Flag in Schools
From a first flag pull in gym class to a provincial title at McMaster, here is every school pathway in Ontario flag football in one place.
With our development partners NFL Canada and the Buffalo Bills.
Register your school’s interest 2027 High School Provincials Elementary events
Bring flag football to your school. One quick form covers the 2027 Elementary and High School Provincials, NFL Flag kits and coach resources. Open year-round.
Fill out the interest form ↗
Powered by NFL Canada & the Buffalo Bills
Two partners are investing in Ontario school flag football, from kits in gym class to the provincial championships.
NFL Canada
Women & Girls Flag Football Development Partner. NFL Canada supports the High School Girls’ Provincial Championship, provides MVP prizes, and runs the NFL Flag in Schools kit program with Football Ontario.
Buffalo Bills
Youth Flag Football Development Partner. The Bills partner on Ontario’s school championships, with giveaways, prizes and photo opportunities for young athletes on game day.
Where school flag leads
Flag football is fast, non-contact and an Olympic sport for LA 2028. For most athletes, school is where it starts. Here is how the steps connect.
Elementary
Local, CFL club and school board tournaments.
Elementary Provincials
Grades 7–8, mixed teams. New in 2027.
High School
Association leagues, Junior and Senior.
HS Provincials
Girls and Boys 5v5 at McMaster University.
OWIFA & Beyond
University and college flag, Team Ontario, Team Canada.
Elementary pathways & opportunities
Four ways for elementary schools to get students playing, from a local jamboree to a provincial championship.
High school-hosted events
Local secondary schools host jamborees and tournaments for their feeder elementary schools. It is a great first taste of game day, and high school players and coaches often help run it.
Each fall · Tim Hortons Field
Hamilton Tiger-Cats Fall Classics
CFL club-based elementary tournaments run with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats for HWDSB and HWCDSB schools, played at Hamilton Stadium.
TDSB Elementary School Tournament
An elementary tournament for Toronto District School Board schools, organized by Football Ontario and Western Technical-Commercial School.
Elementary Provincial Championship
New in 2027 and held every May/June in Ontario. Grades 7 & 8, mixed teams, with at least 2 players of each gender on the field at all times.
High school pathways & opportunities
Two provincial championships, both played 5v5 (the Olympic format).
Girls High School Provincial Championship
The third edition of Ontario’s province-wide girls championship. In 2026 it drew 45 teams and 80+ games, and OWIFA, NCAA and NAIA coaches were invited to scout.
Boys High School 5v5 Provincials
The first-ever boys high school 5v5 flag provincial championship. It runs the same day as the Elementary Provincials.
Junior
Grades 9 & 10
Senior / Varsity
Varsity: Grades 9–12 · Senior: Grades 11–12 (follows your association)
Registration
First come, first served. At least 3 schools from each secondary athletic association get a spot first. Schools can enter both a junior and a senior/varsity team.
Why play
NFL Flag kit for schools new to the championship, scouting by OWIFA, NCAA and NAIA programs, pro photo and video, and medals plus a banner for champions.
Event package
Rosters, waivers, insurance, travel, hotels and parking. The 2026 package is below until the 2027 version is posted.
Game day at provincials
A one-day outdoor tournament: pool play in the morning, playoffs in the afternoon, and medal games in the stadium.
How the day runs
- Before the day: Register on TeamLinkt, submit a roster signed by your athletic head or teacher, make sure every athlete has joined the team and signed the waiver, and attend the online coaches’ technical meeting.
- Check-in, 20 min before your first game: Sign in and pick up your stat sheet. Every athlete shows photo ID (student card + health card).
- Pool play from 8:30 AM: Pools mix regions so you play teams from outside your area. Every team is guaranteed 4 games (about 120 minutes of football).
- Playoffs from about 1 PM: Plan for buses to stay through semis and finals.
- Bronze & Gold, late afternoon: Played in Ron Joyce Stadium. Champions get medals and a banner.
Style of play & rules
- 5v5, non-contact: no tackling or blocking. Pulling the flag ends the play.
- Played under the IFAF rulebook, the international and Olympic rules. Event-specific changes are covered at the technical meeting.
- Junior or youth-size football. Flag colours must be different from pant colours.
- Two certified Southern Ontario Touch Football Officials Association officials on every game, including playoffs.
- Coaches track team stats, and the opposing coach checks and signs the sheet after each game.
- Be on time: more than 5 minutes late is a forfeit.
Player gear
Cleats, mouthguard, pocketless shorts or pants
Team gear
Footballs, flag belts (limited rentals), alternate jerseys
Bring
Tents, chairs, banners, water. The event is outdoors.
On site
Medical staff at every field, plus live scores and highlights
See it for yourself
45 teams, 80+ games and one championship day. Watch the highlight reel and browse photos from the 2026 Girls High School Flag Football Provincial Championship, presented with the Buffalo Bills and NFL Canada at McMaster University.
Relive championship day
Big catches, flag pulls and the medal games from the 2026 Girls High School Flag Football Provincial Championship.
Photos: @laureljarvisphoto
2026 Girls 5v5 Provincial Champions
The 2nd Annual High School Girls’ Flag Football Championship, McMaster University, June 2, 2026, in partnership with the Buffalo Bills and supported by NFL Canada.
Maple Ridge Ravens
Final: 20–12
Maple Ridge Secondary School, Innisfil (SCAA/GBSSA)
MVP: Sophia Lowe
St. Joseph Jaguars
Final: 18–14
St. Joseph Catholic High School, Ottawa (NCSSAA)
MVP: Qiawna Grant
45
Teams in 2026
80+
Games in one day
2
Divisions: Junior & Senior
June 1
3rd edition, 2027
Photos: @laureljarvisphoto. Full results on TeamLinkt.
Who plays what: associations by style of play
Ontario high school flag is played in three styles, depending on your athletic association. Provincials are 5v5, the Olympic format, so 7v7 and 12-a-side programs are welcome to come and try it.
5v5
- NCSSAA: Ottawa-Carleton (44 senior teams)
- Niagara Catholic AA: Niagara (10 teams, varsity)
- GBSSA: Georgian Bay, public + Catholic (7 Catholic varsity)
7v7
- YRAA: York Region (27 SR, 6 JR)
- ROPSSAA: Peel: Brampton, Mississauga, Caledon (43 teams)
- SCAA: Simcoe County (18 SR, 12 JR)
- SDSSAA: Sudbury (16 SR, 12 JR)
- HCAA: Halton Catholic, half field
- HWDSB: Hamilton, 7v7 touch (12 varsity + Gr. 9 boys)
- TDCAA: Toronto Catholic
12-a-side
- TDSB / TDSSAA: Toronto District School Board (11 varsity teams)
Growing
- WOSSAA: Middlesex, Oxford, Elgin: Ingersoll DCI, Laurier, Strathroy, Banting
- CWOSSA: Centre Dufferin, St. John’s College, St. James
- HWCCA: Bishop Ryan, Cathedral
Private school flag
- CISAA (7v7): Conference of Independent Schools, including St. Anne’s, Branksome Hall, Havergal, Bishop Strachan, Holy Name of Mary, Crestwood and Lakefield (11 SR, 6 JR)
- OCSSAA: Ontario Christian schools, including Great Lakes Christian
No school flag league yet
COSSA, HSSAA, NEOAA, NOSSA, NWOSSAA and SWOSSAA don’t have a flag league yet. Football Ontario can help your association launch one with 5v5 resources, kits and officials.
Team counts are from Football Ontario’s 2025 association survey and 2026 provincial entries. Is your association missing or out of date? Send us an update.
NFL Flag in Schools
Football Ontario and NFL Canada give NFL Flag Football kits, with flag belts and balls, to elementary and high schools across Ontario. The program focuses on underserved communities and could reach up to 5,000 students.
Use it everywhere
Kits are for phys-ed, recess, intramurals and tournaments. Participating schools also get help planning local jamborees and tournaments.
How schools get a kit
- 2026/27 applications are closed. Any Ontario school or teacher can apply when the next window opens. Each application is reviewed.
- Play at provincials: schools new to the High School Provincial Championship get an NFL Flag kit.
Keep playing: OWIFA & beyond
The Ontario Women’s Intercollegiate Football Association (OWIFA) runs women’s flag at universities and colleges across Ontario. It is the next step for high school athletes, and OWIFA coaches scout at provincials.