Wilson's REVO Flag Footballs Chosen for 2028 Olympics
Wilson, a leading sporting goods company, has partnered with the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) to introduce the REVO ball, the first football engineered specifically for flag football. The REVO ball will be used by players when flag football makes its Olympic debut in the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The REVO ball has three noticeable differences from a traditional football. The first is its slightly smaller profile, which is consistent and fair to players of all ages and genders. The ball's weight is rebalanced towards the middle, maximizing the spin rate and allowing players to throw the ball tighter.
The second difference is the large white stripes going around both ends of the ball, providing more grip points. This feature was driven by the style of play and athlete feedback, particularly in flag football's use of laterals and reverse passes. The stripes enable players to feel a secure grip and make the pass.
The final difference is Wilson's use of zero-proof leather, which requires no prep and delivers a broken-in feel right out of the box. This feature is designed to make the game more enjoyable and exciting.
According to Christopher Rickert, Wilson's senior director of global product, the development of the REVO ball started more than four years ago. Rickert's team brought prototypes to the World Flag Football Championships in Finland two years ago, testing the balls and gathering feedback from teams. After perfecting some tweaks, Wilson flew in six male quarterbacks from top nations to test the final product.
The REVO ball is designed to meet the unique needs of flag football, which is faster-paced and features shorter passes. The average flag football pass is typically between seven to eight yards, and the ball's size and weight are optimized to accommodate this style of play.
Men and women will use the same REVO ball, and women will not feel a significant difference in the size of the ball. However, men may notice a slight adjustment in the ball's size, requiring a couple of throws to get used to it.
The REVO ball will be used in all international flag football events sanctioned by IFAF, including qualifying events for the 2028 Olympics. Wilson is also working to introduce the REVO ball to the NCAA and high school federations across the country.
In addition to the Olympics, several Division I NCAA teams, including Nebraska and the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference, will begin playing women's flag football at the varsity level in the spring of 2027. By 2028, the sport could have its own NCAA tournament.
Wilson is also launching the REVO Speedskin Football, made with price-sensitive material that matches the same size and weight of the leather edition. The goal is to transition everyone from traditional Wilson footballs to the REVO model over the next one to two years.
Source: Yahoo Sports