ATLANTA — MaxPreps and iFlag are partnering to launch the MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown, a two-part national invitational tournament designed to establish the first rankings-backed, media-scaled championship stage for high school flag football. The inaugural event will take place Sept. 11–12, 2026, at the Elite Athlete Training Center in Chula Vista, CA, with a second East Coast event planned for Spring 2027.
Flag football is one of the fastest-growing segments in youth and high school sports. Girls' programs are being sanctioned at a record pace, collegiate pathways are expanding and the sport is set to debut on the global stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. What has been missing is a unified national platform that reflects the level of competition and investment across the ecosystem.
"Flag football is growing at an incredible pace, but until now, it
hasn't had a national stage that truly reflects the level of competition
across the country," said B.J. Pilling, President of PlayOn. "The
MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown changes that by bringing the top
scholastic girls flag programs in the nation together with more
visibility and storytelling surrounding these athletes than ever before.
As the sport continues its rapid rise, our vision is for this event to
become an aspirational stop along every top program's season."
MaxPreps and iFlag Build the Infrastructure for a New Era of High School Sports
For more than two decades, MaxPreps has served as the leading platform for high school sports, delivering national rankings, statistical credibility and storytelling that drives visibility for student-athletes and programs. As part of PlayOn Sports, MaxPreps now operates within a connected experience that includes the NFHS Network and GoFan, powering experiences for millions of high school sports fans nationwide.
This partnership represents a strategic expansion into one of the fastest-growing categories in scholastic athletics. MaxPreps will bring its ranking authority, school relationships and content engine to elevate flag football, while iFlag contributes tournament infrastructure and deep expertise in the sport's development.
"Our goal is to grow girls flag football to new levels and provide
substantial visibility to female athletes and the sport overall," said
Charles Davis, CEO and Co-Founder of iFlag. "This initiative shines a
spotlight on their incredible talent, dedication and hard work, while
creating a national platform that highlights the competitiveness and
excitement of the game."
Earned, Performance-Based Competition
The MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown will operate as a merit-based invitational, with teams selected based on national rankings, season performance and competitive resume - extending the same performance standards that define MaxPreps' approach across all sports.
Together, MaxPreps and iFlag are creating a scalable platform that aligns competition, content and recognition that delivers a championship experience that reflects the growth and legitimacy of the sport.
Building a Flag Football Media Platform
MaxPreps will cover the road to Chula Vista the same way it covers other premier events, including MaxPreps Game of the Week, launched in 2025: player spotlights, program profiles, mic'd moments, live highlights and a content experience that brings fans and families into every moment, whether they are in the stands or watching from across the country.
With the Flag Football Showdown, MaxPreps will expand its coverage of girls high school flag football with the intention of becoming the leading voice of the sport. With innovative, behind-the-scenes coverage of the event, MaxPreps brings fans and families into every moment with its unique position in the high school sports ecosystem, creating an opportunity to authentically showcase and elevate the game to fans everywhere. For the student-athletes who earn their way to the field, this is a stage that reflects the work they've put in.
Beyond competition, the Showdown is designed as a content-driven platform. MaxPreps will document the road to Chula Vista through athlete storytelling, program features and live game coverage to drive national awareness and local engagement across emerging fan bases. This approach reflects a broader shift in high school sports, where media exposure and digital distribution play an increasingly central role in athlete visibility, recruiting pathways and fan engagement.
A Scalable National Platform
The MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown marks the first step in building a long-term national competition platform for scholastic flag football, with plans to expand both the event calendar and geographic footprint in 2027 and beyond.
Sponsorship opportunities for the MaxPreps Flag Football Showdown are now available, offering brands the ability to engage with one of the fastest-growing audiences in youth sports through integrated on-site, digital and content-driven activation.
Additional details on team selection, format and the full event experience will be announced in the coming months.
About PlayOn SportsPlayOn Sports is the nation's leading technology company powering youth and high school athletics, serving thousands of schools and millions of fans. PlayOn unites the most trusted brands in high school sports — GoFan, MaxPreps and the NFHS Network — so every game reaches more fans and generates more community support. With PlayOn, fans and families can experience and celebrate local sports across tickets, broadcasts, highlights and stats. To learn more, visit playonsports.com.
About MaxPreps
Since 2002, MaxPreps has been America's source for high school sports information, serving millions of athletes, parents, coaches and administrators monthly. Dedicated to covering every team, game and player, MaxPreps supports local sports communities with its tools and award-winning photography, video, articles and social channels. For more information about MaxPreps and for the latest high school sports news, scores and expert analysis, visit maxpreps.com.
About iFlag (formerly USA FLAG) Since 2015, iFlag has been the industry leader in large scale flag football tournaments. In January 2025, iFlag set the Guinness World Record for the world's largest single flag football tournament.Their tournament series has been a pivotal recruiting hub for national teams and college programs since 2017. For more information about iFlag visit www.iflag.org.
