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HAMILTON — The L.A. Summer Games offer twins Tyson and Jalen Philpot a chance to return to their football roots.
Flag football will make its Olympic debut in 2028, with Canada chasing a spot in the inaugural event. The receivers from Delta, B.C., are entering their fifth CFL seasons — Tyson with the Montreal Alouettes, Jalen with the Calgary Stampeders — but their first taste of football came in flag.
"I wouldn't be the player I am without flag football," Jalen Philpot said Wednesday. "It's where I was really exposed to real coaching and critiques.
"Tyson and I would definitely love to get back out there and play."
CFL and NFL players will be allowed to play in Los Angeles. Canada hasn't qualified yet, but can punch its ticket at this summer's world championships in Germany.
The top two teams at the women's and men's events will garner Olympic berths. If the U.S. reaches either final, the top-three squads will advance, as the Americans already have spots as the host.
Flag football differs from the tackle version, with five players per side on a 70-yard by 25-yard field, no blocking or contact, and action stopping when the ball carrier's flag is pulled.
"When the conversation started about CFL players potentially playing in Los Angeles, the first thing was 'what rules are they playing?'" Jalen Philpot said. "When I saw it was the same rules we played growing up, I was kind of giddy because it's something we'd played since we were eight years old."
Tyson Philpot didn't just play flag football — he also officiated it.
"I feel I know the ins and outs, what you can and cannot do," he said. "If I got that opportunity, it's something I'd love, but you've got to give all the credit to the guys who are qualifying the team and making sure we even get a chance at the Olympics.
"I'd want to ensure it's a fair competition, and I'd love to compete with them."
National flag coach Paul LaPolice, a veteran CFL coach, is open to professionals playing in Los Angeles but said last week they will have to earn their roster spots.
An advantage the Philpots see is that they played both offence and defence when they played flag football.
"The way Tyson and I made our money when we played flag is we were pretty good flag-pullers," Jalen Philpot said. "Your hand-eye co-ordination must be really good."
Tyson Philpot said the brothers could make the transition from offence to defence seamlessly.
"If you've never played defence or moved in a backwards position, it's definitely hard," he said.
Another CFL player interested in representing Canada in Los Angeles is Nathan Rourke of the B.C. Lions. Last season's top Canadian and most outstanding player, the Victoria-born quarterback is playing in a B.C. recreational league to get fully acclimated to flag football.
"It definitely is different," Rourke said. "The snap, sometimes you're 10 yards back, and in flag the ball is in the air much longer, and your eyes are off the defence, so that was something I had to get used to."
In flag football, a defensive player rushes the quarterback each snap and is untouched.
"You definitely have to use arm angles," Rourke said. "Your eyes have to navigate that person because if you have a tall, long and fast rusher, he's going to be a challenge.
"Even in the recreational league, I played against a guy who was pretty good, and he tipped a couple of balls on me. I'd expect on the Olympic stage they're going to have somebody that's pretty freaking good at that."
Rourke also grew up playing flag football, but it was with seven players aside on a regular field. When the possibility of playing Olympic football became real, Rourke understood he had to work to prepare.
"I realized I wasn't going to be able to just show up," he said. "I was going to need to put the work in to not only earn the spot but get to a place where I felt like I could give it the best shot.
"As a kid, I never really grew up thinking about playing on the Olympic stage. Now that it's a possibility, I think I owe it to myself to try to see it through."
The Philpots were teammates in flag football and at the University of Calgary before being drafted by their respective CFL teams in 2022. Reuniting on an Olympic stage is something they'd cherish.
"Oh man, that would be a bucket list dream come true," Tyson Philpot said. "To win an Olympic medal, in general, with my twin, I don't know of many people who could say that."
Added Jalen: "That would be so cool. I'd love to give Canada the respect it deserves in football."
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