

Senior exhibition games and practices would be scheduled after consultation with participants. 

We have a great deal of talent in the Ottawa area. I hope Ottawa can be a great contributor to Team Ontario. I know involvement can be tricky since schedules are busy and we are trying to do this for the first time. There will be no conflict with the NCAFA flag football season. 

The goal of the selection camps is to find 1-2 teams that will attend the provincials. From the provincials a single team will be selected to attend the regionals or nationals. 

Participation in any event can be helpful to the development of the program. For example if you can attend the first two events but no others this can be very helpful to the program and it can help your involvement in this program in future years. 

Please answer the questions below so we can get an idea of the interest and commitment to dates of each person. Email responses to rodmoors12@gmail.com

Name:

Date of Birth:

Please state which events you can commit to at this time. (Apr 16, Apr 23, May 21-23, Aug 5-7 (Senior), Aug 9-14 (U16,U18, U20)

Feel free to email me any questions. 

Rod Moors (rodmoors12@gmail.com)

NCAFA Vice-President (non-contact)

This past year Football Ontario  held its first high performance sessions for it male and female flag football teams (U16, U18, U20, Senior). They also held futures sessions for U14 and younger. Sign up (free) at this Football Ontario site to be informed of any high performance sessions (for this year and all subsequent years until you ask to be removed from the high performance list). 

https://footballontario.net/flag-football/