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Two Foundations Unite to Elevate Flag Football Officiating Nationwide
W|W DL 86
Number 86
Two Foundations Unite to Elevate Flag Football Officiating Nationwide
Featured Focus:
Partnerships for Good, Leadership Development,
Direct Financial Support
Scope of Impact: Nationwide
The RQ Foundation and RCX Sports Foundation are investing $30,000 into flag football officials. This strategic collaboration, announced at the 2025 RQ Foundation Fundraiser themed "Behind the Whistle: Supporting Sport’s Third Team," champions the often-overlooked crucial element for any sport's success and integrity. Here’s the download:
The Alliance & The Ante: This is a $30,000 joint investment, spotlighted by Bo Boroski, Founder and CEO of RQ+, and Izell Reese, CEO of RCX Sports and Executive Director of NFL FLAG. The funds are fueling nationwide flag football officiating initiatives, aiming to directly impact the quality and availability of referees across the U.S.
Meeting Critical Demand: The initiative directly confronts the explosive growth of flag football, a sport rapidly expanding its footprint from local youth leagues to the global stage, including its upcoming debut at the 2028 Olympics. This surge requires a parallel expansion in qualified officiating to maintain the sport's integrity, ensure player safety, and support its growth. As Izell Reese articulated, "Great officiating is fundamental to the integrity and future of flag football".
Building the Officiating Future: The funds from this grant will be used to establish clear development pathways for officials, and significantly improve training programs at all levels. This approach signifies a commitment to cultivating a robust and skilled pipeline of referees. The aim is to guarantee a safe, fair, and ultimately more enjoyable experience for every athlete participating.
What struck us in this initiative is the strategic foresight and proactive infrastructure development from the RQ Foundation and The RCX Sports Foundation to ensure that Flag Football’s meteoric rise won’t be impacted by a lack of qualified officials. When a sport expands rapidly, a common bottleneck can be the shortage of skilled referees.
We also love that it puts the spotlight on these referees. Often criticized by fans and athletes alike, officials are described by this initiative as a needed “third team,” rather than a punching bag. It sends an important message about the need for competent officiating to enhance quality of play and player experience.
The power of collaborative expertise shines brightly here. The RQ Foundation brings its specialized acumen in enriching the officiating experience, particularly at the collegiate level. The RCX Sports Foundation leverages its extensive reach in youth sports, particularly as the operator of NFL FLAG.
YOUR NEXT PLAY:
There’s something to be said about how focused and strategic this initiative is. With the 2028 summer Olympic games coming up, the folks who are most invested in Flag Football aren’t waiting for someone else to make a move. They’re taking the lead in ensuring that its foundations are as strong as possible to meet its biggest moment yet. It’s a little bit like the phrase, “luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” By getting your own strategic plans in place ahead of time, you’ll be ready when the next big opportunity strikes.
The nonprofit organization takes proactive measures to address recruitment and retention challenges with sports officials. | The giving arm of RCS Sports works to develop, promote, and implement diversity and inclusion in youth sports. | NFL.com details flag football's global expansion and Olympic debut in 2028. |
USA Football was named the sport’s official governing body ahead of becoming the 38th Olympic event for LA28. | Information on becoming a certified Flag Football referee through USA Football. | An article chronicling the quick rise in popularity, and participation, of flag football as a high school sport. |
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