The big question for China on the Road to Chengdu is how will the host nation perform at The World Games?
A newcomer on the international stage, thrown into the competitive arena at the very highest level of flag football competition, China is facing a baptism of fire.
The seven other women’s teams might have qualified alongside the hosts nation by establishing themselves at the top of the 2024 IFAF World Championships, but they are all aware that China has been preparing for many months for this opportunity to shine.
“I am really curious to see them play,” says Austria head coach Robert Riedl one of China’s group games opponents. “We won’t have time to scout them so that will be a challenge for our coaches to react to what they bring to the game.”
China’s fortunes rest on the shoulders of three coaches. Patrick Alley, who as a member of the United States men’s national team has won three gold medals, at the 2024 IFAF World Championships, the 2023 IFAF Americas and at The World Games in 2022, will work alongside Ruibin Guo and Xie Dingyichen
Guo has more than a decade of experience in flag football in China and told IFAF: “Since I was a kid, I have been curious about American football after watching game footage on TV. In 2013, when I first enrolled at Beijing Sport University, I started learning flag football. Later, I participated in the China University Flag Football League for several years and even organized a tackle football team. Over the past decade, I’ve been deeply involved in training, competing, and teaching football. My passion for the sport has only grown since I first got into it, and now I’ve become a football coach.”
China’s team has been compiled through first identifying potential squad members through social media and tournaments and then the official selection process saw players evaluated comprehensively based on physical tests, special technical skills, and game performance.
They were selected from the provinces of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui, and Guangxi with diverse sporting backgrounds in rugby, handball, hockey, football, track and field, karate, and wrestling. Some are college students majoring in sports, others physical education teachers and sports workers.
“There’s no doubt that the selection was intense and unforgiving,” says Guo. “All the players worked hard to showcase their abilities and fighting spirit.
“Although this sport has been developing in China for over two decades, this is the first time a formal national team has been established. Some individual players have been involved in the sport for less than three years, and a few have only been playing for less time than that.”
Guo expects defense to be China’s strength and that will face the ultimate test in the group stages with world champions and top-ranked USA in opposition along with a resurgent Canada and Europe’s top-ranked team Austria. All games will be streamed live at The World Games Live between August 14 and 17.
He is channeling the approach of the best in the business to cause a shock against some of the world’s top teams.
“My coaching philosophy is rooted in and integrates the principles of renowned football coaches,” Guo explains. “Bill Belichick’s "Do your job" – perform your duties well, whether you’re an athlete, coach, or team staff member – and Pete Carroll’s "Win forever" – live, work, and compete like a champion.
China begins its quest to win The World Games, and to ultimately earn a place at a future Olympic Games, against Austria and Canada on Thursday, August 14, followed by a clash with USA the following day.
Player to Watch: QB HaoLin Feng Coaches: Ruibin Guo, Xie Dingyichen, Patrick Alley, 1st Year World Ranking: Not currently ranked Form (last 5 games): No previous tournament experience
2024 World Championships: N/A 2023 Asia-Oceania Continentals: N/A 2022 The World Games: N/A 2021 World Championships: N/A
