2027 Edmonton Jr. Cardinals Flag Football League

In 2026 we partnered with the Arizona Cardinals to launch the first youth flag football league in Canada with direct investment from an NFL club. Edmonton is only the second city it has ever run in.

We use the NFL FLAG age windows, which run August to August rather than by calendar year. If that looks different from hockey or soccer, it is. We match NFL FLAG so an athlete who goes on to the NFL FLAG Championships plays the same division there that they played here.

Every division is co-ed and 5-on-5, capped at 12 players per roster. Athletes may play up an age group with our approval. Playing down is not permitted.

Every team makes the playoffs and every team plays both days. There is no cut.

The full playoff and Championship Day schedule is announced closer to the date. Until then, keep the whole window open on April 11 and April 18.

Through the regular season, 40 minutes of coached practice, then a full 50 minute game. Same block every week except April 4, so you can plan the winter around it. Five fields run at once, which is 15 games every Sunday across 30 teams.

Playing time. Through the regular season every athlete gets even playing time. That is the standard we hold our coaches to. Our coaches are also directed to attempt to get the ball into every player’s hands in every regular season game.

Playoffs are different. Our rule of thumb is that no player plays more than 70% of the game, and no player plays less than 30%.

• ✓A paid head coach, interviewed, trained and background‑checked, plus a parent volunteer
• ✓Ten Sundays on indoor turf at the Foote Field Dome
• ✓40 minutes of coached practice before every regular season game
• ✓Evaluation Day and evenly matched teams
• ✓A Cardinals gameday. Big Red and the Arizona Cardinals cheer squad on the turf for one Sunday of the season
• ✓An official reversible NFL jersey in Arizona Cardinals colours, plus flag belt and mouthguard, theirs to keep
• ✓Stats, standings, awards and Championship Day

5-on-5 under official NFL FLAG rules, the same rules used at the national championships. A play ends when someone pulls a flag off a belt, so there is no tackling and no blocking. Every player on the field is an eligible receiver, so your athlete has an opportunity to catch the ball no matter what position they play. Rosters run 7 to 12 kids. U8 plays a version built down for that age.

• ✓Cleats
• ✓A water bottle. Water is the only drink allowed in the dome, and no food
• ✓Shorts or joggers with no pockets. Pockets catch flags, so NFL FLAG rules do not allow them

Your athlete gets their jersey, flag belt and mouthguard on the first day and keeps all of it. After that, bringing it every Sunday is on them. Spare mouthguards, jerseys and belts are available to buy at the dome if anything goes missing.

Do not guess from your athlete’s age. Take a shirt that fits them well and lay it flat. Chest: measure straight across, just below the sleeves, then double that number. Length: measure from the top of the shoulder where it meets the collar, straight down to the bottom of the shirt. Match both numbers to the chart. If you’re unsure, size up.

Measurements are from NFL FLAG’s official size chart for their new athletic-fit jersey. There is no Adult Small. If Youth X-Large is too small, choose Adult Medium.

Every division has a set number of teams and we cannot go over our caps. Once a division fills, registration for it closes.

Friend requests. You can make one friend request when you register, and we’ll do our best to accommodate it.

Refund requests in writing to flag@rawsports.ca.

At RAW Sports, we offer more than just football training. We provide an all-encompassing development experience that equips young athletes with both exceptional skills and strong character. Our elite coaches and mentors use football as a platform to teach essential life values such as resilience, hard work, and teamwork. We believe adversity is a powerful teacher, and our programs are designed to help athletes build a positive mindset and overcome challenges.

The Jr. Cardinals League uses football as a vehicle to teach young athletes the value of hard work, discipline, perseverance, teamwork, and character. Every athlete deserves great coaching regardless of skill level or experience. Whether a player is new to football or already highly skilled, they receive the same level of preparation, attention, and care from their coaches.