David “Bobo” Price can tell you who gave him his nickname almost 17 years ago, but he’s not sure what it means. The 30-year-old resident of Callahan, Fla. received his moniker from his eighth-grade baseball coach. Despite the name’s unidentified meaning, it has stuck with Price, who proudly wears it as an alumnus of the 2021 gold medal-winning U.S. Men’s Flag National Team.

“I started playing flag football when I was 16 and in high school,” Price recalled. “There used to be a tour called Let it Fly. My buddies and I would build a team because we loved to compete. Later on, I wanted to get back into playing again. I started playing in some city leagues and traveling to national tournaments. The sport in general has grown so much and I grew with it.”

Price, who plays several positions for the national team, played baseball for Paine College in Augusta, Ga. before finding his way back to flag football. He currently works in residential construction and is the strength and conditioning coach for the baseball team at his alma mater, West Nassau (Fla.) High School near Jacksonville.

Last year was Price’s first with the Men’s National Team, and he capped it by helping the United States win the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Flag World Championships in Jerusalem, Israel this past December.

“It was amazing, honestly,” said Price. “It was the opportunity of a lifetime to experience playing football there with 20 other countries in the men’s division. We were eating breakfast and dinner together with all of the teams in the cafeteria. It was neat being around all of those different cultures. Touring Jerusalem was also a bucket list item.”

The U.S. Men defeated Mexico’s National Team 44-41 in a comeback where they took the lead for the first time with 1:02 left in the game. It marked the fourth consecutive IFAF World Championship gold medal finish for the U.S. National Team.  

“Winning a gold medal at the world championships was surreal. Not only was I there with all of those teams and that atmosphere, we had fans. Young kids were rooting us on. They loved us,” said Price. “It’s almost like we were celebrities over there. I’ve been playing flag football for 14 years. It’s growing now, but I never thought it would be looked at that way. I feel fortunate and blessed to be a part of the process that we’re going through now to get the sport more international exposure.”

USA Football is building a development pathway for youth athletes to earn spots on the U.S. National Teams. There are six High Performance Development Camps scheduled throughout the country this year, which will provide flag and tackle boys and girls ages 12-17 with opportunities to grow and showcase their skills.

“Give it a shot. It never hurts to get publicity,” said Price. “Even if you’re not quite ready, just to have your name out there shows you’re trying. As long as you’re elevating and showcasing yourself, that’s what it takes to make the national team in general.”

The U.S. Men’s Flag National Team will participate in The World Games 2022 this July in Birmingham, Ala. alongside 3,600 other athletes from more than 100 countries. The event represents flag football’s first time appearing on a multi-sport, global stage.

“I didn’t think flag football would reach this point,” Price said. “I always believed it would make it to a professional level. I never imagined something like this as far as The World Games or even pushing for the Olympics.”

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