NFL Foundation's New PLAY 60 Champions Program Offers Free Flag Football Kits to Schools Nationwide

If your kid's PE teacher has been talking about starting a flag football unit this fall, there's a good reason to pay attention: the NFL Foundation just made it a lot easier — and a lot cheaper — for schools to say yes.

On July 18, the NFL Foundation, in partnership with GENYOUth and Action for Healthy Kids, officially launched NFL FLAG-In-School PLAY 60 Champions, a new youth health and wellness initiative that expands the league's decade-old FLAG-In-Schools program. Since 2014, the NFL has distributed more than 40,000 free flag football kits to schools nationwide, reaching an estimated 17 million students. PLAY 60 Champions builds on that foundation by adding district-level grants, coaching support, and professional development — so flag football becomes a lasting part of the school day, not a one-off unit.

What's Actually New Here

The original FLAG-In-Schools program gave individual teachers a starter kit: cones, flag belts, footballs, and a curriculum. PLAY 60 Champions raises the ceiling considerably.

▸ Individual schools can still apply for a free NFL FIS starter kit for the 2026-27 school year at flag.genyouthnow.org.

▸ District leaders can now apply separately for PLAY 60 Champions status, unlocking district-level grants and ongoing coaching support through Action for Healthy Kids.

▸ Every applicant gets access to peer learning networks so PE teachers can share what's working across schools.

Why This Matters for Your League

For youth sports organizers, this is a feeder-program opportunity hiding in plain sight. Most kids' first real exposure to flag football happens in a gym class, not a tryout. A school with a fully-equipped, well-run FLAG-In-Schools program is quietly building next season's recreational league roster — and a generation of players who show up already knowing the rules and loving the game.

If you coach or run a local league, this is worth sharing with the PE departments in your district before the school year starts. And if your child just discovered flag football in gym class, the jump from classroom drills to competitive play doesn't have to be a mystery — Flag Football Finder makes it simple to locate a league near you once the season ends.

Get Involved

School educators can apply for a free NFL FIS kit at flag.genyouthnow.org. District leaders interested in the full PLAY 60 Champions program — including grants and training — can apply at actionforhealthykids.org/champions.

Know a school that should be on this list? Share this post, and browse our full directory of leagues to see where those new players can play next.