MORE FOOTBALL OPPORTUNITIES
PLAY FLAG FOOTBALL – YOUTH
PLAY FLAG OR TOUCH – ADULTS
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FREE Youth Football Programming
#GirlsPlayFootball Presented by Jimmy John’s
The #GirlsPlayFootball Program is a free 5-session program for girls aged 8-14 which runs in the winter. The goal is to encourage girls to try football through a variety of skills and drills in a safe and fun environment. The program is led by certified amateur football coaches, along with athletes from the Manitoba Bisons, and Winnipeg Rifles.
Ages: 9 – 13 | Season: Winter | Location: WSF South
W Football Academy Presented by Johnston Group
Led by certified top amateur coaches and Blue Bombers players, youth athletes focus on mastering the fundamentals of their positions while building speed, strength, and power. The program is delivered in two phases: the first emphasizes positional technique and skill development, and the second introduces equipment and controlled contact drills to apply those fundamentals in game-like situations.
Ages: U12 – U18 | Season: Winter | Location: WSF South & North
Winnipeg Blue Bombers #TryFootball
#TryFootball is a free, four-session introductory program for boys and girls—many of whom are trying football for the first time. Participants are introduced to the game through fun, age-appropriate skills and drills in a safe, supportive environment that builds confidence, teamwork, and a love for the sport. The program is led by certified amateur football coaches, along with athletes from the Manitoba Bisons, and Winnipeg Rifles.
Ages: 9–13 | Season: Winter | Location: WSF South
Winnipeg Blue Bombers Kick-Off
The Blue Bombers Kick-Off program runs annually for young children 4-8 just beginning their football journey. Each session focuses on developing fundamental skills by incorporating core football mechanics into fun, engaging games and drills. The program is led by certified amateur football coaches, alongside athletes from the Manitoba Bisons and Winnipeg Rifles, providing participants with positive role models and quality instruction.
Ages: 4–8 years old | Season: Winter | Location: WSF South
Bell Futures Kick-Off
The Blue Bombers Futures Kick-Off program is a free, non-contact initiative for children ages 4–8 that introduces young athletes to football using fun activities and age-appropriate drills. Based on Football Canada’s First Down program, it focuses on getting kids active and engaged with the basics of the game—like running, throwing, catching and general football-related movements—in a safe, enjoyable environment.
Ages: 4–8 | Season: Spring | Location: Princess Auto Stadium
Bell Junior Bombers Skills Camp
The Junior Blue Bombers Football Skills Camp gives kids ages 9–13 the chance to build and refine their football skills through age-appropriate drills and activities, helping them improve both their fitness and understanding of the game in a safe, non-contact, and fun environment. The camp is led by certified coaches at Princess Auto Stadium and focuses on introducing fundamental movements and game-related skills to keep participants active and engaged.
Ages: 9–14 | Season: Spring | Location: Princess Auto Stadium
Blue & Gold Training Camp
Athletes from the MMFA U14 Division participate in a free camp at Princess Auto Stadium designed to enhance their development and love for the game. Led by certified coaches alongside Blue Bombers players, the camp provides high-quality instruction in a safe, engaging, and energetic environment. Participants focus on skill refinement, teamwork, and confidence-building while enjoying a fun and memorable experience at the stadium.
Eligibility: Must be registered to play in the MMFA
Elite Flag Academy
New in 2026, the Winnipeg Football Club partnered with Football Manitoba to introduce high-performance flag football camps aimed at athletes across three groups: Boys ages 9–17, Girls ages 9–16, and Women 17+. These camps are designed to help participants refine their flag football skills, elevate their competitive play, and deepen their understanding of the sport through structured, high-level drills and instruction. The initiative reflects a shared focus on athlete development and expanding opportunities for flag football across different age groups.
Ages: 9 – 20 | Season: Winter | Location: WSF North
Crunchers Nights Presented by Old Dutch
Over the course of two evenings, U10 Crunchers teams from the MMFA visit Princess Auto Stadium to take part in a skills session led by players from the Blue Bombers, Manitoba Bisons, and Winnipeg Rifles. The sessions focus on developing fundamental football skills in a fun, safe, and engaging environment, giving young athletes the chance to learn from experienced players while building confidence and teamwork.
Eligibility: Must be registered to play in the MMFA
Winnipeg Youth Football Club
The Winnipeg Youth Football Club is an eight‑week after‑school flag football program that serves students in downtown Winnipeg. It introduces flag football through a variety of drills and exercises designed to promote physical activity, fundamental movement skills, and healthy lifestyles for youth who may not otherwise have the opportunity to participate in organized sport. The program is free and delivered once a week, with transportation, meals, and shirts provided to participants.
Eligibility: Closed to the public
Pre-Game Flag Football presented by Bell
Experience the Thrill of a Blue Bombers Game Day! Sign up your Flag Football team to scrimmage on the turf at Princess Auto Stadium 20 minutes before the Blue Bombers kick off! Watch the pros warm up, play in front of the CFL’s loudest fans, and enjoy the game with exclusive group seating and pricing.
Your turf. Your team. Your moment.
Ages: U10 – U18 | Location: Princess Auto Stadium
FLAG FOOTBALL LEAGUES
Rural Flag Football presented by MacDon
Launched in 2024, the Winnipeg Football Club expanded flag football beyond the city by introducing a Rural Flag Football League across communities in Niverville, Hanover, Ritchot, Beausejour, Brokenhead, Pinawa, Morden, and Winkler. This co‑ed league is open to youth ages 8–14 and runs in the spring, giving young athletes in rural Manitoba the chance to learn fundamentals, build skills, and compete locally through practices in their hometowns and games against neighbouring communities.
Ages: 8–14 | Season: April to May | Status: Registration Open
Blue Bombers Girls High School Flag Football League presented by Bell
The Girls High School Flag Football League, presented by Bell, enters its third season in 2026. The league features both indoor and outdoor play, with playoff games culminating at Princess Auto Stadium. Over the past two years, the program has experienced rapid growth, doubling in size, and continues to provide a competitive, fun, and supportive environment for high school athletes to develop their flag football skills.
Ages: Grades 9–12 | Season: April – May | Status: Full
Boys High School Flag Football League
In 2026, the WHSFL partnered with the Winnipeg Football Club to expand Flag Football opportunities for high school boys across Manitoba. The five‑week league will include 40 teams of boys in Grades 9–12, providing competitive flag football play alongside skill development, teamwork, and game experience as part of the broader high school flag football season.
Ages: Grades 9–12 | Season: April – May | Status: Registration Open
GROWING FOOTBALL ACROSS MANITOBA
Bud Grant Coach of the Week Award presented by Vector Construction
The Blue Bombers want you to join us in honouring youth football coaches through our Bud Grant Coach of the Week Program. The goal of this program is to give youth football coaches the recognition they deserve while promoting the development of youth football throughout the province.
High School Football Game of the Week presented by Mismack
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers High School Game of the Week program runs from September to October, concurrent with the Winnipeg High School Football League schedule and provides teams with an opportunity to get some exposure and grant money for their programs.
Leadership Conference presented by Princess Auto
The Winnipeg Football Club welcomes over 250 athletes and coaches from the WHSFL to Princess Auto Stadium for a comprehensive leadership and education session. The program covers important topics such as anti-bullying, sexual grooming awareness, mental health, and leading by example. Each coach is invited to bring up to five players from their team, providing a focused and interactive environment for learning both on and off the field.
Blue & Gold Showcase presented by Princess Auto
The Blue & Gold Showcase is an annual event that highlights the top high school football players in Manitoba. Out of more than 2,100 athletes across the province, around 220 of the best Junior Varsity (U16) and Varsity (U18) players are selected to take part. Those chosen attend eight practices over two weeks, then compete in showcase games at Princess Auto Stadium, giving them the opportunity to demonstrate their skills on a big stage and gain exposure in front of scouts and coaches.
Winnipeg Bears
The Winnipeg Bears Football Club competes in the MMFA U14 Division as part of the Manitoba Minor Football Association and is fully supported by the Winnipeg Football Club. Its mission is to provide an inclusive pathway into football by creating opportunities for youth who might otherwise not have access to organized sports, helping them develop athletic skills as well as teamwork, leadership and character both on and off the field.
FLAG IN SCHOOLS
In 2025, the Winnipeg Football Club partnered with the Grey Cup Festival and Football Manitoba to distribute a Flag Football Kit to every school in Manitoba, giving educators the tools to introduce the sport through gym class programming. Each kit includes footballs, tuck‑in flags, a two‑week lesson plan based on the Blue Bombers’ “Flag in Schools” curriculum, and a Winnipeg Blue Bombers flag, helping make flag football fun, inclusive, and accessible to students of all skill levels across the province.
Looking for a kit? Contact Community@bluebombers.com
COACHING RESOURCES
Virtual Coaches Clinic
In football, a huddle is an action of a team gathering together, usually in a tight circle, to strategize, motivate, or celebrate. It’s time we get back to this, so we are taking the huddle virtual for amateur football coaches to connect with Winnipeg Blue Bomber Coaches for the opportunity to learn, tell stories, motivate, and celebrate the great game of football.
Mondays in February | 6:30 pm – 7:30 pm
In-Person Coaches Clinic
Each year, the Winnipeg Football Club welcomes over 200 coaches to Princess Auto Stadium for a full day of professional development designed to strengthen football coaching across the province. Presenters from all levels of the sport lead sessions covering a wide range of topics — from offensive playcalling to defensive blitz packages — in a drop‑in format that encourages learning, discussion, and connection among coaches of all experience levels.
May 2, 2026 | 9:00 am – 4:00 pm
Request Brandon Alexander as a Guest Coach
After eight years playing professionally as a standout defensive back with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers — moved into the role of Community & Amateur Football Ambassador with the Winnipeg Football Club following his playing career. In this position, Alexander uses the experience and leadership he gained as a CFL player to support and engage with the amateur football community across Manitoba. He regularly visits practices and events for leagues such as the WHSFL, MMFA, RMFL, and MGFA to share his knowledge, encourage athletes, and help grow the game at the grassroots level.
Brandon Alexander’s Playbook to Success
With the goal of fundamental skill development for both athletes and coaches, former Winnipeg Blue Bomber Brandon Alexander created the “Playbook to Success”—a set of offensive and defensive playbooks and coaching resources that support amateur football coaches in Manitoba by outlining practical strategies, drills, and principles to help improve player development and on‑field performance at the grassroots level.
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