Flag Football Leadership FAQ

Understanding Flag Football Programs

What is flag football?

Flag football is a non contact version of football in which defenders stop the ball carrier by pulling a flag from the belt instead of tackling. It is played at the youth, high school, college, club, and international levels, and it will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

Why is flag football growing?

Flag football is growing because it is accessible, requires less equipment, involves less contact than tackle football, and is gaining support from schools, colleges, clubs, and international federations. Its Olympic debut in 2028 adds momentum, and new high school, collegiate, club, and international programs keep launching

How do you start a flag football program?

Start with a clear vision for the program, build support with administrators and parents, recruit athletes, set team standards, plan practices, and create a budget and operating plan. SMWW's Flag Football Leadership course walks you through each step with checklists and templates you can use right away.

How do you recruit athletes for a flag football team?

Successful programs recruit across campus, local schools, clubs, and other sports, then build a roster with clear expectations for culture, commitment, and development. The course teaches athlete recruitment and roster development and includes recruiting templates.

What does a flag football head coach do?

A flag football head coach leads the whole program, not just game day. That includes setting the culture and standards, designing offensive and defensive systems, planning practices, developing players, managing operations and budgets, and communicating with parents and administrators.

Can tackle football coaches coach flag football?

Yes. Many tackle football coaches expand into flag football, and the course is designed for them. Flag football has its own offensive and defensive design, practice planning, and player development needs, which the course covers.

How do you fund a flag football program?

Programs are typically funded through a mix of institutional budgets, fundraising, sponsorships, and community support. The course covers budgeting, fundraising, and resource management, along with the marketing and community engagement that help earn long term support.

What jobs exist in flag football?

Roles include flag football head coach, assistant coach, program director, league operator, club director, athletic administrator, and physical education leader. The Flag Football Leadership course is built for people who hold or want these roles.

About the SMWW Flag Football Leadership Course

Who teaches the Flag Football Leadership course?

The course is taught by Amanda Ruller, head coach of women's flag football at Eastern University, who built that program from scratch. Under her leadership the team posted a 35 and 8 record in its first two seasons, finished as Atlantic East Conference runner up in back to back seasons, hosted conference playoffs, and ranked among the nation's top collegiate flag football teams, and she was named 2025 Atlantic East Coach of the Year. Ruller also played for Team Canada Women's Tackle Football, coached USA Flag Football at the Select Bowl, completed a Canadian Football League fellowship, and took part in the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship with the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals. SMWW President Dr. Lynn Lashbrook joins the weekly live sessions.

What will I learn in the Flag Football Leadership course?

You learn how to build an entire program, including program vision, leadership and culture, athlete recruitment and roster development, team standards and accountability, offensive and defensive program design, practice planning and player development, operations and administration, budgeting and fundraising, marketing and community engagement, working with parents and administrators, and long term growth.

What does the week by week curriculum look like?

The eight weeks cover laying the foundation, recruiting and growing your roster, building culture and leadership, developing your football identity, practice planning and player development, program operations and administration, marketing, branding, and community engagement, and sustaining success and building for the future.

Who should take the Flag Football Leadership course?

The course is designed for flag football coaches, athletic directors, high school and college coaches, youth football leaders, club directors, league operators, football administrators, physical education teachers, tackle football coaches expanding into flag football, international coaches and sports leaders, and anyone responsible for building a flag football program.

What templates and resources are included?

Students receive a program launch checklist, recruiting templates, practice plan templates, a seasonal planning calendar, a social media content guide, athlete evaluation forms, parent communication templates, game day organization templates, and offensive and defensive installation templates.

How is this course different from a coaching clinic?

Most clinics teach plays and most coaching courses teach schemes. This course teaches program building, meaning the systems, leadership principles, and operational strategies that create a program athletes want to join, administrators want to support, and communities want to rally behind.

How is the Flag Football Leadership course taught online?

The course runs eight weeks online with weekly live, interactive Zoom chats with Amanda Ruller, Dr. Lashbrook, and occasional guests, along with discussion boards, weekly readings, quizzes, and course projects. Class size is limited to 20 students, and all course materials are included in the course fee.

Will the course help my coaching or administrative career?

It can help, though no course can guarantee a job. You finish with a complete program blueprint, a recruiting and retention strategy, a culture and leadership framework, and a long term growth plan, and SMWW also provides resume enhancement, ongoing career advice, and access to its global alumni network of more than 30,000 graduates in 163 countries.

What if I need one on one assistance?

SMWW staff are available by phone throughout the course for one on one help with coursework, live sessions, or career questions. Call 1 877 SMWW NOW in the United States and Canada, +44 0 871 288 4799 in the United Kingdom, or +1 503 445 7105 from anywhere else. Our offices are in Portland, Oregon, and London, England.