Stay Tranquilo - Inside Team USA Flag Football with Isabella Geraci & Nico Casares | Road to the Olympics

Episode Date: March 19, 2026

Team USA Flag Football players Isabella Geraci and Nico Casares join Stay Tranquilo to talk about representing the red, white, and blue, the rapid growth of USA Flag Football, and what the road to the Olympics really looks like. From training camps and world championships to the future of flag football in college and worldwide, this episode dives into why the sport is exploding right now. We also talk about their journeys into football, what it means to wear Team USA across the world, the competition for roster spots, and how flag football is opening doors for the next generation of athletes. Subscribe for more Stay Tranquilo episodes, athlete interviews, and sports conversations. #StayTranquilo #USAFlagFootball #FlagFootball #Olympics #TeamUSA #IsabellaGeraci #NicoCasares #FootballPodcast #MiamiSports #OlympicFlagFootball Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

But what does it mean to now play at like the biggest stage this game? Every time we put on the red, white and blue, it's like you get chills kind of thinking about it. Absolutely. All right, all right. Welcome back to another episode. We are back in the studio post Super Bowl, connected with some awesome people while we were out there. We got Team USA flag football men's women's. We got Nico.

We got Izzy. How you guys feeling? We're here in Miami. Appreciate you guys for jumping on. Appreciate you for having us. Absolutely. So Izzy and I got to connect. we recorded with your teammate, Linnea, or Linnea, right?

Linnea. And it was really cool to kind of hear the state of flag football at this point. And obviously the growth of the game, we were talking about it before the pot, right, $30 million invested by the NFL now into flag football. So we know how much growth is being pumped in to the sport. But before we get into any of that, I definitely want to tell your guy's story. Tell us a little bit about how you got into flag football and how that's led you to where you today, so whoever wants to kick it off?

Yeah, I mean, I kind of always had like a love for football. I started playing at the age of seven, but I played tackle growing up, so it was a little different. We didn't have flag for girls where I'm from, which is up in Cleveland. So I grew up playing tackle until I was 14 and then gave it up to focus on basketball, played that in college for five years, and then found flag as soon as I got out, so in 24 and immediately got into it and kind of just got recruited for the national team almost right away. And everything just kind of happened very, very quickly. And next thing you know, I'm

going to play for a gold medal in Finland and the flag football world championship. So this will be my third year on the team. And it's been so insane. Yeah. So grateful. It's interesting. I feel like a lot of people had to, yeah, when we spoke to Linnea out there, she was basketball player too. Is that like a common denominator, especially with the females? I would say so. Play football maybe at some capacity when you're a kid, but then you end up gravitating to another sport. But because Flag Football has grown so much,

it's brought that opportunity back. Yes, for sure. I think with our age, like, we're probably going to be on the higher end of, like, the ones coming from a different sport now, now that Flag is, like, in the youth. But yeah, you see a lot of basketball players, a lot of soccer players.

We have a few track athletes, but I think basketball just translates super well. I mean, even our quarterback, Vanita, she played at SMU. So, like, you just see it all over. But it's cool to think that girls are going to have flag as, like, a primary sport now. Absolutely. Absolutely.

How about you, Nico? So I grew up, like her, playing tackle, playing flag, both. So my tackle coach at the time was also my flag coach. So it worked out down in Miami. Where in Miami did you play? So I played at Palmer Trinity. Okay. But how about, like, Little League?

Like Little League. I never played Peewees, but I played at Gulliver for a school. So I played three years at Gulliver. So played at Gulliver was doing flag simultaneously, simultaneously with travel soccer. So those three were the big ones. So travel flag, travel soccer, and then tackle. Gave up soccer kind of when I got more into football and whatnot. Mom kind of pushed football a little bit too.

So that was always good. So then when I got to high school, my first year, my freshman year, did both tackle and flag. We won the national championship for youth my last year. so that was our freshman year of high school. Once we kind of did that, Flag kind of ages out for people our age, especially men's. Now it's just big in the women's high school game.

Men is not really that big. So stop playing flag for, competitively for about seven years, to be honest with you. I would do it occasionally with my friends here in Miami locally. I think we have a really good league here that runs local tournaments and whatnot.

So did that, and then play tackle. All throughout college, went to college at Catholic. a division three school in dc so did that and then similar to her once i finished um tackle got right back into it went 24 first year didn't make it uh was a reserve last year made it so it's going to be also my third year on the team nice hell yeah you bring up something interesting because that's the way i've always kind of seen especially like men's flag football you play it up until pretty much high school yeah and then after that it's like it's pretty much irrelevant like if

If you're playing high school flag football, at least here, at least that's how it was here in South Florida. It's like, because you probably didn't make the high school football team and you're just trying to like. Or you don't want contact. Right. Or you don't want contact, right? But it is crazy to see the evolution of it, right? We were talking about people now, you know, even if it's just wreck, people are still playing it. And they're pretty damn, like, competitive.

And especially like in high school now, like, they have like those five on five flag football leagues, right? Yeah. That they put together. The big one now for high school kids, especially is like seven on 17. It's huge, man. I can't say enough about it. It's great for development for like receivers and dbs especially. But seven on seven is blown up.

And I think that's also attributed to women's flag football blowing up. The men's getting more publicity because of the stuff that's happened before, that type of stuff. So I just think overall they're seeing football's holistic view of supplementals helping out the game of tackle. Yeah, no, absolutely. I also played flag football pretty much my whole life. And that was what introduced me to the game of football, right? Obviously, you watch it on TV, you grow up watching your favorite team play, and I think that's where the fanhood begins, right?

But once you're out there, like, actually playing and you're there with your friends, and it's after school hours, and you're just tossing the football around, and then you start playing competitively. Like, it definitely kicks, like, a different, I don't know, like, feel to it, right? And then you get into tackle or whatever it is, like, whatever other, like, rec sport that you play, I think there's something, like, healthy, especially as a kid, being in competitive sports, right? It teaches you like work ethic and discipline and all these great life skills that you can carry on with you forever.

Now you have the luxury to play this game at a competitive level still and for your country, right? Which is pretty astonishing when you really like look at it, right? And I'm sure you guys, you know, look at it. So I want to get your perspective on that, right? What is a game and something that obviously has provided so many skills and open so many doors for you? but what does it mean to now play at the biggest stage this game? I mean, I think like a young kid

growing up loving sports, like you always dream of that. I mean, we're not Olympians yet, but like that's what you dream of representing for your country. The sport that you play, I just guess I never would have thought it'd be flag football.

Like growing up, being into track and stuff like that, I was like, oh, that'd be so cool to be a track athlete in the Olympics. And then finding out that like football is going to be in it is just like the highest honor, honestly,

as an athlete. every time we put on the red, white, and blue. It's like, you get chills kind of thinking about it. Absolutely. In the same light, like, there's no bigger honor than representing your country. And to do it, playing the sport that you love that you never thought you would have a shot at doing it before, like, with that sport, I guess, is just an insane honor. Especially when we go out of the country and these people, these little kids are running up to you, like, from these random, random countries. Not random, but random to, like, civilization.

like Guatemala and these countries and they're like, oh my God, can you sign this? Blah, blah, blah. And flag football is so big around the world, that's amazing to see. Yeah, I mean, you brought it up, right? The Olympics, right? One thing is where it's grown, I guess, domestically, right? But to be able to now say, oh, my God, this game's going to go to the Olympics, right?

Like, how much does that mean to you guys, like seeing how much the evolution of flag football? Because there's always, like, the debate of what sports should be in the Olympics, what sports maybe should not be in the Olympics. but there's been a very loud push as to why football and specifically flag football should be in there and not only just on the male side but on the female side too. Like what do you see?

Because like you mentioned, there's so many other countries obviously, right? It's not just a USA thing, right? It's Guatemala, it's Mexico. It's pretty much everywhere. I forget when we were talking about it in San Fran. There was a long list of countries that I'm like, holy cow. It's insane.

Is that what it is over 100? I think it's something insane like that you wouldn't think. Yeah. And it's grown like that in the past. what two, three years. Exactly. That's what it feels like. I mean, it's a pretty significant boom, like quick boom, which is insane.

But I'm looking back now, like, thinking of, like, when I played at Kendall Boys and Girls Club with a, you know, small park down here, and it was just like, it was just a thought. Like, it was just something you did for fun, right? And here it is, like, now in the Olympics. Like, that's pretty damn epic. Crazy. It's crazy to think about. And it's cool to know that, like, I think outside of America, it's almost going to get bigger,

like, than what we have. Like, yeah, it's huge here. but like we go to Mexico, like he said. It's like we're like legitimate celebrities to them. Like it's like their second biggest sport, I think, behind soccer. It is. Like it is so insane. They have stadiums built for flag football there.

Wow. And like they have it in college. They've had it in colleges. So it's just like everyone wants to do it now and it's so exciting. And I think specifically towards the women, it's cool to see women playing football and in like dad's being like, oh, I want to get my daughter into this. Like you just never would have thought. I saw a video the other day on Instagram.

Instagram and it was like, uh, she was an older lady. I forget what they call her like Dia something or something. Yeah. I know. You know, you know, you know, she from Mexico. I didn't know where she was from. But dude, she was flinging it. Yeah. Yeah. She can move. Yeah. She can move. She was flinging it. But it's cool, right? It provides an opportunity to open the door to so many new like sports, right? I mean, it was, it was basketball. It was track and field. Right. And if you didn't play tackle football, like that was the end of football. Yeah. You're done. You're done after college. You're done if you didn't, if, if you didn't go pursue a CFL, Mexico.

If you listen to me at that, the top 1% of the 1% of the 1% make the NFL. So it's like you had to go play in Europe or you got to go play in Canada or stuff like that and this gives you another avenue on the men's side. And in the women's game, it's only going to get bigger than more gets into college. That's going to be the next big stuff. That was going to be my next question.

Is the future that, right, getting flag football into colleges? Yes. For sure. It's already into like NIH. So there's a couple schools the most closest to us. I know there's St. Thomas. I don't know how good. aren't not to disrespect them or anything, but I know Kaiser up in Palm Beach, they've made the national championship three, four years, four years, against Ottawa.

Against Ottawa. Every single year, I think. Four years in a row. But they're big. So they've made it, but they've lost. Yeah. We have friends on the team and whatnot. They're great.

A girl on the national team is actually on it too, on their flag football team. Gotcha. And they had two before. Yeah. But it's big. It's getting giant, especially down here. There's a big women's flag football scene down here, girls, I should say, not one. girls flag football seat down here.

So it's great to see just the sport keep on expanding in that avenue. And how have you seen like pro athletes kind of gravitate to the sport, right? Obviously like the NFL guys or pro bowl has kind of evolved into a flag football game. But what has that kind of feel been like obviously because you guys are doing your thing? NFL is doing their thing. But the NFL is clearly investing into you guys, right? So how have you seen maybe players kind of gravitate to it? And what's like the sentiment out there?

I think it's cool to know that they're like backing the sport 100%. And I love to hear like when we were in Sanfran on the sideline for like, Toyota did a glow up game with the girls in the area and like to have some of the NFL guys on the sideline. Like trying to learn the flag plays and stuff like that. It's cool to see the exposure to the game. And then like you said, the Pro Bowl runs a flag game. So it's just really exciting. And I think the only thing that we just want to see is like flag being represented like that.

And so it just keeps getting that light shined on it that it deserves. So it's just super exciting that we have the backing. Yeah, absolutely. What, I guess, like, what's the next couple of years look like for you? Obviously, Olympics coming up in the two years. So between now and then, is it playing in tournaments? Is it really more focused on training? Like, what does that path look like?

So right now we would be considered in our offseason. Okay. Our off season is probably a month, to be honest with you. Probably two months, realistically from. So we both play on, like, club teams individually. So there's a massive tournament. in Tampa every year in January. And you play...

Massive. There's a thousand plus teams. Yeah. Holy. Yeah. And all U.S.? Everywhere? Everywhere.

People come in from everywhere. Yeah. Mexico, Canada, China, France, France, everything. Yeah. Everything. So that kind of, either the way you look at it, either kicks off or concludes the year. So we just finished that.

We both did pretty well, to say, the least. So can't complain about that. What does that mean? Like you won? So, I mean, how do you even, how does a 1,500 team tournament even worse?

It's so weird now. So there's a bunch of different like divisions. Okay. It's like pro, comp, rec, amateur, whatever. They just break it down that way. Skill level.

Yeah, skill level. And then you can play in so many different formats. Like, you can play in four on four, five on five with adjusted rules sets, et cetera. Co-ed. So like we played together.

Yeah. We did two divisions of co-ed together. So that was good. one, one lost one lost one in the ship. Okay. So, yeah, so that's how, like, every, and you play, like, I played 31 games. She probably played, like, 45. Yeah.

So, so. Yeah. So, you play a bunch of... I may regret it. I may regret it. So you play a bunch of different divisions, and you have a blast, because that's, like, a little different than national team. It's, like, you play, like, with your team, and, and you're just, like, you're

bonded with those people, just how you are on the national team, right? Because we, we just don't get as much time as we do with those people. Yeah. So it's awesome to get together, at least for that one tournament. And, like, we all do that. So that kind of concludes the year, I would say. And then you have two months to gear up. And then we go to training camp in April.

And then from April to August, we are pretty much in USA season. So it will be just like focused on USA. And we go on if everything goes according to plan, August 9th, if so be it that we both make the team, it would be August 9th through the 18th. Something like that. Something like that is in Germany. So the world championships are in Germany this year. Their flag.

So 2024 was when we played in Finland, same tournament. Okay. It's rerunning now in Germany. Yeah. So it's every two years. It's like, you know how like the World Cup? Exactly. We do every two.

Okay. Yeah. So we're every two. So in your gap year where it's like in between world championships here, there's Continentals. So last year we went to Panama, did Continentals there. Asia did it in China. Yeah.

And then Europe did France and. Australia. Oh, no. They were part of it. They were Asia, Oceania. Africa has it. Africa, yeah. I think it's in Nigeria for Africa.

So everyone has to compete for a bid for world championships. You have to place top five. Okay. So this year is the world championships. Got it. And then based off of that, that's how the qualifying of the Olympics will begin. Correct. Okay.

And how many teams, do you know how many teams will be qualified for Olympics? So it's total of six. It's six. We have an auto bid for being a house. Right. Because O city. So take us away. So five other teams

So five other teams And then I think Three of the bids come from World Championships So there's going to be two bids left Coming out of World Championships I think that's right yeah Damn Yeah

So that that series is going to be heated And the world yeah From 12 to 10 So that's a big cut Olympics That's a big cut people don't realize Interesting So we go from 60

We go from 60 Well this year's going to be 48 We go from 48 to 24 24 to 18 18 to 12 Yeah Wow Yeah that's that's cut throw And to make it into that top 24, right, to start, how does that process look?

Like, how do you even make it into the team? So this year's a little different. Our first year, it was you first of all have to get an invite to try out for the team. You can't just show up. So 60 people, men and women, get invited to try out. And at tryouts, you find out whether or I guess a little later, you find out whether or not you're going to be on the 18 roster. Then you come to the first training camp and then they cut it one more time to 12. This year we're on two-year contracts.

So we bypass the trials process. They're going to do that in, what, March? They're going to do that in March. So they'll have a selection of 48 people. And then same thing. They'll just cut it down to 24 instead. And so then we'll take that 24 to training camp, work with them, see scout team, see what the coaches want to see,

have more matchups, then see the 18 and then to the 12. So it's just like you get a little bit more people for a longer time. For sure. And I mean, that's how you're going to vet, obviously having the best 12 on the first. feel at the end of the day. Right. Like when I feel like that changes the dynamic, right?

You're going to the Olympics. Like, yeah. Gotta make sure you got the best 10 or 12. And each cut gets harder and harder. Yeah. Like that, that I always said it,

the 60 to 18 cut was hard, but that 18 or 12 cuts. Mm-hmm. That's, yeah, yeah. Like, they're looking at everything. Mm-hmm.

So what, what do they look at, right? Like, what is the skill set? Like, is there a 40, like 40 time or, you know,

what does that look like? In the past, we, I'll just go from six. I'll do what we do for the 60. Because the 60 kind of mirrors 18, I would say that. But it's the same. We do some things.

So we have a combine the second we get there. Not the second. The first day is like mint, yeah, the first day is like intros and like, like orientation, like any orientation, like first day of training camp type of stuff. Then the second day is combine. So 40s, broad jump, that type of stuff.

So obviously there's like a testing numbers, right? But then the big part is on the field stuff. So we probably scrimmage for about two days and we just go out of it. Different matchups, different looks. Yeah. And the coaches will randomize teams. On the men's side, we've done like drafts in the past. Like the QBs will get together because we have about six to eight QBs that go every year.

So we'll get together and we'll draft teams based on like the players and whatnot. So we make a phone. We get a little tournament at the end of the day. So it's just about like how do you mesh with the team? Can you go both ways? Are you coachable? Are you coachable? That's a big one.

It's huge. How do you carry yourself? We always say we have a bunch of 90s, 95s, 99s. How is as the 95, are you more coachable than the 99? So it's a big thing for us. And that's a bunch of things that the coaches are looking at. And they do a great job with our selection process. We've won gold every year.

They've meddled every year and won gold numerous times. So they do a great job. That's awesome. That's awesome. It's great to see, you know, obviously that they take this seriously. And there is like a process that goes into this. And there's a big pamphal. And I'm sure the demand now is higher than ever, obviously, to try to be at this level, right?

Everyone probably's like, oh, I can do that, right? But it's like, it really is not that easy. Yeah, and we've seen that. Okay. Hold up. I thought I heard him coming in there. I'm like, it could get really loud real quick. It's actually super active.

There's usually going to hear. There's so much noise coming out. Yeah, he can get really loud in there. Sometimes I'm like, dude, what is he doing in there? God. No, he's getting the car for sure. He's got a portion there. He's got a portion there. Oh.

Yeah. And the weather's nice, so he's like, I'm bringing it out today. Dude. Just look at him. That's sick. Right. He's like, out of the table, he's part on him. That's sick.

though. He's like a germ guy too. If you're training cycling, you have to be... Oh, for sure. A little different. Yeah. To be political, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, we'll get into... I forget, what was the last thing that we... We were on the trials process. Trial's process. Okay, yeah. Selection. I want to talk about, like, where's been, like, some of the coolest places. that you've played.

Yeah, no, we're getting it, bro. This is flowing awesome. Yeah, and then since you guys played together, I want to talk about that, a little bit like that dynamic, and then we'll get into, like, some fun questions, like on the field stuff. No, we're good.

How long are you here, too? I leave tonight. Oh, you leave tonight? I was freaking out because apparently TSA pre-check was going to get shut down, but it didn't. Oh, okay. Yeah, and you know that airport would have been. No.

I was freaking out. I saw that, and I'm like, dude, if I was flying while this was happening, I would be panicking. Yeah. And I'm like, I've realized so hard. on taste. It makes my experience so much better.

Yeah. Yeah. We're so bad here. Like, I thought about her going through the deconcourt. I'm like, yeah. It's going to be two hours. Yeah. Thank God.

Thank God. He's not. Oh, yeah. He's just running. I'd let you take the fucking NFL question. I'm saying. I answered well. Yeah, you guys are really wild.

I'm not answering that. Don't need another. Yeah, I don't need another. It's a car. He has a portion there. So we're waiting for him to take the Porsche out. So this is actually two units and they put drywall. All the other walls are like concrete all over there around.

So it goes right through. Yeah, of course. Yeah, you need these walking around in there. And like even when we bought this place when it was completely empty, like I can be whispering in this corner. Like the echo in here is crazy because you have the high seas and stuff.

Yeah. This is all soundproofing for sound. Yeah. This is all soundproofing too. This wall back here. These are all soundproofing panels. That's great that you see back. What?

That's great. That's terrifying. Yeah. Oh, I did see that. I did see that. All right, no sparklers in here. I saw that. I was like the incense over here, so...

Yes, yeah, I saw that. It was a bunch of kids, too. Like younger people. I mean, it does look like it's pretty damn flammable. That's so crazy. Yeah. I literally think he just there right in the car. I don't think he's taking it on.

Do you just like, oh. That's not safe. Open up the windows. Yeah. You saw that, who was it, the NFL guy, 25-year-old kid, that he passed away, that he committed suicide. Yeah, more.

Yeah, more. Crazy. Terrible. Right, who's good? I know. I know. Fort-drawn draft pick. This Hollywood Brown,

who we had interviewed while we were out there, he actually shared a screenshot of him replying to a story like two hours before it happened and the let me see if I could find the story the story was like about how like like athlete happiness and shit like that right and he replied to it huh uh Hollywood Brown posted a story and this guy rondo Moore was the name Rondo Moore yeah had replied to it like two hours before the news broke Let me see. Yeah, what clicks? Oh, yeah, look.

He was gross. So he posted this story, like, basically saying, like, you know, just because we have money doesn't mean we don't have problems and, like, we don't go through things. And then the next story is him showcasing a screenshot of him replying to that story. And he's like, he put something like, yeah. This guy that he plays in the NFL, that he's friends with him, he posted a story basically saying, like, people assume. that because we're, you know, athletes and have money that we don't have problems. And Rondell Moore replied to the story two hours before, and Hollywood Brown posted the screenshot of him, like, replying to it. And he's like, and basically said, bro, you should

have called me. Because he had just posted something about it. Yeah. Well, but when you're locked into doing something? Of course. No. At that point, you're, unfortunately, too deep into it. Yeah. People down here, like the best of them. Oh. Two or two, I will. Oh. That I've seen in my lifetime.

I played against him. Bro. I heard San Bruce was like insane. Yeah, I'd seen Thomas. But I just vividly remember like. So 22 was a quarterback in Northwest. Yeah, so that's what I'm saying. So when they were fourth and 20, they were on QB draw.

Like it was stupid. Yeah, dude. He was insane. And he had a cannon, though. When he threw a gibby. I remember. He told me. You guys lost 24, 13.

Right? 2413? Yeah, Devin Bush, Stanford Samuel. He said that's the best player he's ever played against. Yep. Cato Nelson was a quarterback, Stanford Samuel. That's crazy, bro. And you guys had a good team, too.

Ross was a Dade County player the year. But Nick sucked. Nick was terrible. That was Nick. No, not Hernandez. At Columbus? So what year are you playing? 13.

You're my cousin's here. Okay. Do you know Michael Pino? Michael Pino? Like, he played baseball. Yeah. Yeah. That's like one of my guys that I grew up since I...

That's your cousin? Best friend. Oh, your cousin's best friend. Alex Vez is my cousin. You're fucking lying. I swear to God. What? Alex...

Alex... I've known Alex... I've known Alex Via since I was like five years old. Ma. Ma. He knows Alex and Pino. Alex Vias and Pino. I grew up.

They're like, those are my best friends growing up. He literally felt, like. Alex, yeah, Enrojo. Yeah. That's so cool. Yeah, yeah. I was just with them like two weeks ago at your birthday. They were there.

You remember Michael Pino and Alex Viz from St. Thomas? Cleveland, Ohio. Because we all went to St. Thomas. Yeah, so Alex's mom is my dear. It was her sister. Older sister. Oh, my God. I've definitely met you before then for sure.

Alex, Pino, Will. Phil Roger, dude, those were my best friends growing up. Max I met in Columbus. He's the weird one of the four. Exactly. Yeah,

he's the one like, why is Max part of this group? Yeah, but those three are connected. Yes. No. Everything. But I would,

dude, Phil, Max, Alex were the guys that pretty much until like senior year of high school. Yeah. I didn't hang out with anymore. But, I mean, we're still like super tight,

you know, just life happens and everybody goes on their way. But I ran into Alex and Pino. three weeks ago and I hadn't seen him in a while. Especially Alex had moved out and now he's living up in West Palm. I mean, Hardin though. But, dude, I was at Alex Viaz's house every Friday playing basketball on the little half. I know.

Yeah, of course. Nancy. I'm so sorry for you, bro. I know. Well, I actually, I have a crazy story. Ma, he has a crazy theater story. I'm shocked. That was my downfall.

I was like, he's in the back. Not bad. Not bad. It was just something that happened at her house that she got super pissed at us. Yeah, yeah, for sure. I was at their house like every Friday after school and middle school. I'm about to not be a basketball, yeah. I've definitely been there.

For sure. I was going to say, we would get heated. Yeah. I mean, they're very good. I don't know if you ever met Iggy Pignam? Yeah, of course. Okay. So it was me, Iggy, Pino, and probably Phil.

And we were all playing basketball on the half court. And you know how he lives on that little corner there in Pine Crest? They lost to the Yankees. He had these red rock. next to the set of course big bro Iggy just starts to launching them over the fence and my minute there's like a decent amount of car traffic so he would throw and we would wait to hear anything we'd hear they hit the road we would throw and then they lost against the road and then one time he throws them up go into the world series we hear

fucking glass shatter breaks hit and we're like oh my we fucking sprint inside we're there hiding inside the house for like 20 minutes he's a Cleveland guy now knock on the door nothing so we go back outside we're playing uh on the basketball court Nancy comes out fucking screaming at us. But I just love it. Like all my family's there. And it's like, oh, fuck.

I'm just look at it. I'm literally traveling all. Ignacio, what the hell did you do? What's that? Oh, my God. Cops are here saying they got hit by a rock on the car. Oh my.

It is up there now that I've like really got to see. Cops came. Started like lecturing us. I know he was telling me he was like 11 years old, 12 years old, maybe. Yeah. Disastard. But yeah, man, that's funny.

Small world. That's crazy. It's crazy. Yeah. Yeah, it's my like literal blood Cuban. So your mom and Nancy are sisters. So my mom's born 64, Nancy 62, young 60. Nice.

That's crazy. That's not bad. That's awesome. That's nice. A good family. Bro, yeah. Wow. That was all my bingo cards.

I know, I know. When you said Pino, I'm like, maybe there's an, I know like two Michael Pino, so maybe it's not that one. And then you said Alex Vez and I'm like, holy shit. That's crazy. That's funny. It's a funny. Good? I know.

That's a small world. Insane. of like what they look at. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, I'll say like it's great to see how much they respect the process of like building these teams and then we'll get into the next stuff. It's great to see obviously the process that they've put in place to build the best teams for team USA. And I'm sure obviously these processes carry across other countries and stuff like that. But you've talked about how much success already early on USA football has had on both sides, right?

And I think, obviously, it's USA. We take pride in everything that we do, and we're going to do it well. Just like today, Team USA wins in both men's hockey and then the other day in women's hockey. So it's obviously like when we do things, we do them well and we do them right. Like for you guys, now you're preparing for the Olympics, obviously talk about this process. How much work do you guys do on a daily basis? Like what does that process look like? Obviously training by like the skill set wise, right?

Because you are, it is, it's the competitive aspect of like knowing you have the chance to represent yourself and the country, but also knowing like you still have to fight for that spot. Yeah, 100%. And by the way, there's probably a million other people that want to be in your guy's shoes, right? So tell me about like that mindset and that process for you guys. I think the weird thing right now with flag football is like we have to be at that elite level of being an athlete, but everyone is like working jobs. Luckily, like personally for me, I'm in a really good spot because I can, you know,

I work for my family, so I can go to work or call off work whenever I need to because of flag. But outside of that, like, it's trying to balance all of that on top of like trying to train at your peak levels. So, I mean, we, not anymore, but we all have like a workout plan through USA football. So we have a trainer through the Olympic Performance Center. he gives out workout so we kind of hold each other accountable

because everyone's all over the country and we don't get to train together all the time so it's just holding each other accountable and having that like discipline at the highest level honestly and I'd say probably training lifting five times a week speed training two to three times a week

on the field two to three times a week and then you know dealing with life stuff and having a job and things like that so I mean I think everybody's honestly training nonstop You said we have an offseason, but like, they're really, there is not. I mean, she's right, 100%. And the biggest thing is, like, you battle the normal 9 to 5 life to then go and just work, like, more.

I guess it's definitely the same mentality as, like, a college life to me at least in the sense that, like, where you're replacing a 9 to 5 with was classes. So it's the same thing, like, you've got to get your work in. And I would say same thing as her is just, like, five days a week lifting and then like three days a week throwing for me since I play quarterback. Right. But it's definitely a balance. You need to have a good balance of it because at the same time this could consume you. And like at the end of the day,

it's your, we're 25 years old. Like it's like, it's the number one priority. Don't get me wrong. But at the same time, nine to five life is just as big. That paycheck doesn't come in.

And, and living your life. Like, yeah, there's so much to do it in this world. It's a great thing to just be able to explore the world through flag football. So, so it's finding a happy balance for sure.

Yeah. And you guys said it best, right? Like, it's that perspective that as much passion and work that you put into it, you know, life is still going on behind the scenes, right? And a lot of people, I don't think, see that, right? It doesn't matter what level of an athlete you are, right? It's the time and effort and energy that you put on, but realizing, like, you guys are human at the end of the day and have your everyday lives and need to take care of you, right?

But I think also what comes with this, right, is the platform that this gives you guys, right? Like you talked about some of the places that you get to play and the people that you get to meet, right? That in itself, right, I'm sure if you could look back at this, you know, 10 years from now and be like, damn, that was a sick experience. So for you guys, like, that's got to be such a cool thing, right, and all the grand scheme of it, right? Winning, being competitive and all these things are important. But it's the opportunity of like what USA flag football does give to you, right? And we'll continue to give to you, obviously, in two years from now. A thousand percent.

You know, obviously hoping that you guys get there. and all that. But it is pretty astonishing, obviously, to see, like, that. And I'm sure, like, you mentioned, like, you guys don't get to train together, right? So, like, that feeling when the team comes together has got to be such like, yeah, like, what's up? Like, how you been, you know? And they do a good job of it.

And this year, they're making more of an emphasis on it, like, getting more training camps in, which is awesome. Like, we started the process, usually, of the 18 later on, usually, and this year, we're starting in April. So that's why I said, like, the offseason is a month. Yeah. Because the only month we have nothing for USA is February. That's it.

After that, it's March to August. We have stuff for USA. So that's why I said a month, to be honest with you, and it's awesome. Like, the fact that we get X amount more training camps this year is just going to enhance the product of themselves. For sure. I mean, for you, like, quarterback timing is everything. So, like, you got to work with the guys to make sure timing's down. And then I forget what position?

I play receiver. Receiver. So do you guys have any sort of, like, timing? Like, I know you guys have played together before, but you're ever throwing routes? No. No? No. First time playing together.

Yeah. It went well, like I said. Did it? Yeah. Yeah, it went really well. Lost a format. Yeah. Yeah, it lost by a touchdown in the championship game of the other one.

Any touchdown? Can I just remember or not? A lot. Yeah. Oh, yeah. You got fed? Yeah. It went well.

It went really well. And it's fun. I mean, it's also good because like not only her, but like other USA girls like played. So there's two different types of co-ed. So there's one code where it's guys and girls. There's three guys on field, two girls. So it's her and another USA girl. Which, funny enough, my coach girl.

growing up was like a mentor father figure to me. When he moved out to Vegas, coached her for like five years. So it's pretty cool, like playing with her too. So them two, and then we have another girl, Lania actually was also on our team. So it was the three of us and that, or the four of us. And then the other version of co-ed is one quarterback, one male on the field. Which is quarterback? Quarterback.

Okay. And then four girls. So, and that was the whole USA team. And then how's defense work? one male rusher and then four girls covering the four girls. Or you could take the male rusher out and put five girls. And then those five girls are covering the four girls, but you can't rush.

Gotcha. Yeah. Okay. And rush is like once a month snap? Yeah. So it's seven yards away from the line of scrimmage and then you're going in. Yeah. I remember when I played flag football, I hated the rusher so much.

I was a quarterback too. I'm like, dude, they're so pesky and just annoying and in my face and disrupting everything that I'm trying to accomplish right now. You have to be a certain level of psycho to rush. No, you actually do. Your motor has to be, I have all credit to rush. Yeah. Like, it is the hardest thing to do in flag football.

Is it usually like the quick person? Because I remember back in the day when we would rush, like, we just wanted speed. We want you to get as quick. And like, obviously, like, agile and can move side to side. But, like, get to the quarterback as fast as possible. Is that usually the strategy? I feel like that's what you first can initially look at with someone, like when you're trying to determine a rusher.

But, like, a great rusher is just, like, super high IQ, too. think. Very high IQ. It's, I don't know. Like, I just, and crazy. I feel like you have. I think the mix is like speed. You want, they don't have to be like lanky, but it helps like someone like me who

doesn't move much. Like I struggle more with a, with a tall rusher than a, someone that's just going to be fast to the ball. IQ's probably the biggest, honestly, more than to agree. Like, you have to have a, like, I would say it's probably 40% IQ, even 45% IQ, 40% speed. And then the rest like psycho. Yeah. Honestly,

great flag fuller too. But when you say IQ, so I'm trying to think like as a rusher, like what exactly is the, because if I'm rushing, can I back up and get back into coverage or once I commit to rushing, I have to stay?

So once you just can't cross the line of scrimmage. Got it. So if you stay beyond the line scrimmage, they have more or less like five to seven seconds and throw it. If not the play's blunt dead. Okay. But when I mean IQ,

like when to break down, like be a good flag puller, I think that falls under. you. And then the other thing. I feel like double QB. Yeah. If that situation happens and then there's like, there's like,

yeah, there's like two or three people in the back field. Like how do you play with your middle linebacker? How do you play with your safeties? How do you play with your corners? How do you communicate to the defense? So that type of stuff.

Stuff that like... Like thinking on the fly, like literally. I got you. I think Russia is like one of those spots that if you don't know flag football, you would think, yeah. Like go get ball, go get quarterback. Right.

But in reality, it might be the complete opposite of that. Interesting. 90% of the time. That's crazy. It is interesting. And when you guys, you guys are obviously both on offense, are you guys scheming usually against zone, man? Like, what is the coverage usually look like?

Are they alternating a lot? I mean, for us personally, I feel like it's alternating a lot. Okay. And it's dependent on the country we're playing. Like, it changes. Certain countries like to run certain things. Right. It's just based off personnel, you know, what your strengths are.

It's a lot of zone. Being the USA, like teams like to play us back. A lot, both men and women, they play us back a lot. but I could speak for both of our offensive coordinators they were sitting in front of us right now that we don't like the defense doesn't dictate what we do type of thing. Okay.

You're going to scheme a little bit, but we both have our systems. And I think I would put both offensive coordinators here and they would be very vocal about that. That we dictate the game. Absolutely. Shout out, Coach Willie and Said. I'm hyped up now to go,

I want to go watch some of these games. I feel like now I'm like, I haven't watched the fly. football game in a while. And I generally enjoyed it because I would stay at the park after we, like, let's say we played like at 5 p.m. There'd be a lineup of games after us. And I just love just staying and watching and seeing and like scouting.

Okay, we're playing them on Tuesday. Get the whole gang together. Sit there on the sideline and, you know, hey, we got to watch us for this guy. There's definitely some element of that. Or we'd be like, oh, man, we got these guys. Yeah, there's definitely still some element of that even like at all levels that you're like, okay, like this is their, like, no matter what. Like, at the end of the end of it's a sport.

Like, you know who the people are and like, you're looking at like, okay, this person's back here. And we've gotten to know, like, the country is pretty well, like, from, like, just playing them so much. And, like, they went down to Mexico a couple weeks ago to play some of the Mexico girls and whatnot. That might be a complete lie, actually. They were, I think we're in trials already.

Like ex-players. Yeah, ex-player. So, like, and, like, you get to, like, see them, know them play in their home country, which is pretty cool, so stuff like that. Cool. Any heated rivalries that you guys have up to this point? That's all them. They got that. I mean, I feel like we always end up against Mexico. Yeah. Yeah.

And like everybody knows that now. So it's always us and them. And it's always a good game. They have great players, great coaching staff. And it's just honestly, it's honestly so much fun. Yeah. Chirping? Yeah. Well, I don't know. They speak a lot of Spanish. Yeah.

I don't really understand that. You're going to have to learn Spanish, though, so you know what the hell they're saying on the other side. We were like, we need to learn Spanish and French so we can speak to Canada, too. It's going to throw them off when you start throwing, like, some Spanish stuff at them. Yes, yes. I would say those are the two she just said are the two biggest. Mexico and Canada. It could be border thing, but it's also like, they're getting good at the sport.

Yeah. Like, we just played Mexico in San Francisco, and they beat us by, sorry, we beat them by a point. And it's just like to show how far the game's grown. Yeah, that's awesome. That's awesome. You know, five years from now, what would you say is the thing that excited you most through your journey at USA flag football. You can go first, I'll think.

Repeat the question. Five years from now, right? If you were to look back, what would you say is the thing that excited you most about USA flag football? Obvious answer, winning gold at the Olympics would be number, like, like we talk about. That's the childhood dream, right? Like you see LeBron, you see Kobe playing in the Olympics. That's what you dream about.

Right. That's the, I mean, but at the end of the day, it's the memories, like them flying us out, like as the men's team, San Francisco, them flying them out as the women's team to go play at half time of the Bills game. Like the stuff they do for us behind the seams is really like coming to light. And it's pretty awesome to see that, how much they care for us. That's awesome. Yeah, I second that. Like the competition aspect is amazing.

And like, obviously the Olympics priority to look back and be able to say like you got to represent USA, won a gold, and then played the sport you love insane. Yeah. But yeah, I mean the memories, like I remember specifically when we played in Panama this last year. Me, Macy, Madison, and then one of our assistant coaches was actually out. We woke up at like 5.30 a.m. to go watch the sunrise, and we're there to play flag football. And there's this stray dog on the beach, and we're playing with the dog, and, like, we have to go play games later. And it's just to be able to think that flag has, like, taken us to places like that. Just super thankful.

So, like, to look back and say, like, I've grown to have, like, family members now, sisters and stuff. So pretty awesome. That's awesome. And then one last question for you guys. what would be your advice to a young boy or girl that wants to get into flag football? What would be something that you would tell them today? Stay with it would be obviously the first thing. But just like any other sport, like you've got to train and prepare.

Just like any other than let the wind take you. Like it's going to all work itself out. And if you do your things the way you're supposed to do them, then it all works itself out at the end of the day. Yeah, I think going off of that, it's like, specifically two girls and boys, but like you'll have a future in the sport. And I don't think people realize that, but the sport is growing at like an exponential rate. And a lot of kids are getting into it, like, you know, just for fun. But it's like you truly have an opportunity of a lifetime ahead of you to be an Olympian and to play in college and earn a scholarship in the sport.

So like you said, if you, I mean, truly want to chase it, chase it, like your dreams are there 100%. Oh, yeah. That's awesome. It's great to see how much the game obviously has grown, like we mentioned, and how much it will continue to grow, right, and just seeing the evolution of how it is. But I think the common denominator in all of this, right, is the experience, right? And everything that comes with it and the lessons that you guys will take with you for the rest of your life. And hopefully the next generation and the next generation will continue to be part of this hypergrowth of the game. And I think the future obviously is bright. And I'm now, I'm pumped. I'm amped up. Like I genuinely cannot wait. It's an exciting time.

For sure. For sure. And then the biggest thing like, honestly, like looking past 2020, it's like, if this all stays in Olympic sport, like, I think that's only going to continue to have the game grow. And the women's game being in college is like, Matt, like. Insane. Yes, that's huge. It's so.

Absolutely. It's like, understated. Like, it's like, it's so big. And it's going to continue, like I'm saying, like, to make the game blossom. Especially that. like in college sports it's not that easy to just say, hey, we're going to add this sport, right? Obviously, like there's so many layers and elements.

So for them to say, hey, like this is the push. Because if you're going to do something, you've got to commit fully, right? And to me, that is a testament to them saying, like, hey, we are committing to this and we're committing it fully. And these are the resources and these are the opportunities. Because now you have the opportunity to get a tuition paid for, right? Through a sport, right? Where you didn't have that opportunity before.

So these are all the right steps in the right direction to continue to evolve a game. and provide opportunities to the next generation, right? Because it's always what's next. Yep. Appreciate you guys for coming on. Thank you. Great. Great.

We got to make this happen. I know you're not here in Miami, but you are. So being able to have everybody here in the MIA after getting to connect in San Francisco after the Super Bowl is awesome. So appreciate you guys for coming on. Good luck with everything. And we're excited for the future of what's to come. Thank you.

Thank you, guys. Appreciate it. Thank you guys.