By Michael Preston

Selected for their performances on the flag football field, they came together as a group then trained, studied film, bonded as a unit, and executed their game plan. Only this international team was not pulling flags to make tackles, scoring touchdowns, or even aiming to win a continental title.

Keeping order at the IFAF Americas Flag Football Championships and throwing flags when necessary was the mandate for game officials from Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Mexico, and the United States. Their performances were ultimately as important to the success and quality of the tournament as those of the competing teams.

IFAF selected officials from each visiting federation represented at the men’s and women’s competitions to join those from the host nation at the US Performance Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. Among them were Paola Moreno from Mexico, one of eight female officials working the games and Brazilian Jimmy Miquelasso.

“At first I was unsure about how it would be to work with people I don’t know as part of a new group together, but at the end of the day it’s the same rule book and the same mechanics and we speak the same football language,” said Paola. “I’m super happy about the tournament and the organization. It’s my first international event and I’ve been working well within the crews, and everyone has had great feedback from the games.”

Mexican officials were involved in a three-month nationwide selection process, which included being judged on rules knowledge and the mechanics of the sport with Paola one of a trio who were chosen to make the trip to North Carolina. She was able to take time away from her job as a human resources manager for a distribution center thanks to her bosses appreciating her passion for flag football.

“I’m very proud to represent women in officiating, my federation and of course my country,” added Paola, who has officiated both the flag and tackle disciplines at home and played flag football for seven years. “It’s a dream to be here and I believe that flag football is exponentially growing not only in Mexico but around the world. There’s a great quality of performance here in this championship and hopefully it continues to grow and becomes an Olympic sport. In that event, my next goals would be to officiate at the World Championship in Finland next year, representing my country.”

Jimmy Miquelasso, who was selected to represent Brazil following his performance in a South American tournament last year, has similar dreams. He plans to take knowledge garnered from the continental championships to help grow flag football back in Brazil.

“For me, it’s great because it’s a different structure from our championships in Brazil and everything is amazing,” he explained. “IFAF and USA Football have been great with us. I never imagined being in this situation and the next steps I think are to report all the information I have received here to my country so that more people know how to officiate at this level. Then we can increase the level of flag football in Brazil. It’s so important for us to improve our level in Brazil and for the next competitions because the sport has grown rapidly and there are tournaments almost every weekend.”

Allan Kotliar is the director of officials for the IFAF Americas Flag Football Championships and oversaw the preparations for the tournament. The officials came together as a group prior to the event starting, which included a full day of training. After meeting to discuss expectations for the event, the officials were put through an on-field training session, watched film of plays and some of the participating teams and later relaxed together as a team.

“I’m pleased with what we accomplished,” said Allan. “Teams have specifically thanked me for how the officials have performed and I’ve relayed that to them as they continue to grow with the sport.

“I’m a firm believer in preventive officiating and communication, so we had good communication with the coaches, and everyone had respect for each other, which is important.”

Jimmy Miquelasso added: “It was a step up from the competitions I have worked before, but we all adjusted. The game is faster, but after just a few snaps we are soon up to speed with the game and its quality by working together as a crew, as a team.

“Even if sometimes there were challenges because of people speaking different languages, we all worked successfully in English, the language of the competition. I’m not a native speaker, but the other officials who worked with me are very helpful and we all understand the technical wording of football.”

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