About the Kelly McGillis Classic

About the Competition

Girls from ages 8 and older and women of all skill levels are welcome to join in exciting and fun competitive games.

The event offers IWFFA 8 on 8, semi-contact flag football, which is the style of flag football most inclusive for all body types and skill levels so that every player on the field can be a valuable asset to the team. Punts, field goals, fake kicks, 10 yards for first down, blocking downfield from shoulder to waist, rush from scrimmage line, no fumbles, no helmets. We guarantee our women’s teams a minimum of 4 games which includes a spot in the tournament playoffs. Girls and Juniors are guaranteed a minimum of 3 games.

Awards

The tournament awards each team Most Valuable Player for Offense and Defense.  The tournament also selects an All-Star Offensive and Defensive team for each division of play. Trophies, medals, and plaques are given out and championship teams in each division receive team certificates valid for any sanctioned IWFFA tournament throughout the year.

Sports Woman Awards: Awarded to best female athletes in their region each year: North America – Latin America – Nordic Region – Africa – Asia

Sports Girl Award: Awarded to best girl athlete

Porter Wilson Award: Our most prestigious award – The award is in honor of Mr. Porter Wilson, the inventor and founder of Flag-A-Tag belts & flags. Since 2000, and for each year since, the Porter Wilson award is awarded to the person who has done the most for female flag football.

World Challenge Game

This special competition follows our tournament competition. It is the last game played on Sunday evening in which our International All Stars compete against our U.S.A. All Star teams.

Half Time Games

During the tournament games, we conduct fun Half Time games inviting players and fans the chance to partake in the fun competitions such as: tug a war, furthest football throw, longest kick, wheel barrel races, etc, and win prizes.

Flag Football Clinics

Individuals can sign up to learn how to officiate, play and coach flag football. Beginners are welcome to join our player clinics and then play in the tournament competition to practice newly learned flag football skills. International teams are invited to bring their team the week before the tournament to train and get ready to compete in the tournament.

Certification of Female Flag Football Officials

In collaboration with the Female Officials Flag Football Association (FOFFA)

During the week-long event, FOFFA offers training for beginner female officials, followed by certification. The training includes: 3-hour instructional on the field and a 1-hour review of IWFFA rules & interpretation. A 45-minute written exam will be given and a 3-hour practical assessment during the tournament on the tournament field (players will be tested when their team is not scheduled to play). Upon successful completion, participants will be issued: IWFFA certification to officiate flag football, IWFFA Flag Football Official’s License Card, official’s uniform shirt and whistle.

Women’s International Flag Football Conference

During the week-long event, we will host the 4th Annual International Women’s Flag Football Conferences for team representatives to discuss issues, concerns, highlights and goals for female flag football around the world. Here is the opportunity to meet face-to-face with representatives from other countries and states across the U.S.A.

More Than Just Flag Football 

At the Kelly McGillis Classic, we offer our players the opportunity to meet, bond, and learn from all our teams and to experience the different flag football skills and styles of play from other countries and across the U.S.A. One of the goals of the IWFFA is to unify female players all over the world and what better way than to offer competition, socialization, support and new ideas for female flag football around the world.

Parade on Duval Street

Our Kelly McGillis Player’s Parade highlights the different countries marching and holding their nations flags. As teams line up wearing their uniform shirts and join all the players before the tournament competition begins.

Acting with Kelly McGillis

Each year, actress Kelly McGillis (Top Gun, Witness, The Accused) directs and our players or the public are welcome to perform. We have had “So You Think You Can Act” series where participants took a role in a leading play, received direction from Kelly McGillis then made their performance. “An evening of Monologues” was another event, which players and the public were invited to write their own personal piece, receive direction, then perform on stage before a live audience. Anyone wishing to take part in this year’s acting with Kelly McGillis is welcome to do so. This is free to all, if interested email: IWFFA@IWFFA.COM

Women Speaker Series

Our event hosts a special women speaker series who share their stories and experiences to enlighten and inspire our players.

In years past we have had such celebrities as: actress Kelly McGillis, author Judy Blum, and swimmer Diana Nyad. We have also previously invited women from Afghanistan to share their stories about what it’s like to live in a war-stricken country and coach girls’ flag football. This is an important forum to hear from the women directly and we invite all the countries to have a speaker and we invite the public to come listen. This is free to all, if interested email: IWFFA@IWFFA.COM

Social Events

Each night of the week-long event, we offer social events where teams can meet, socialize, and have fun. Camaraderie and unity are the essence of our organization. We structure some pretty strange and crazy events like: “save the drunk’n sailor”, Irish Kevin’s Arm-Wrestling Contest, Toilet Relay Race, Duval Crawl, night of comedy and more. Friends and fans are invited to join our teams each night.

Water Sports

The island of Key West is known for its natural living reef which offers teams to join daily snorkel trips throughout the day, take a beautiful sunset sail, experience paddle boarding, kayaking, parachute sailing, banana boat riding and more. Our tournament program will include information on water sports discounts.

Duval Street

Walk up and down Key West’s main strip and enjoy great shops, restaurants, music clubs for jazz, rock and all types of music. Experience the diversity, culture, and go to a drag show. No cars needed, you can walk, bike, or take a pedi-cab if you like. Enjoy the rich history of Key West, once the richest city in the United States, which has transformed each decade into a rich culture of diversity so that every visitor can feel welcome.