FOOTBALL QUÉBEC (FFAQ)

What FOOTBALL QUÉBEC (FFAQ) does

Football Québec (FFAQ; legal name: Fédération de Football Amateur du Québec Inc.) is the provincial governing body for amateur football in Quebec, operating as a private non-profit federation under mandate from the Quebec Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports (MELS) and Football Canada. Founded in 1882 as the Québec Football Rugby Union, the federation oversees two core sport disciplines — contact football and non-contact flag football — across three practice sectors: associative (community clubs), student (school-based via RSEQ), and flag football. Its constituency includes roughly 35,000 members spread across more than 50 affiliated clubs and regional leagues (LFMM, MRFL, QBFL, QMFL, and others), with certified coaches, APAFQ-affiliated referees, and federation medical and training staff supporting operations.

FFAQ's product portfolio centers on the Excellence Program (a three-phase talent identification and development pathway culminating in national/international tournament participation for selected athletes), tiered training and certification services (NCCP/PNCE coach training, official training, safe contact, first aid), competition and championship organization (Quebec Cup, Wilson Challenge, Spalding Cup, Nike Team Bowl), member insurance through Chubb, and most prominently its upcoming role as host of Olympic Q-Series 2028 Stage 3 in Montreal — placing the federation at the center of flag football's Olympic debut pathway ahead of LA28. Distribution runs through the affiliated club network, the RSEQ school network, and direct field operations (regional evaluation and selection camps across multiple Quebec cities).

The federation's revenue model is a mix of recurring member/club affiliation fees, one-time tiered registration fees for Excellence Program phases and flag football camps ($50 to ~$2,200 per athlete depending on stage), government grants via MELS, and donations amplified 4.85x through the Placements Sports et Loisirs matching program administered by Sports Québec. Go-to-market is community-led (affiliated clubs, leagues, school networks) and event-driven (championships and camps). The federation operates with a lean 13-person core staff from its Saint-Léonard (Montreal) headquarters and is governed by a volunteer board.

Name

FOOTBALL QUÉBEC (FFAQ)

Legal name

Fédération de Football Amateur du Québec Inc.

Website

https://footballquebec.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1882

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Football Québec (FFAQ) is the non-profit provincial federation that governs amateur contact football and flag football across Quebec under mandate from MELS and Football Canada, serving roughly 35,000 members, 50+ affiliated clubs, and the RSEQ school network with championships, coach and official certification, and an Excellence Program pathway culminating in the 2028 Olympic Q-Series it will host in Montreal.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Amateur Sports Federation / Sports Governance

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Other Spectator Sports (711219)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Regional/Continental Confederations & Associations (MPAKAFAD)

Keywords

• Amateur football federation
• Flag football programs
• Sports governance
• Coach certification training
• Athlete development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Léonard

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Affiliation Fees: Clubs, leagues, and associations pay affiliation fees to participate in Football Québec events, access insurance programs, and receive federation support.
2. Excellence Program Registration: Athletes pay multi-phase registration fees for the Excellence Program: Phase 1 ($100), Phase 2 ($180), Phase 3 (~$1,100), plus tournament fees ($1,600-$2,200).
3. Flag Football Camp Fees: Prospecting camps ($60+tax), Detection camps ($75+tax), and Selection camps ($50+tax) provide structured entry points to the flag football excellence pathway.
4. Event Registration: Revenue from organizing the Quebec Cup, regional championships, and other competitive tournaments across contact and flag football disciplines.
5. Donations via Placements Sports et Loisirs: The federation receives donations through Sports Québec's Placements Sports et Loisirs program, which matches contributions at 385% rate, providing significant fundraising leverage.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Football Québec is the provincial federation mandated to govern and develop amateur football and flag football across Quebec. It organizes competition networks, runs Excellence Programs for elite athletes from initiation through national/international levels, delivers NCCP coach and official training, administers member insurance, and operates championship and Olympic-pathway events.

Product overview

Football Québec is the governing body for amateur football and flag football in Quebec, operating as a sports federation rather than a technology product company. The organization offers two core sport programs—Contact Football and Flag Football—each supported by dedicated Excellence Programs for elite athlete development. Additional services include coach training through the NCCP/PNCE system, official/referee training, first aid/first responder certification, safe contact training, competition league management, member insurance programs, and championship event organization. The federation also serves as the provincial gateway for athletes aspiring to national and international competition, including the Olympic Q-Series pathway.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Contact Football Program Organized competitive contact football for amateur athletes, including training for coaches, officials and first aiders, regional championships, and an Excellence Program for elite athletes.
• Flag Football Program Non-contact flag football development program including training for coaches and officials, competition network management, and an Excellence Program for elite athletes preparing for the LA28 Olympic Games.
• Football Excellence Program Elite athlete development program forming Quebec teams annually to participate in Canadian tournaments, with a three-phase selection process (Phase 1 evaluation, Phase 2 intensive camp, Phase 3 residential camp) plus a national tournament.
• Flag Football Excellence Program High-performance flag football program with prospecting, detection, identification and selection camps designed to identify and develop elite Quebec athletes for provincial and international competition.
• Coach and Official Training (NCCP/PNCE) Training and certification programs for football coaches, flag football coaches, officials/referees (APAFQ), first aiders and safe-contact techniques, aligned with Football Canada and Coaching Canada standards.
• Competition League Management Organization and coordination of multiple football and flag football competitive leagues across Quebec including LFMM, MRFL, QBFL, QMFL, RSEQ, and regional associations.
• Member Insurance Program Accident insurance program for federation members administered through CHUBB insurance, providing coverage for participants in organized football and flag football activities.
• Provincial Championship Events Provincial championship tournaments including the Quebec Cup (April 17-19, 2026), Spalding Cup, Wilson Challenge (800 athletes over 10 days) and Nike Team Bowl for football and flag football.
• Olympic Q-Series 2028 Hosting Hosting of the Olympic Q-Series 2028 Stage 3 event in Montreal featuring flag football competitions alongside beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, and skateboarding as part of the sport's Olympic debut pathway.

Quantifiable outcome

• 385% donation matching through Placements Sports et Loisirs program - each $100 donation generates $485 for federation programs
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Montreal AlouettescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessional CFL team partnership supporting community football development. Collaborate on flag football initiatives including the Clinique Flag Football – Vidéotron for youth aged 10-17. Federation staff (Marc Fortin) serves as statistician for Alouettes games. Partnership enhances visibility and provides player involvement in grassroots programming.
• Government of Quebec (MELS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial mandate from Ministry of Education, Recreation and Sports (MELS) to govern amateur football development in Quebec. Provides regulatory authority, funding support, and provincial sport recognition essential to federation operations.
• Football CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational governing body providing mandate for Canadian amateur football, alignment with national competition standards, NCCP coach certification framework, and Excellence Program tournament organization.
• Sports QuébeccoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvincial sports federation umbrella organization. Administers Placements Sports et Loisirs donation matching program (385% rate), issues official donation receipts for tax purposes, and provides organizational support for federation operations.
• RSEQ (Réseau du Sport Étudiant du Québec)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSchool sports network representing elementary, secondary, collegiate, and university levels. Coordinates institutional football and flag football competitions. Federation delegates (Benoît Doloreux, Alexandre Roel) serve on RSEQ, facilitating collaboration between student and community sports.
• Affiliated Sports GroupminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOnline merchandise and equipment partner operating Football Québec's online store for federation-branded products.
• Graduor SportminorOthersSports recognition and awards provider supporting federation award programs and athlete recognition initiatives.
• Sport'AideminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuebec sport organization focused on healthy sporting environments. Federation participates in 'Demain un homme' program promoting positive leadership, respect, and well-being among young athletes and coaches.
• RLSQ (Regroupement des Loisirists et Sportifs du Québec)minorOthersQuebec recreation and sport network providing federation access to provincial recreational sports community and resources.
• International Olympic Committee (IOC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting announcement for Montreal as Stage 3 of 2028 Olympic Q-Series (June 1-4, 2028). Flag football featured alongside beach volleyball, BMX freestyle, and skateboarding. Historic opportunity showcasing sport's Olympic debut pathway.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Football Alberta: Provincial football federation in Alberta governing amateur tackle and flag football, organizing provincial championships and elite development pathways. Closely comparable federation structure and athlete-development mission.
• Football BC: British Columbia's provincial football federation responsible for amateur football and flag football programming, championships, and coach training. Direct provincial federation peer with shared mandate from Football Canada.
• Saskatchewan Football Association: Provincial football federation in Saskatchewan administering amateur tackle and flag football, member of Football Canada. Direct peer federation with similar scale and programming.
• RSEQ (Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec): Quebec school sports network organizing elementary, secondary, collegiate, and university football and flag football. Comparable ecosystem partner delivering sport across Quebec as an integrated distribution channel.
• Football Ontario: Provincial football federation in Ontario that delivers tackle and flag football programming, an Excellence Program, coach certification, and provincial championships. Most direct peer by mandate, structure, and offering overlap.

Others

• Sport'Aide: Quebec sport organization focused on healthy sporting environments and integrity, with whom Football Québec partners on the 'Demain un homme' initiative. Comparable as a complementary Quebec sport ecosystem organization.
• Montreal Alouettes: Professional CFL team in Montreal with a formal partnership with Football Québec covering flag football clinics and grassroots development. Adjacent professional sports counterpart with shared geography and audience.

Broad incumbents

• USA Football: National governing body for amateur football in the United States, with extensive flag football development programs and NFL FLAG partnership. Comparable as a national federation with a much larger scale and commercial footprint.
• Football Canada: National governing body for amateur football in Canada that provides the mandate, NCCP framework, and national-team pathway under which Football Québec operates. Directly comparable as a federation governing the same sport, but at national scope.
• International Federation of American Football (IFAF): International federation governing American football and flag football globally, including sanctioning World Championships that Football Québec's athletes participate in. Comparable as the apex governing body for the sport.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/footballquebec
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCGDv97vlvuRjsgAY7nuCiSg
• Facebookfacebook.com/footballquebec
• Instagraminstagram.com/footballqc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/football-qu%C3%A9bec-ffaq-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about FOOTBALL QUÉBEC (FFAQ)