A primary school flag football team from Norfolk is celebrating an incredible achievement—they've earned a spot to compete against the nation's best, with a trip to the United States on the line.

The young athletes from Woodlands Primary Academy in Bradwell, near Great Yarmouth, stormed to victory at the regional NFL Flag Tournament in Cambridge. Their coach, Christopher Holmes, can't stop praising their progress. "When you consider that none of them had ever played before—they didn't know the rules, they didn't know how to play—the level they have now reached is astonishing," he says.

Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, has been part of the school's curriculum for a decade. But Coach Holmes is eager to see it grow even more. "American football is really at its core a team sport," he explains. "Every player has a crucial role, and without everyone doing their job, the team falls apart."

This exciting sport traces its roots back to the 1940s, when it was played by US military personnel during World War II. Instead of tackling players to the ground, defenders remove a flag or flag-belt from the ball carrier to end a play and win possession. It's one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide and will make its Olympic debut at the 2028 Los Angeles Games.

One of the team's players, Hugo, recalls a rocky start in their first game on May 1. "We weren't at our best, but Mr. Holmes said lots of positive things and showed us how we could play as we usually would," he shares. "We are a brilliant team, and I knew we could win—we definitely had a chance."

Thanks to their Cambridge triumph, the team is now heading to Manchester to face the top schools across the country. And the ultimate prize? The winners will travel to the United States to represent Great Britain on an international stage.