Flag football is officially headed to the Olympics.
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The fast-growing version of American football will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles, with both men's and women's tournaments on the schedule.
Unlike traditional football, flag football is a non-contact sport. Instead of tackling the ball carrier to the ground, defenders end a play by removing one of two flags attached to the player's waist.
Games feature two 20-minute halves on a 70-yard field, with offenses attempting to move the ball into the end zone. The Olympic competition will consist of six-team tournaments for both men and women, with games scheduled to be played at Exposition Park Stadium in Los Angeles.
The sport itself has been around much longer than some might realize.
According to the Olympics, flag football traces its roots to World War II, when American soldiers played a non-contact form of football recreationally. Fort Meade in Maryland is often credited as the site of some of the earliest games.
The sport has since expanded around the world, with its accessibility helping fuel its growth. Players still need many of the same skills associated with traditional football, including speed, passing, receiving, play design and defensive instincts, but without tackling.
And in 2028, it'll have something else: Olympic medals on the line.
