IFAF President Pierre Trochet’s update on behalf of the IFAF Board:
Accelerating Growth with Discipline
With 2025 well underway, I am delighted to update IFAF Member Federations following the last meeting of the IFAF Board in January. This was the first meeting following a productive IFAF Congress in December, where, as the global American football family, we had the chance to connect, exchange ideas, and move forward with purpose.
In recent days I was reminded of a powerful thought: “It’s not that we need new ideas, but we need to stop having old ideas.” These words from Edwin Land resonate deeply as we navigate one of the most intense growth phases in the history of IFAF. Our challenge now is to innovate and approach this growth with discipline.
While many advancements have been made, our focus must be on achieving even greater progress. This means aligning our internal bylaws, governance strategy, and documentation so that every member nation—from emerging federations to the most established—can become a fit-for-purpose governing body. This is not an overnight transformation but a mid-term goal that requires collective commitment and effort. By prioritizing discipline now, we can set the stage for a shared vision of a global and Olympic future for our sport. Through this, we will build a sustainable foundation that benefits everyone.
Rethinking Membership: What Does It Mean to Be an IFAF Member?
Governance evolution often starts with asking the right questions. One of the most important is this: What does it mean to be a member nation of IFAF?
Our current membership framework hasn’t been thoroughly reviewed since 2015–2017. Yet, the world has changed dramatically since then. The inclusion of flag football in the Olympics and the sport’s growth to 20 million players across 100 countries have reshaped our landscape. To remain relevant and effective, we need to better understand our members’ domestic structures, businesses, and agendas.
This period of growth also requires a shift in how IFAF operates at the organizational level. Historically, we have functioned as a volunteer-led organization. While this model has served us well, the scale and complexity of our operations now demand a more professional structure. Building a dedicated staff is essential to running operations more efficiently and providing consistent support to our member nations. However, this transition also means that our board structure must evolve to stay relevant. We need to establish clear roles and responsibilities within the board to ensure that governance remains strategic and effective.
Equally important is the need for a comprehensive and transparent bylaws framework. This will allow all stakeholders to understand how IFAF operates, creating a solid foundation of policies and processes that guide our decisions and keep us on course toward our goals. By updating these governance elements, we can enhance trust, clarity, and accountability across the organization.
In response to these challenges, the IFAF board has tasked our General Secretary, Eric Mayes, to lead a strategic review of membership status and governance structures. This initiative will strengthen the relationship between IFAF and its members, ensuring that we are all aligned to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving global environment.
Our Championships: Progress and Pathways
Our event calendar reflects the dynamic growth of both flag and tackle football. In flag football, we have attributed all continental competitions, and technical meetings with participating nations are already underway. We’ve also launched an innovative qualification pathway for the 2026 World Championships and are on track to finalize the hosting rights for this event by Q2 2025.
We’re reintroducing the Final Four format for the 2025 European Championship in tackle football. Under Javier L’Episcopo’s leadership, the Americas now have a projected framework for continental tackle football activities. However, on a global level, we face the challenge of creating a cohesive structure for tackle football—a challenge compounded by the financial strains of recent years.
To address this, Vice President Jim Mullin will chair a strategy working group tasked with consulting stakeholders and presenting a groundbreaking proposal to the board by Q3 2025. We are confident that this effort will lay the groundwork for the future of tackle football at the global level.
Strengthening Member Engagement
IFAF’s strength lies in you, our members; understanding your needs is essential for effective governance. That’s why we’ve launched our annual member survey, which includes participation metrics and governance elements. This survey is a critical tool for gathering insights, and we urge all nations to participate. Our staff is ready to assist wherever needed.
By deepening our understanding of each member’s unique context, we can tailor our support and ensure that IFAF remains a valuable partner in your growth. Together, we can achieve our collective ambitions and make American football a global force for the future.
The road ahead is full of opportunities and challenges, but with discipline as our guiding principle, I am confident that IFAF will continue to grow, thrive, and Score. Thank you for your continued trust and dedication to our shared vision. Let’s make 2025 a landmark year for the global football community.
I will continue to provide updates throughout the year, keeping you informed on our progress and key developments. In the meantime, if you have any questions or need further insights, please don’t hesitate to contact our team—we are always here to support you.
Pierre Trochet President, International Federation of American Football
