The Bucket List: Top 10 International Flag Football Tournaments
Here in Dallas, we are fortunate enough to have several different organizations running flag football tournaments almost every weekend and have been for the last 4 to 5+ years, so I’ve played my fair share and really there’s no better place to hone your skills and hang out with friends than in a high pressure event. We have some of the top competition in the US as well, and many of those teams travel all over the country to play in other regional and national events as well and it’s always a blast to be able to get out with friends and play teams for nationwide respect. That got me thinking about this list, a flag football bucket list (in no particular order) of the top 10 flag football tournaments that every serious flag football player should consider playing in!
Roswell Hike it and Spike it 4on4 Flag Football Tournament
The Roswell Hike it & Spike it 4on4 Flag Football Tournament is held in Roswell, New Mexico every year and is widely considered to be home of the top 4man teams in the country, and competing for a prize pool of $15,000, it attracts teams from all over the country to come out and play the best. This is a 2 day double elimination grinder in extreme heat most years, but it’s against the best teams in the nation, so if you really want to prove yourself and gains national respect for your 4 on 4 team, you really have to get to this tournament.
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The tournament is open to players of all ages, skill levels, and abilities. The rules dictate that there will be no contact, avoiding regular football injuries. The format is wide open, the games are high scoring, fast-paced, and very exciting to participants and spectators.
Also, all teams are guaranteed a minimum of three games. They compete against teams of similar ages and abilities with every player getting a t-shirt for participating. First place teams win trophy footballs and Hike It & Spike It T-shirts. Second place teams win long sleeve Hike It & Spike It T-shirts and a sponsor plaque, third place teams win Hike It & Spike It T-shirts and a sponsor plaque, and Down & Out Bowl winners (consolation bracket) receive Hike It & Spike It caps. Each participant is assured of a professionally run tournament, where they will have a great time!
This years annual $15,000 Roswell Hike it & Spike it 4 on 4 Flag Football Tournament will be held the weekend of May 22nd, 23rd & 24th in Roswell, NM. Click below for more information.
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USFTL National Flag Football Championships
The USFTL National Championships Flag Football Tournament is held in Kissimmee outside of Orlando, Florida in January every year, and is open to a wider format selection of 4on4, 5on5, 7on7, 8on8 & 9on8 formats with men, women, coed and youth divisions. This is another national flag football tournament that the top teams in the country routinely travel to for competition every year, and the 5man, 7man, 8man and 9man division champions would have what I would consider the top recognition you can get in the sport. Plus it’s in Orlando, and you can play in multiple formats, so a great tournament to travel with a couple local teams to get out there and play the best in a great city with lots of amenities on the southeast coast!
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CASH OPTION (A Divisions Only)
To participate for the Cash Prize, teams have the option to add $100 to their Entrance Fee & become a Cash Option Team. Example: 16 Cash Option Teams x $100= $1,600 Cash Prize to Highest Placing Cash Prize Option Team. “B”, “C”, “D”, and Youth Divisions are Not Eligible for Cash Prize Option!
AWARDS
• Cash Prizes for Cash Option Teams
• 1-2 Place Sponsor/Team Awards
• 1st Place Individual Awards
• All American Awards
• MVP Awards
• Triple USFTL Ranking Points (all teams)
• $100 Championship Ring Certificate
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XVII Caribbean International Tournament Cancun Bowl 2015
The Caribbean International Flag Football Tournament will be in Cancun, Mexico this April 17 – 19, 2015 and is sure to draw out most of the top teams in the Central American and Caribbean nations as well as some possible US teams looking to extend their stay with a little vacation bonus! It’s not always held in Cancun, but let’s be honest, if it’s in the Caribbean it’s probably better than wherever you’re playing from now, so get your team together and make that trip. I don’t know much about how well the event is run or the level of competition, but again, that’s not really what interests me about playing in this event, it definitely makes my flag football tournament bucket list.
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STYLE OF PLAY
5 ON 5 FLAG FOOTBALL RANGES & CATEGORIES OPEN DIVISION
- MENS
- MIXED
- WOMENS
FEMALE YOUTH TEAMS
- JUNIOR 12-14
- JUNIOR VARSITY 15-17
OTHER
- 3 GAMES, HYDRATION
- OFFICIATING
- FIRST AID SERVICE
- AMBULANCE, AWARDS
- MUSIC AT THE FIELD
- T-SHIRTS & BACK PACKS FOR ALL PARTICIPANTS
Click below for more information.
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BFFL Bahamas 7on7 Invitational Flag Football Tournament
The Bahamas Flag Football League is putting on their first annual 7 on 7 Flag Football Tournament this September 5th & 6th, 2015 in Nassau, Bahamas, and I would love to figure out a way to be there, as should you. All I know is what’s on the flyer, but that’s enough for me. I’m always looking for an excuse to jet off to an exotic location and you’re telling me I can play 2 days of flag football while I’m there? Yes plz.
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You don’t need more information, you need to start saving so we can go to this tournament and hang out on the beach drinking sweet, sweet pina coladas between games.
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MCFFU World Championships – Vegas Baby
MCFFU hosts several major flag football tournaments a year in the United States and this tournament is in Vegas around March every year, so obviously you should be there. They offer 8 on 8 and 5 on 5 styles of play for multiple experience levels and divisions, including mens, coed, women’s & 35 and older. Go to Vegas, play some slots, drink some adult beverages (if you’re of legal age), play in the tournament (if you’re not hungover from that 2 day bender at the tables) and never talk about it again until you get to Vegas the next year. Mission accomplished.
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STYLES OFFERED
8v8 Eligible (Pro)
8v8 Eligible (Open) – B
8v8 Eligible (Rec) – C
5v5 Non Contact (Pro)
5v5 Contact (Pro)
5v5 Non Contact (Open)
5v5 Contact (Open)
Co-Ed (Open)
35 & Older – 8v8 (Open)
Women 8v8 (Open)
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Big Bowl IX – Germany
A couple weeks ago we had a buddy come over from the Pulling the Flag group in the UK to play in a tournament here in Dallas, and had a good chat about what was going on in the flag football world over in Europe. This was the tournament he said we just had to get to, a German flag football tournament on June 5 – 7, 2015 with teams from all over Europe close to Frankfurt, Germany where we could party and have a blast at night while playing against the top teams in Europe during the day? Definitely making my bucket list, and one that should be on yours as well.
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Philippines Mad Mix Up
Somehow, flag football has taken root in the Philippines of all places, and I want to experience it. The Mad Mix up was recently played and seemed to be alot of fun, with some major sponsors and excellent video & design quality done right! Watching their videos and seeing what they do for their players, it’s clear they take the game seriously and enjoy it at the same time which is very refreshing! I would love to make it to this part of the world and see the excitement, plus it seems like they run tons of tournaments year round and most are spread out over several days to make it more of an event with music and entertainment as well. Going to have to see it in person one day!
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FlagFootballX Cowboys Stadium Flag Football Tournament
The FlagFootballX Cowboys Stadium Flag Football Tournament is typically the biggest tournament of the year for the Dallas area, atleast as far as total teams involved and the scale of the event itself. Who doesn’t want to play on the turf inside one of the nicest stadiums on the planet, a.k.a. Jerryworld, a.k.a Cowboys Stadium! The details for this years event are still up in the air, but it’s tentatively scheduled for the first week in June of 2015 and they usually run 1 event per year at this stadium, so if you can make it to Dallas, this is the event to go to at least once in your flag football playing career!
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CSIT World Sport Games – Italy
The CSIT World Sport Games is basically the Olympics of recreational sports, includes flag football, and is based on a beach in Italy. I’m not an idiot, so this clearly makes my bucket list. I have no idea what the competition is like, or how many teams play, or what the rules are, but this is one tournament I would love to attend one day.
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Let it Fly Florida Championships
Let it Fly has been a fixture in the flag football tournament world since the 90’s, and anyone who played 10-15+ years ago competitively would know the name. Back then, they were backed by the NFL and had upwards of 500+ teams at some of their tournaments, including here in the Dallas area. Without the NFL behind them, their numbers have dipped a bit, but they still put on one of the best events in the country. With tailgate parties, skills tests & combines, divisions for youth through adult of all experience level, this is one event worth playing in, and usually draws tough competition as well.
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What do you think about this list? Let us know in the comments below what or who we might have missed!
