For Immediate Release
August 31st, 2026
Football Ontario Unveils 2026-2027 Team Ontario Flag Football Pathway
Football Ontario Opens the Road to Team Canada for the 2026–2027 Flag Season
Hamilton, Ontario – Football Ontario has officially unveiled the Pathway for the 2026–2027 High-Performance Flag Program. The Team Ontario Flag pathway remains the only way for athletes to be identified for Team Canada. Any athlete who participates in an ID Camp, a Training/Selections Camp, or who makes the final Team Ontario roster is considered as part of the Team Canada identification process.
For the 2026–2027 season, Football Ontario will offer the pathway across Youth Boys and Girls (U14, U16, U18) and Adult Men’s and Women’s (Junior U20, Senior 18+) divisions. The Identification and Selection process is broken into a series of phases for each pathway, leading toward Elite Nationals and, for the province’s top athletes, the Team Canada Jr. International Cup.
YOUTH AGES, BORN IN: U14 (2014/2015) / U16 (2012/2013) / U18 (2010/2011)
ADULT AGES, BORN IN: JUNIOR ADULT (U20, 2009/2010) / SENIOR ADULT (18+, 2008 or earlier)
PLEASE NOTE ALL COSTS ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER PHASE 3. We are actively working for sponsorship and opportunities to lower costs. All athletes will be responsible for fundraising throughout each phase to help reduce costs. Football Ontario will work with Vertical Raise to fundraise.
IMPORTANT LINKS: REVIEW THE PATHWAY HERE
REGISTER FOR FLAG THE YOUTH ID CAMPS & ADULT RECRUITMENT TODAY!
TORONTO REGISTRATION – SEPTEMBER 26 @ 10-2
HAMILTON REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 18 @ 2-7
YOUTH PATHWAY — U14 (2014/2015) / U16 (2012/2013) / U18 (2010/2011)
PHASE 1 — RECRUITMENT & ID CAMPS
Phase One will take place with a total of three Recruitment & ID Camps held across the province, capped at 60 athletes per division per camp with 1.5 hours of evaluation per gender, per age group. Athletes must register on Teamlinkt, complete a waiver and health form, and attend one camp (film/tape may also be submitted in place of Phase One).
These Identification Camps will be priced at $89.99, however, if you register early, you will receive early-bird pricing of $79.99.
TORONTO REGISTRATION – SEPTEMBER 26 @ 9 am – 2 pm
HAMILTON REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 18 @ 2 pm – 7 pm
OTTAWA REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 4 OR 24/25 @ TIME TBD
PHASE 2 — ONLINE ACADEMY, SELECTION & TRIALS CAMP
Phase Two brings the top 30 athletes per age group into the Online Academy, running 2–3 sessions per month from November through February, followed by the Selection & Trials Camp on January 23 at the York University Dome. The day includes 1.5 hours of skills and development work plus 2 hours of 20-minute controlled scrimmages, narrowing the field to a maximum of 30 athletes.
The cost for the Online Academy, Selection & Trials Camp will be $249.99, and includes a hoodie, shorts, lunch, and testing.
PHASE 3 — TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Following Phase Two, up to 15 athletes on roster and reserves (plus a 5-athlete practice team) will be invited into Training & Development, running January through April in the GTA, with training sessions in February and April.
The cost for the Training & Development phase is also the first instalment of the final team fee and ranging from $750-1000 Commitment Fee (one instalment), or a $200 Practice Team Fee.
PHASE 4 — TRAINING CAMP & ELITE NATIONALS
After the success of prior years, Football Ontario will again invite up to 15 athletes to a two-day overnight Training Camp, May 19–20, in Quebec en route to Prince Edward Island. Twelve of the fifteen will be notified of the final roster at the coach’s discretion; reserves attend camp before heading home or on to Nationals. The final 12-athlete roster will then compete at Elite Nationals, May 21–23.
The cost to attend Training Camp and the final instalment for the final team fee will be $1,000-1,500 for rostered athletes (reserves attend at no added cost), and includes stay, meals, facilities, and merch.
ADULT PATHWAY — JUNIOR (U20) | 2009/2010) / SENIOR (18+)
PHASE 1 — RECRUITMENT FORM & TEAM ONTARIO ONLINE ACADEMY
Phase One is an open call running September through December for prospective adult-level athletes from other sports or clubs. Athletes complete the Interest Form, submit film, attend a virtual coach meet & greet, and take part in online academy sessions 2–3 times per month, November–February. Cost is $18, which includes online meetings and virtual preparation for the Adult Pathway.
PHASE 2 — TEAM ONTARIO & TEAM CANADA TRYOUT
Phase Two is a centralized selection event on January 23, 2027 at York University, finalizing the first set of invites to Team Ontario and doubling as the National Team Tryout. Cost is $79.99 plus Football Canada’s tryout fee and includes a t-shirt set.
PHASE 3 — IDENTIFICATION OPPORTUNITIES & CAMPS
Athletes are encouraged to create or compete with teams at Adult Circuit Tournaments hosted by Football Ontario: ID #1 (Feb 13, 2027 – Oshawa), ID #2 (Mar 13, 2027 – London), and ID #3 (Apr 2–3, 2027 – Kitchener), with 10 tournament team spots per gender. Athletes selected from each tournament are invited to the Final Selection Camp plus those identified from Phase 2.
Team registration is $575/team, or a free agent tryout at $59.99 (with an optional 1.5-hour add-on tryout if no team is available).
PHASE 4 — SELECTION & TRIALS CAMP
The Final Selection Trials take place across the Kitchener-Waterloo-Guelph or GTA area in April 2027, welcoming 30 athletes invited to Final Selection across a three-day event: Intercollegiate pool play, Intercollegiate playoffs plus Adult Circuit pool play, and Adult Circuit Playoffs plus the Adult Final Selections Camp (a 4-hour tryout).
The mandatory Sunday individual trials fee is ~$199.99, which includes shorts, hoodie, breakfast/lunch, and competition space.
PHASE 5 — TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Up to 15 athletes on roster and alternates (plus a 5-athlete practice team) move into Training & Development, May 2027, with 1–2 sessions per month in the GTA and a training session in April/May. Cost is the first instalment and committee fee for the final team fee of ~$750-$1,000, or a $200 Practice Team Fee if selected to the practice team, covering field time, coach resources, and training camp costs and the final trip to Elite Nationals.
PHASE 6 — PRE-NATIONALS PREP CAMP
Up to 15 athletes (12 main roster, 3 alternates) attend a two-day overnight Pre-Nationals Prep Camp in Toronto in June 2027 (exact date TBD), with 12 of 15 notified of the final roster at the coach’s discretion. Cost is the second instalment for the final team ~$1,000 for rostered athletes (alternates attend at no cost), and includes travel, overnight stay, meals, training facilities, and a jersey and merch set.
PHASE 7 — ELITE SENIOR FLAG NATIONALS
The final 12-athlete roster travels to Winnipeg in June 2027 (exact date TBD) for a 3-day tournament against elite provincial teams and current National teams under Football Canada rules, a scouting opportunity for the Flag National Team. Cost is covered by prior installments. Athletes cover their own travel to Manitoba.
REGISTER FOR FLAG THE YOUTH ID CAMPS & ADULT RECRUITMENT TODAY!
TORONTO REGISTRATION – SEPTEMBER 26 @ 10-2
HAMILTON REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 18 @ 2-7
OTTAWA REGISTRATION – OCTOBER 4 OR 24/25 @ TIME TBD
FOR MORE INFORMATION
ABOUT FOOTBALL ONTARIO:Football Ontario is the sanctioned provincial governing body for football in Ontario, through its focus on transparency, growth, alignment and excellence, is engaged in providing football opportunities for all of Ontario. Football Ontario is driven by a commitment to deliver football programming, opportunities and resources for its members and the provincial football stakeholders.Please visit: footballontario.net
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