What’s in a Name? Powderpuff vs. Girls Flag Football

Our last post about an Iowa girl wanting to play flag football, but initially wasn’t allowed, drew up some core issues. Incase you missed it, a 4- year old Iowa girl’s father attempted to enroll her in the Mason City Park and Recreation Department’s Tiny Tot Flag Football program, but was denied because the Director said this program was for boys only.
After the girls father’s relentless fight, including contacting the city’s Human Rights Director, she was allowed to participate in this season’s program. Following the first news story the Director of the Mason City Park and Recreation Department told a local news paper this:

The question of allowing girls to play flag football came up at least once before, Brown said. “A few years ago, we had a little older girl that wanted to play and we let her play.”
He said the Recreation Department is considering offering a Powder Puff program — flag football for girls.

The gaining popularity of girls flag football nationally has brought up a good question:

Is the name “Powderpuff” derogatory?
WIkipedia describes powderpuff- “Some female participants of a sport deem the term “powder puff” as derogatory since the name connoted frivolity of the division, that it is at best an auxiliary and should not be taken seriously.”

In Bicycle Motocross (BMX) the term powder puff referred to the female class of racers up until approximately 1982 when pressure from the girls class influenced the sport’s sanctioning bodies to drop the term. As this quote from one of the sport’s leading magazine illustrates:
“…We don’t say “powderpuff” anymore because it has male Chauvinist pig connotations. And we sure don’t want to get all them moon babes mad at us.”[1] —-Bicycle Motocross Action September 1981.

-Wikipedia

In last years’ IWFFA Forward Pass featured a story about The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. The recreation department’s Women’s flag football program named “powderpuff” but some students and professors, demanded change.
Donna M. Bickford, Ph.D., Director of Carolina Women’s Center Program Advisory Council was alarmed when she
became aware of the program’s name. “Surely the players are strong and committed athletes. Referring to their intramural sport as ‘powderpuff ’ however, would lead to the opposite conclusion.” said Bickford in her letter addressed to the Director of the Carolina Campus Recreation Program.

A short time later, UNC at Chapel Hill re-named the program to “Women’s Flag Football”

We will feature an in-depth article on this subject in the Summer Forward Pass

4-Year Old Iowa Girl is Granted the Right to Play

MASON CITY — A 4-year-old Mason City girl will play flag football after all.

Sabrina Holland’s father, Ronnie, was told only boys could play flag football when he attempted to sign her up last week for the Mason City Park and Recreation Department’s Tiny Tot Flag Football program.

“They told me she could play soccer,” Holland said. “But that’s not what she wants to do. She wants to play flag football. I don’t think it’s fair.”

On Thursday, Mason City Human Rights Director Lionel Foster told a meeting of the Human Rights Commission that Sabrina has been granted permission to play by Mason City Recreation Director Dan Brown.

“My recommendation was to let her play,” Brown said. “She would still have to pay the regular fee, but would not have to pay the late fee.”

Holland said he was happy at the news.

“That was my goal, to get my daughter to play,” he said. “Hopefully this will bring it to light so that this won’t happen to another family.”

The question of allowing girls to play flag football came up at least once before, Brown said. “A few years ago, we had a little older girl that wanted to play and we let her play.”

He said the Recreation Department is considering offering a Powder Puff program — flag football for girls.

Link to full story

Shout Out!

Oslo Norway’s 10th Annual IWFFA Tournament

We want to hear from you! Did you attend the event?

shout-out
shout-out (n.) Slang. A public expression of thanks or gratitude shout-out is a greeting or acknowledgment of a person, group, or organization of significance. It is often done as a sign of respect, synonymous with “giving props”.

This is your time to shout out your comments and celebrations regarding the 2009 Oslo Norway tournament.
Click the comment section to comment.

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US’s Blue Thunder No. 1 in Oslo, Norway

Blue Thunder, a women’s team from Washington DC, USA was the first US team in IWFFA history to travel to Europe and compete. And compete they did. After a narrow margion between F Fighters v. Panthers (6-8) and Blue Thunder v. Panthers (8-6), Blue Thunder and the F Fighters battled it out for the championship game.

The two day tournament came to an end with Blue Thunder taking the championship from F Fighters (20-0). The six teams who competed in the Oslo Norway’s 10th annual IWFFA tournament showed great sportsmanship. The European teams welcomed the US team and even invited them to participate in Oslo’s Pride parade, in which games were scheduled around.
View all scores of the Oslo, Norway Tournament

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Happy Birthday Title IX

Happy 37th birthday to Title IX, the federal law granting girls and women in high schools and colleges the right to equal opportunity in sports.

On June 23, 1972 title IX was passed and implemented in July of that same year. Although that was 10 years before I was born, and manny more years before I could take advantage of the opportunities, I benefited first hand to the passing of this bill.
Title IX is the reason I learned how to play football. I joined my high school varsity flag football team when they first announced that Palm Beach County Public School District was to offer a varsity level girl’s flag football program. My family wasn’t into watching the NFL, nor was my big brother a football fan.
As a 16 year old Junior in high school I learned how to throw a ball, catch as well understand the markers on the field. I was a slow learner and wasn’t the best on the field, but my coach kept encouraging me to play. I discovered that I love the sport.

The world still isn’t perfect, we have a long way to go. But without title IX, I would be a different person.

The battle continues in Congress to ensure Title IX remains strong and effective. We need to support this legislation at a stronger level. Send a message to your congressional representative though the Women’s Sports Foundation.

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The Canadian Sun Bowl Attracts Texans

When you make the trip all the way from Dallas, Texas to the Cowichan Valley, you’re probably coming for a good reason.

Game Time journeyed from the Lone Star State to Duncan’s McAdam Park for Sun Bowl XXIV last weekend, and were rewarded with the Top Flight division championship.

The 2008 United States Flag & Touch Football League champions, and the first team from south of the border to play in the tournament, Game Time was expected to be one of the top teams at Sun Bowl, the Pacific Northwest Women’s Football Championships, and they delivered, capturing the top team trophy and two top individual awards.

Along with the appearance of the Texas team, eight Cowichan Women’s Football League (CWFL) teams competed as well as four teams from Victoria and eight from Vancouver.

Read the full story here

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Israel Takes Home the Big Bowl Championship

The Israeli women’s national team travelled to Germany last week with one goal in mind. After rolling over the competition with six straight victories en route to a third Big Bowl championship, it would be difficult to call the trip anything but a complete success.

The playing of Hatikva during the title presentation was an emotionally fitting conclusion to an action-packed weekend of football that put the rest of the European nations on notice that Israel will be a force to be reckoned with at September’s Euro Championships in Belfast, Ireland.

Coach of the Israeli women’s team said the game was so well played, it was impossible to pick out All Star Players. “I gotta tell you though, hearing that song [Hatikva] being sung on German soil after the girls won their title, now that was a sweet moment both teams and I will never forget. The goosbumps were out in full force for that one.”

Read the full article here.

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Basketball Star Found Success in New Sport

After being named MVP at Leon High School, Williams has been voted the Tallahassee Democrat’s 2009 Big Bend Flag Football Player of the Year.
Two years ago when Sharonta Williams joined Leon’s flag football team, no one knew how vital she would be to the team’s success — that includes Williams herself.
“I’m better than I thought I was,” Williams said. “It’s not just basketball that I’m good at.”

Sharonta Williams hopes that younger girls who look up to her will follow in her footsteps and break barriers in all aspects of life.
“It feels good to lead by example,” Williams said. “I hope other girls will follow their dreams and not give up.”

Read Full Article Here

Orlando Scrimmage Was a Hit!

The girls of Orlando woke up early Sunday morning and joined the IWFFA for an hour long scrimmage in heart of Orlando’s Attractions. We are measuring the interest of the women in Orlando, to see if we can successfully start a women’s flag football league in this area. And in a large metropolis like Orlando, why not?
This is the first of several scrimmage games hosted by the IWFFA.

Orlando Football

We need a name for the league and we’d like your help deciding.
Vote here:

IWFFA Team ‘Carolina Storm’ Featured in Curve Magazine

This month’s issue of Curve Magazine features IWFFA’s own.

(Top right corner)

Curve Magazine, the nation’s best-selling lesbian magazine, spotlights celebrity interviews, news, politics, shopping, pop culture, style and travel spotlighted the 2009 Kelly McGillis Classic in it’s SCENE section. The page featured Carolina Storm player Angela Walter running up the middle as well as the offensive line up against the Stray Dawgs.

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