Miami Dolphins Academy, NFL Mexico and the National Commission for Physical Culture and Sport (CONADE) are developing year-round girls and boys flag football and education programming across Mexico. The initiative began with a training program at the National School of Sports Coaches (ENED) on Oct. 12 and 13. Implemented through the Global Markets Program, the effort will support coaches, schools and young participants while connecting to the national NFL FLAG U12 tournament.
The program extends Miami Dolphins Academy work in athlete and coach development, resource donations and off-field education. The Academy also supports student-athletes, young women and the international growth of flag football through clinics in Spain, Brazil and Mexico. In Mexico, the initiative combines coach training, school workshops, equipment distribution and follow-up support.
Training expands from 15 to 65 coaches
On Oct. 12, Miami Dolphins Academy coaches trained 15 local coaches at ENED. Seven participants came from CONADE, while eight came from the Global Markets Program. The session included two hours of classroom instruction and three hours of on-field practice focused on sports methodology and values.
On Oct. 13, the initial group shared its instruction with 50 additional coaches assembled by CONADE. That expanded the total group to 65 trained coaches. The day concluded with a hands-on clinic for 100 girls and boys.
Felipe Formiga, vice president of International Development for the Miami Dolphins, said the organization was honored to begin the Academy programming in Mexico. “It is an honor to bring Miami Dolphins Academy to Mexico, beginning with this week’s clinics,” Formiga said. He also said the program would provide year-round opportunities for coaches and schools across the country.
“The enthusiasm for the NFL and Flag Football in Mexico is extraordinary. We are proud to offer year-round programming for coaches and schools across the country and to connect fans with the sport in a way we never have before. These clinics demonstrate the Miami Dolphins’ commitment to growing the sport in Mexico. We are excited to see the Miami Dolphins Academy Flag Football program develop through the extraordinary collaboration with NFL Mexico and CONADE over the next year.”
School workshops and equipment support
The trained coaches will lead workshops for physical education teachers from 100 schools during the 2026-2027 school year. The workshops will take place in Mexico City, Guadalajara, Veracruz and Quintana Roo during September-October and January-February. This phase will carry the training model from coaches to teachers and students in multiple communities.
Each participating school will receive an official kit containing 25 sets of flag football belts, Wilson footballs and technical manuals. Miami Dolphins Academy will provide six to eight weeks of support to the schools. The equipment and follow-up assistance are part of the initiative’s effort to establish a continuing training structure.
Arturo Olivé, managing director of NFL Mexico, said stronger instruction is necessary for flag football to reach more communities. He also emphasized the need to create more leadership opportunities for women on coaching staffs. “Elevating the quality of instruction is essential for Flag Football to reach more communities and continue growing across the country. It is also important to empower women and create more opportunities for them to take on leadership roles within coaching staffs. We thank CONADE for its collaboration and the Global Markets Program teams for helping us bring this sport to girls, boys and young people,” Olivé said.
Connection to NFL FLAG U12
The school program will connect with the national NFL FLAG U12 tournament, which will run from November 2026 through July 2027. Organizers want the tournament to reach more than 3,000 teams across all 32 states. The competition gives the coach and school programming a national structure.
State champions will compete in the national tournament from Feb. 26-28 in partnership with Tec de Monterrey. The competition will provide a place in the 2027 NFL FLAG International Championship. That schedule links the initial training program and school outreach to a national pathway for young flag football participants.
Building a broader flag football network
The initiative is designed to promote learning, healthy habits, inclusion and values such as leadership, respect and discipline from childhood. CONADE also identified inclusive and equitable spaces on the field as part of advancing community sports. The Miami Dolphins, NFL Mexico and CONADE are using the program to strengthen the people who teach flag football as the sport reaches more communities.
The progression begins with Miami Dolphins Academy coaches, expands to local coaches and then moves to physical education teachers in 100 schools. The Oct. 13 clinic for 100 girls and boys provided an early participant component within that model. The planned equipment, workshops and six to eight weeks of Academy support will continue the work during the 2026-2027 school year.
FSB Take
The Miami Dolphins Academy initiative has a defined progression from coach education to school participation and national competition. It began with 15 local coaches, expanded to 65 coaches and included a clinic for 100 girls and boys. The planned work in 100 schools and connection to NFL FLAG U12 give the Mexico program a broader structure than a single clinic.
The next verified milestones are the school workshops during the 2026-2027 school year and the NFL FLAG U12 tournament from November 2026 through July 2027. The tournament goal of more than 3,000 teams across all 32 states shows the intended scale of the effort. The state-championship competition also creates a route toward the 2027 NFL FLAG International Championship.
For the Miami Dolphins, the partnership places coach development, equipment distribution and education alongside flag football participation. NFL Mexico and CONADE provide local collaboration for the training and school phases. Together, the organizations are building a year-round program for girls, boys, coaches and schools across Mexico.
Source: Original report