USA Football and GMTM have a special opportunity for people who want to join one of the fastest-growing sports in the world. You have the chance to challenge yourself against some of the finest players worldwide. Flag football is getting really famous all over the world because it’s fast and exciting.
USA Football wants to find the most talented players to be part of the U.S. Flag Football National Teams. It doesn’t matter if you’re new to flag football or if you’ve been playing for a long time – USA Football can help you reach the top of your game.
There’s something cool happening: a Digital Combine on GMTM for both adults and younger players. This is a free chance for people aged 12 and above from all over the country. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, you can take part in this online event and have a shot at representing the United States. The Digital Combine is a big part of how USA Football figures out who the best players are. It’s going to be open from August 14, 2023, until September 11, 2023.
The digital combine has eight different activities that help coaches from the U.S. National Team see how good the athletes are. Each activity is made to let coaches understand each player and see if they have what it takes – like the right skills and abilities – to play with the best flag football players in the world.
Which Digital Combine Should I Join – Junior or Adult?
This year, USA Football is organizing two Digital Combines. One is for adults, and the other is for juniors. To decide which one to join, think about your age on December 31, 2024.
- If you’ll be turning 18 at any point in 2024, your Competition Age is 18. So, you should sign up for the Adult Digital Combine.
- If you’ll be 17 or younger on December 31, 2024, then you should choose the Junior Digital Combine.
What’s in the Digital Combine?
Both the Junior and Adult Digital Combines have eight activities that athletes need to finish so they can be considered. All of these activities should be recorded and sent in with the camera turned sideways (landscape mode).
Here are the things you need to do:
Athlete Background: Put together a video of your best play or a highlight reel. Tell your story about playing sports and answer some questions about yourself. This helps coaches get to know you better.
- Stick Overhead Squat: Make a video of yourself doing a stick overhead squat from the side and front. Send in the video.
- Max. Push-Ups: Record a video where you do push-ups for a full minute (that’s 60 seconds!) without stopping. Don’t take any breaks. Count how many you do and send in the video.
- Max. Sit Ups: Do sit-ups for one minute without taking a break. Count them and record a video.
- Standing Broad Jump: Make a video of yourself doing a standing broad jump and landing on both feet. Send in the video and tell how far you jumped.
- Pro Agility/5-10-5 Shuttle Run: Record a video of yourself doing the 5-10-5 Shuttle Run. Send in the video. If you’re not sure how to do it right, there’s a useful resource you can check out.
- 20 Yard Dash: Make a video of yourself running as fast as you can for 20 yards. Send in the video and tell your time.
- 60-yard Shuttle: Record yourself doing the 60-yard Shuttle Run. Send in the video. If you need help, you can find more details in the activity description for both Adults and Juniors.
How to Take Participate
It’s completely free for everyone to join in, and you can do each activity in any space you have. You just need your phone to record and upload the videos of each activity. Here’s how you can take part:
Follow these steps to know how to start:
Step 1: Sign In or Register on GMTM
To begin, either log in to your existing GMTM profile or create a new one. It’s a simple process, and you can start right here. If you have the GMTM app, it’s even easier to find the combine and join in on the activities.
Step 2: Click a Link, Look in the Activities Tab – or – Use the Search Bar on GMTM
The simplest way to find the combine is by clicking on a link anywhere in this article. But once you’re signed in to GMTM, you can also search for it in the Activities menu. To find the Activities menu, go to the homepage and hover over “Activities.” The menu will appear and show different types of activities/events on GMTM.
You can also use the Search Bar at the top of the screen from any page on GMTM to find the event. Just click on the Search Bar to start searching. Then, type in “USA Football” to find the athlete, event, or organisation you’re looking for.
When you type “USA Football” in the search bar, scroll down to see different results. You can click on the USA Football Organization page, or you can click on one of the event results to go straight to the combine you want to be a part of. If needed, you might have to choose “View All Results” at the bottom of the menu to find what you’re searching for.
Step 3: Click the “Join” Button on Each Activity and Share About Yourself or Make a Video
When you find the Digital Combine you want to be a part of, just click the “Join” button. This will show you all the activities you need to do.
After looking through the page, you can start any activity by clicking the “Join” button next to it.
Clicking “Join” will take you to the activity page. There, you’ll see a video at the top explaining what to do. Some activities will need you to send in a video from yourself.
Step 4: After You Finish Each Activity, Click “Submit”
Once you’ve watched the video and read how to do the activity, make your own video. You can do this in your backyard, at school, or a local field. Ask a friend to help record with a phone or camera. For activities with time limits, have your friend use a stopwatch or watch the video to measure the time.
When your video is ready, save it on your phone or computer. Then find the “Upload” button on the activity page and attach your video. You can also use YouTube or Hudl links.
After you’ve added the right video and any other info the activity wants, click “Submit.”
Step 5: Show Your Work to Others and Connect with Coaches and Friends
When you’re done with each activity and have sent in your videos, head to your profile. This is where you can see the videos you’ve uploaded.
Make sure to tell your teammates, coaches, and others about what you did. You can copy the link to your profile or a specific video and share it on your social media pages.
