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Kevin Seifert
NFL house owners will vote subsequent week on a decision that might enable gamers to take part in flag soccer through the 2028 Olympics, in accordance with a memo the league despatched to groups this week and launched publicly Thursday.
In accordance with the decision, “participation by NFL gamers in flag soccer through the 2028 Summer season Olympics … will assist such progress and advance a number of league pursuits, together with rising fan and public curiosity in flag soccer, increasing the worldwide attain of the NFL, and offering higher alternatives for fan engagement and for our league companions.”
The decision establishes guidelines and a primary construction for a way the NFL hopes to see the method work, topic to negotiations with the NFL Gamers Affiliation and Olympics-related entities. They embody:
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Permission for any participant below NFL contract to take part in tryouts
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A restrict of 1 participant per NFL staff on every nationwide staff collaborating
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Permitting, as well as, a staff’s designated worldwide participant to play for his house nation
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A purchase order of leaguewide insurance coverage insurance policies to supply harm safety for any participant injured whereas collaborating in a licensed flag soccer exercise associated to the Olympics
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A wage cap credit score for any participant who’s injured
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An expectation that Olympic flag soccer groups will set up medical staffs and discipline surfaces that adjust to NFL minimal requirements
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A schedule that “doesn’t unreasonably battle with an NFL participant’s league and membership commitments.”
Homeowners will collect Tuesday and Wednesday in Eagan, Minnesota, to think about the decision amongst different league enterprise at a beforehand scheduled league assembly. Commissioner Roger Goodell, Dallas Cowboys proprietor Jerry Jones and different key league officers made their assist for participation on the Olympics clear throughout their most up-to-date conferences in Palm Seaside, Florida, final month.
The 2028 Summer season Olympics are scheduled to happen from July 14, 2028, to July 30, 2028. NFL gamers are sometimes off throughout most of that interval. At worst, flag soccer contributors would miss the beginning of coaching camp.
