Major Announcements for 2023/2024 USA Flag Season
We have several big announcements that we felt would be best shared and explained through this video for our 2023 to 2024 calendar year that we think are going to make this year better than ever. First we wanted to thank everyone who participated in our events last year and especially the Tampa World Championships being one of the biggest and best tournaments ever and we are making big plans for next year already! Below are the changes and quick link to the hot topics in the video!
Improved Officiating Initiatives
- We are continuing to put an emphasis on improving officiating at our tournaments and this year we have some specific plans to share in regards to how we plan to achieve this.
- Streamlined schedule so officials won’t be bouncing between styles as much and eliminate some of the confusion
- Official cheat sheets for each style for officials to utilize on-field that will help minimize confusion and unnecessary mistakes
- Increased pay opportunities for all styles
- Training videos and certification program in the works for a planned Q2 launch
Changes to Nationals & Worlds Scheduling and Skill Levels
- Introducing Elite (between Pro and Comp) and Novice (between Rec and Amateur) divisions for 4v4 and 5v5 Non-Contact Divisions to help keep division sizes to a manageable level.
- All divisions will also be capped at 32 teams max, and the additional skill levels will accommodate those teams in divisions that previously were 60+ teams
- Most all small ball styles will play pool play and playoffs start to finish in ½ day blocks
- Benefits
- Easier on officials and players to focus on one style all the way through without switching back and forth creating more errors
- Easier to understand schedule blocks
- Allows players and teams to play more styles by evening out our field usage more, now 6 guaranteed blocks up from 4 for our 3 day tournaments
- Allows more flexibility in rosters since you can continue updating them up until your first game of that style up through Sunday in some divisions cases and won’t be spread over multiple days
- Allows teams who may not be able to attend 3 or even 2 full days to still play in styles in a single day
- Benefits
New Divisions for 2023/2024
- Introducing the new 5v5 Olympic division for state represented and international teams only that will be a style closest to IFAF gameplay we offer
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- State rostered teams will play in a pool play qualifier on Friday morning in Arlington to represent their state.
- Representing state teams will play each other in a single elimination tournament Friday night in Arlington for seeding and prizes into our USA vs Mexico tournament.
- USA vs Mexico tournament in October in McAllen, TX – US states will battle to be the top state and face off against the winner from the Mexico division for additional cash prizes.
- US teams will be seeded into the Olympic division in Tampa based on their play in Arlington and McAllen and play through the US bracket until one US team is left standing. Winner will face off against the winner of the International bracket of teams from all over the world to claim the Olympic division World Championship.
- With the Olympic division being state rostered and the changes to roster limits, Gauntlet will now become a normal style with 10 player rosters, no state restriction and standard pool play and bracket play similar to other styles.
- Introducing 5v5 Air-It-Out Coed – 1 Male (QB/Rusher Only) / 4 Female (12 Player Roster)
- We are officially bringing back 9man and our 8v8 Contact Women’s divisions for our 2024 Tampa World Championships.
- Introducing 6v6 Ineligible – Based off current 5v5 rules with with 6 player rosters, 2 ineligible lineman, 4 downs to score, no laterals or handoffs (15 Player Roster)
- Introducing 6v6 Contact Big Man division – 250lbs+ with official weigh ins
- Adding Individual Player Draft-style divisions to select tournaments powered by the XFL, NFLPA and UA
- Players will register individually and receive a jersey and potential other swag courtesy of our sponsors
- Starting with Vegas Open in April, held on Friday evening before the tournament begins for players who wish to participate
Roster limits changing
- 10 for all 4v4 and 5v5 Non-Contact, Air-It-Out and Gauntlet Men’s & Women’s Styles
- 12 for all 5v5 Coed, 5v5 Contact and 6v6 Contact Styles
- 20 for 7v7 and 8v8 Coed
- 8v8 and 9v9 Contact roster limits not changing (30 player max)
- Benefits
- Will help reduce some of the team stacking and should create more teams and parity throughout all divisions
- We understand there may be concerns with having enough bodies over a long National or World Championships along with schedule conflicts and we feel strongly that our new scheduling format will help with this below
2024 World Championships will now be held over 2 straight weekends in January
- 1st weekend – January 12-14, 2024 – Friday to Sunday only
- 6v6 Contact, 8v8 Contact, 9v9 Contact
- 5v5 Contact Men’s PRO, Comp and Rec only (Elite and Novice on weekend 2)
- 5v5 Contact Women’s Pro and Comp only (Elite and Rec on weekend 2)
- 2nd weekend – January 19-21, 2024 – Friday to Sunday only
- All 4v4, 5v5, 7v7 and 8v8 Screen styles
- 5v5 Contact Men’s Elite and Novice
- 5v5 Contact Women’s Elite and Rec
- Both weekends will have full Worlds atmosphere with sponsorship village, food trucks, championship ceremonies on the stage with DJ, MC and more!
- This will allow us to accommodate the additional styles and teams that will be attending in 2024
- Will also allow us to include an official wrapped championship field with stadium-like atmosphere for select games and additional live stream coverage for all divisions
January 30, 2023
CATEGORY: News
