Football Canada Launches Inaugural Virtual Flag Football Coaching Academy
Football Canada invests in coaches who will build sport’s future as flag football eyes Olympic stage
TORONTO—With flag football preparing to make its mark on the Olympic stage in 2028, Football Canada is taking a decisive step toward shaping the next generation of athletes and leaders by holding the inaugural virtual Flag Football Coaching Academy this spring.
Led directly by members of Canada’s men’s and women’s National Flag Football Team coaching staffs, the first academy for flag football coaches will be the only national program of its kind in Canada designed to offer structured, instructional clinic sessions for both coaches and players in flag football. All sessions will be delivered online, making the academy accessible nationwide.
Running throughout the month of March, the academy invites participants to learn from the nation’s best as they dive into the core elements of modern flag football including: fundamentals, practice planning, play design, and long-term player and team development.
The academy will take place each Monday in March over five weeks, from 7-9:00 p.m. (EST). Each session will be delivered by a national team coach and structured into two, one-hour instructional blocks, allowing presenters the time and flexibility to break down concepts in detail while reinforcing learning through video analysis and real-game examples.
Designed to support coaches at all stages of program development, the academy will cover:
- core flag football fundamentals;
- progressive drills to teach and reinforce skills;
- practice planning and season organization;
- offensive and defensive systems;
- video examples from recent Men’s and Women’s National Team competition.
“With flag football entering the Olympic stage, the need for high-quality coach development has never been greater. This unique academy will connect coaches from coast-to-coast with the expertise of Canada’s national teams, offering an accessible and impactful way to strengthen programs and accelerate the growth of one of the country’s fastest-growing sports,” said Kevin McDonald, Executive Director, Football Canada.
A REGISTRATION fee of $99 provides 10 hours of high-level instruction for participants.
Register Here: https://app.teamlinkt.com/register/find/footballcanada?cid=62767
“This academy delivers tremendous value for coaches at every level. By learning directly from our national team staff, participants gain practical insight they can immediately apply to their programs regardless of the level, while contributing to the long-term growth of flag football as Canada’s newest Olympic sport.”
As flag football continues its rapid growth and prepares for a historic Olympic debut, Football Canada remains focused on building the sport from the ground up. This academy represents a unique opportunity to learn from the country’s top coaches, support national programs, and help shape Canada’s future on the international stage.
Academy Presenters
- Paul LaPolice – Head Coach, Team Canada Men’s Flag Football
- Rachel Lessard – Head Coach, Team Canada Women’s Flag Football
- Joel Lipinski – Defensive Coordinator, Team Canada Men’s Flag Football
- Alexandre Desjardins – Offensive Coordinator, Team Canada Women’s Flag Football
- Patrick Bourgon – Offensive Assistant Coach, Team Canada Men’s Flag Football
- Tim Seiferling – Defensive Assistant Coach, Team Canada Women’s Flag Football
Founded in 1884, Football Canada is the national governing body for amateur football in Canada. Football Canada works to grow and strengthen the sport from coast to coast to coast, supporting grassroots development, high-performance pathways, and national team excellence across all disciplines of the game.
