Sorority Flag Football Challenge

I ran across this video today. “The Girls of Old Florida”
A unique action photo series documenting sorority flag football teams from the University of Florida, including interviews by sorority players and their coaches. The sound bites were powerful, and to be honest, stereotypical, while the action shots were of genuine competitive athletes. The first soundbite:

“It’s your chance to kinda like, be aggressive without, like, being aggressive.”

Some saying that they take the opportunity to play with their sisters and a break away from their studies. Others defending that the game is very competitive.

“You get your share of bruises… and scratches, girls tend to keep their nails nice and long too…

The composition of the video did not allow for the sound bits to match up to the player, however, one player got my attention.

“I feel like if we played tackle football it would be ok, like, we would rock it, but considering its socially unacceptable at the moment, (“It shouldn’t be”, adds another teammate in the back ground) because we could tackle, But… our teammates fall down, hurt their knees…”

This girl in particular addresses the society’s restraints on female athletes. Because I have no idea how to find this women, I will broadcast this message: I challenge you, and your team… to join us for some IWFFA contact flag football. It would be an honor to play with you.

Moms, daughters play ball for cancer research

Pink will be plentiful at this week’s third annual Susan G. Komen Girls Flag Football Tournament.

The three-day event, which includes two days of competition and a Bigger and Better Family Fun Night, is a fund-raiser for Susan G. Komen For the Cure.

More than 30 flag football teams from Palm Beach County and a handful of teams in the “moms division” are expected to participate in the event, which will be held Jan. 6 and Jan. 9-10 at Acreage Community Park and Okeeheelee Park.

“What’s a better way to have a tournament mean something?” tournament director Chris Mathews said of the fund-raiser. “Everybody can win a trophy, but to have it mean something means more.

“You see the girls put their hearts and souls into it, because they dye their hair pink, they do the wristbands pink. It just seemed like a natural combination that the girls would play for something that will probably help benefit them one day.” -read full article here

The tournament is free and open to the public. For information, visit www.flagsforthecure.com

Acreage Girls Flag Football League is one of the strongest girls leagues in the country. Year after year they bring high competition to the Kelly McGillis Classic in Key West. They have a great thing going, we are so proud of you girls!!

Deadline Approaching

The Deadline to register for the 19th Annual Kelly McGillis Classic in Key West Florida is quickly approaching. The final deadline is December 31, 2009 for teams.
Women who want to compete but are without a team, can join the loose women’s team.

We have over 30 teams registerd, this year promises to be full of quality competition and high energy parties.

Click here for more info or to register online.

We Want Your Opinion!

AZ Team give new perspective on Football

This blossoming team based out of Arizona posted a fun video of the team practicing. They used a neat little helmet camera to capture the play that almost reminds us of the days of Nickelodeon’s Double Dare.

Thanks for sharing @soul4real

We’re going on-air!

IWFFA goes Live On Women’s Football Talk – Open Mic
On December 3, 10PM – 11PM (EST)

Were going to talk about girls Flag football gaining popularity of Flag football, and how that is changing OUR game.
We would like to discuss the Pros and Cons of Professionalizing Flag Football, The World Challenge in Key West, FL.
The LFL – Lingerie Football League- Is it helpful or hurtful to women’s football?
Scandinavian Tournaments for Americans as well as other IWFFA Promotional Tours

PLUS! Were going to open the forum up to you too!

So Join us!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wfb-talk-continues

There are two ways you can listen to the Live Broadcast.

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/wfb-talk-continues (You will see our IWFFA logo and “open mic” section)

Once they are on there, it will start as soon as it becomes live. This link will also open up the chat room so you do not have to have two windows open. If the chat room does not open then be sure to refresh it.

Note: We will open chat room 30 minutes before show time.

or

Chat Room Use: If you would like to interact in the chat room they will need to register with BlogTalkRadio. Register at the top of the BlogTalkRadio page and enter their name and user name they would like to use. Once you register you can sign in and refresh the chat room so their name will appear. We will open the chat room 30 minutes before the show so that you can use it to talk or ask questions before the show begins.

These two methods don’t work for you?

If they cannot be by a computer then they can Call in to listen at 347-826-7278 (do not press #1 if you are calling in just to listen).

If you have any questions, email: bj@wfbtalk.com.

Dates Released for the 19th Annual Kelly McGillis Classic

Ket West, FL hosts the Largest women’s flag football tournament in the world. Players and teams from the USA, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, Mexico, Finland, Norway and Scotland meet in paradise to compete.

Dates for the Women’s events start February 7, 2010 with games beginning the 11th. The World Challenge and all other final games end on February 15, 2010.

The girl’s events are February 13-14, 2010

Register without penalties, by December 15, 2009
Closing registration by December 31st, 2009.

Don’t have a team? Join the Loose Women. A team composed of women who do not have a team but still want to compete.

Want more info? e-mail iwffa@iwffa.com

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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