International Federation of American Football Board meets in London to accelerate strategy implementation 

The International Federation of American Football’s (IFAF) Board of Directors assembled in London, United Kingdom from March 17-19 for the first of its quarterly meetings in 2023.

The agenda for the three-day gathering, which included a visit to the European headquarters of the National Football League (NFL) in Leicester Square, focused on supporting implementation of the IFAF development strategy.

The Board heard from Mark Egan, former Competitions Director of World Rugby, whose role included overseeing qualifying pathways for rugby sevens’ debut appearance at the Olympic Games Rio 2016.

Irishman Egan’s presentation addressed the importance of developing a robust future competitions framework, building on the current international cycle, which will include the biggest-ever IFAF Flag Football World Championships in Lahti, Finland, in 2024.

The Board also heard from Jon Long, Managing Director of sports sponsorship consultancy Onside, which is working with IFAF to build a rights portfolio around future properties.

Overall, the meeting was an opportunity to assess progress against IFAF’s development strategy, whose four pillars – Serve, Inspire, Grow, Compete – provide a framework for a new era in the federation’s history.

Flag football Is one of nine sports shortlisted for inclusion in the Olympic Games Los Angeles 2028 and IFAF is seeking to strengthen the sport’s presence throughout the global sports movement, following the appearance of flag football at The World Games in 2022.

Other subjects on the Board’s agenda in London included broadcast strategy and organizational structures.

IFAF President, Pierre Trochet:

“This meeting has been a valuable chance to reaffirm our priorities for 2023 – a year that promises transformational growth for our sport and federation. American football is enjoying explosive popularity around the world, underpinned by the exponential rise in flag football participation. As a Board, it is crucial we keep our eye on the ball in ensuring our structures are robust and scalable to accommodate rising demand, including at the elite international level.”

IFAF Vice President, Scott Hallenbeck:

“2023 is a huge year in the international development of American Football, with the emphasis on continental performance pathways. It’s so exciting to look ahead to a packed calendar of regional competition, starting with the IFAF Americas Flag Football Championship, which we at USA Football are looking forward to hosting in North Carolina in July. Working with experts such as Mark Egan we are determined to ensure such events lay the foundation for best-in-class international competition frameworks.”

The full American Football family, comprising 72 IFAF members, will meet in Paris, France for the federation’s Congress in October.