Women's Football

[jerrym]

People don't usually think of women taking up football, let alone a woman that is 51 years old, namely Leanne Coleman.



At the age when most people start to think about retirement plans, Leanne Coleman is ... living out her dream playing the game of football for the Edmonton Storm. The Storm play in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League — an eight-team league that has teams all across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
Her positon? Defensive tackle.
“I’m a 51-year-old rookie. I’ve waited 40 years for my opportunity to play football and I’m loving every minute of it,” said Coleman, who made her regular season debut for the Storm last week in a decisive victory over the Grande Prairie Anarchy. Coleman always felt her gridiron dreams were nothing more than a pipe dream, but after finding out about the Storm on Facebook, she was eager to at least go to the tryout camp. ...
“I thought I would go to the winter camp. I honestly thought I would get a handshake and a ‘Thanks for coming out, here’s your free t-shirt’ but they were like we want you to play,” said Coleman. “I live two hours away, and I wasn’t sure if I could commit to it, but I thought I might as well exhaust myself than live with the regret for not giving myself this opportunity.”
Coleman, who lives near Rimbey, makes the four-hour drive (round trip) twice a week for practices. The team also has home and road games once a week throughout the season. She attended the tryout camp in December and started indoor practices with the Storm in February.
It’s a big commitment — but not too big for Coleman, whose passion for football is off the charts. She manages a pharmacy in Rimbey and has had to make some sacrifices at work and at home, but she’s making it work to live out this dream.
“(My husband) goes to work and tells the guys about my bruises and he tells me, ‘You know, those bruises aren’t sexy.’ And I just tell him I’m not trying to be sexy, it’s just part of the game,” said Coleman. “He thought I was crazy for wanting to give this a go, but I honestly couldn’t do it without his support. It’s a lot of time and dedication, and he’s behind me 100 per cent, and I’m so grateful.”
Her willingness to achieve this dream has inspired her teammates, her coaches and her family. One of the reasons why she wanted to take this chance to play the game she’s loved for over 40 years is to show her kids the true meaning of hard work and determination. “My youngest daughter calls me Wonder Woman and I want to set a good example for my daughters. If you have a dream … never give up on it, because here I am a 51-year-old rookie playing football,” said Coleman.
In the 11-year history of the Storm, Coleman is the oldest player to ever suit up for the team. The impression she’s made on the coaching staff has been nothing but admiration.
“She’s blown my mind. She’s willing to do whatever it takes,” said Storm head coach Karin Simmons. b“She brings a can-do attitude. I find that our defence doesn’t seem to complain about being tired or exhausted, because they look over and see a 51-year-old banging bodies and not complaining about anything. I think all of her teammates are inspired by her.”
Coleman is taking this experience and living in the moment. She loves the feeling of having pre-game butterflies. She enjoys the team camaraderie and she loves to run out on the field and make tackles like her childhood idol Dan Kepley did for the Edmonton Eskimos.
The way she embraces and plays the game, you’d never know that there is generations between her teammates and her opponents.
“For myself, because I thought this opportunity passed me by, I’m so happy to be out there. I have a feeling of total elation. Its like a dream, and I’m living this experience to the fullest,” said Coleman. “I said I’d only play one year, but I’m having too much fun. I think I will want to do at least one more year. I will keep going until I can’t.”

http://www.edmontonsun.com/2016/05/11/chasing-footballs-storm-the-realization-of-leanne-colemans-lifelong-dream

[AngeloV]

I have watched a lot of ladies touch football over the years, as they have a pretty good division that plays in all the touch football Ontario tournaments. These girls can play.

[1argoholic]

Did anyone catch the highlight on Sportnet of the girls playing flag football in the States. The one girl is hauling ass downfield and running real strong until this tool totally comes across and just brings her crashing down with a forearm around the neck. That would be illegal in tackle ball.

[jerrym]

I have watched a lot of ladies touch football over the years, as they have a pretty good division that plays in all the touch football Ontario tournaments. These girls can play.

Leanne Coleman, the 51 year old plays in a full-contact league, the Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL).


The Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL) is a full-contact women's Canadian football league which began play in the spring of 2011. It has now completed five full seasons and with 8 teams is the largest women's football league in Canada. The women play 12 women tackle football games using the Canadian Amateur Football Association rules, somewhat similar to those of the CFL. The league has teams in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. ...
The first season of play ended with a championship game which was played in the city of Lethbridge, Alberta (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethbridge,_Alberta). The game was played between the Edmonton Storm (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edmonton_Storm_(football)) and the Saskatoon Valkyries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon_Valkyries) . The Valkyries became the first WWCFL Champions with a final score of 35-7.The WWCFL's second year (2012) saw the same seven teams compete. The championship game was held in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon,_Saskatchewan) with the Saskatoon Valkyries (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saskatoon_Valkyries) defending their title by defeating the Lethbridge Steel (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethbridge_Steel) 64-21. ...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWCFL

[jerrym]

http://www.wwcfl.ca
http://nebula.wsimg.com/2f88951074cc1bf241e75a30eb5b1b82?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


The Official Website of the Western Women's Canadian Football League

http://nebula.wsimg.com/29b3881deef7dd7940231b9ef6445d94?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


http://nebula.wsimg.com/9d2b2ce0acffcf0f56bd9ff1adbb6208?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


The WWCFL is the largest full-tackle women's football league in Canada and has grown leaps and bounds since the inaugural season in 2011.

Learn More › (http://www.wwcfl.ca/about-us.html) (http://www.wwcfl.ca/about-us.html)


Questions about the WWCFL? Want to join a team? Want to be an official sponsor?

Contact the WWCFL › (http://www.wwcfl.ca/about-us.html)



(http://www.wwcfl.ca/contact-us.html)


The WWCFL season runs every spring from May until the beginning of July.

Catch the Action › (http://www.wwcfl.ca/schedule.html)


The WWCFL spans all three Prairie Provinces -- three teams in Alberta, two teams in Saskatchewan, and two teams in Manitoba.

Meet the Teams › (http://www.wwcfl.ca/teams.html)


http://nebula.wsimg.com/25a9f5d47705d6c1a0508bf2c6a80f67?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


ABOUT THE WWCFL





SCHEDULE

TEAMS





HOME (http://www.wwcfl.ca/home.html)
TEAMS (http://www.wwcfl.ca/teams.html)
SCHEDULE (http://www.wwcfl.ca/schedule.html)
ABOUT THE WWCFL (http://www.wwcfl.ca/about-us.html)
CONTACT US (http://www.wwcfl.ca/contact-us.html)
2015 WWCFL CHAMPIONSHIP (http://www.wwcfl.ca/2015-wwcfl-championship.html)
SHOP (http://www.wwcfl.ca/shop.html)






CONTACT US



http://nebula.wsimg.com/14dab31a1504681d1d9c91073f33f0a5?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1




http://nebula.wsimg.com/42d2b0fa2c52d3a36726711f1c1d4d1d?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

[AngeloV]

Leanne Coleman, the 51 year old plays in a full-contact league, the Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL).


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WWCFL

That's cool. One of the touch football girls I know actually played for the Toronto team in the Lingerie league. A bit of a joke league because of the lingerie aspect, but these girls were good football players.

[jerrym]

http://www.wwcfl.ca/teams.html




HOME (http://www.wwcfl.ca/home.html)
TEAMS (http://www.wwcfl.ca/teams.html)
SCHEDULE (http://www.wwcfl.ca/schedule.html)
ABOUT THE WWCFL (http://www.wwcfl.ca/about-us.html)
CONTACT US (http://www.wwcfl.ca/contact-us.html)
2015 WWCFL CHAMPIONSHIP (http://www.wwcfl.ca/2015-wwcfl-championship.html)
SHOP (http://www.wwcfl.ca/shop.html)






GRAND PRAIRIE NORTHERN ANARCHYHead Coach - Aaron Hodges
​Website - www.northernanarchyfootball.com (http://www.northernanarchyfootball.com/)
Contact - northernanarchy@live.com



http://nebula.wsimg.com/1755a2752cb141105b1aad10191fb748?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


SASKATOON VALKYRIESHead Coach - Jeff Yausie
​Website - www.saskatoonvalkyries.com (http://www.saskatoonvalkyries.com/)
Contact - saskatoonvalkyries@gmail.com



http://nebula.wsimg.com/4475ba334ff5fc494aa44b2e58d66bc0?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1




LETHBRIDGE STEELHead Coach - Kessie Stefanyk
​Website - w (http://www.calgaryrage.com/)ww.lethbridgesteelfootball.com (http://www.lethbridgesteelfootball.com/)
Contact - l (calgaryragefootball@gmail.com)wtfootball@gmail.co m (lwtfootball@gmail.com)



EDMONTON STORMHead Coach - Karin Simmons
​Website - ww (http://www.calgaryrage.com/)w.edmontonstorm.com (http://www.edmontonstorm.com/)
Contact - edmontonstorm@hotmail.ca



http://nebula.wsimg.com/5016f45009b268a69f5509b3f48eba81?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


http://nebula.wsimg.com/e486636888afa766d83e341b95e71020?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


CALGARY RAGEHead Coach - Rob Perry
​Website - www.calgaryrage.com (http://www.calgaryrage.com/)
Contact - calgaryragefootball@gmail.com



http://nebula.wsimg.com/5c95fa13d638084dd559cafbe2cf7f3e?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


WESTERN CONFERENCE





The Official Website of the Western Women's Canadian Football League

http://nebula.wsimg.com/38618f8e389065a5b2b3cadb5e5c42eb?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


http://nebula.wsimg.com/8d98a2483dc7704101e2aadfbf9d7e01?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


PRAIRIE CONFERENCE



http://nebula.wsimg.com/bc6f485a66997863faa91040241eda23?AccessKeyId=1A795 C3DCD601BA21724&disposition=0&alloworigin=1


WINNIPEG WOLFPACKHead Coach - Doug Reis
​Website - w (http://www.calgaryrage.com/)ww. (http://www.lethbridgesteelfootball.com/)winnipegwolfpack.com (http://www.winnipegwolfpack.com/)
Contact - info@winnipegwolfpack.com

[jerrym]

One of the team's Grand Prairie Northern Anarchy. With a name like that, i suspect this would be 1argoholic's favourite team.

[jerrym]

I didn't know that there was a world championship in "American" football until I found this.

http://ifaf.org/img/2011/competition/world_header.jpg
http://ifaf.org/img/2011/competition/world_competition.jpg

IFAF Women's World Championship (WWC)

In July 2009 IFAF announced plans for Sweden to host the inaugural tackle competition for women, furthering opportunities for female participation in the sport at its highest level. Six nations competed in Stockholm, with the United States winning their first crown.
http://ifaf.org/img/2011/competition/detail_divider.jpg
The 2013 IFAF WWC brought 6 teams, USA, Canada, Finland, Germany, Sweden, and Spain to the world's stage in Vantaa, Finland. USA claimed their second Gold Medal, being the only Women's team to win, twice. The games will be played on a four-year rotation basis with the next competition in 2017.

http://ifaf.org/pages/competition/world-games

[jerrym]

Here's some info on the Edmonton Storm, the 2015 Western Conference Champions, which has a much larger squad of players than I expected to see in the picture at

http://www.edmontonstorm.com/#!home/mainPage

This year the Storm are 2-0 as the WWCFL standings show:

http://www.wwcfl.ca/schedule.html

[jerrym]

The playoffs are underway in Canadian women's football.



The Calgary Rage want another shot at the Edmonton Storm.
But the Lethbridge Steel are standing in the way.
The Rage will host the Steel in Saturday’s Western Women’s Canadian Football League semifinal (1:30 p.m. at Shouldice Athletic Park).
This will be the third meeting of the season between the provincial rivals with the Rage looking to complete the sweep.
Calgary won 26-14 on home turf before exploding for a 57-22 victory, which was the first time the Rage had ever left Lethbridge with a win.
It also wrapped up the squad’s finest season (3-1) in its six-year history.
Rage offensive line coach Don Nelson said both clashes were tight until late in the contests.
“The first game was close until late in the fourth (quarter),” Nelson said. “The same goes for the second game.
“We found a crack in the armour and really unloaded in the fourth quarter.”
A win over the Steel would give the Rage the opportunity to avenge a 21-7 loss to the Storm (4-0), the lone setback on the Calgary club’s schedule, last month at Clarke Field.
The winner from that tilt will take on the Manitoba/Saskatchewan champion.
“It was a rainy day and we came up short,” Nelson said. “We had one of our better showings against them in recent memory.
“The offence just couldn’t push those couple extra points out.
“The game was actually a lot closer than those two scores. We just got tired in the fourth quarter.
Rage running backs Lisa Gomes and Tolu Fasuba — Nelson calls them the best one-two punch in the league — will be key on Saturday.
As will, as usual, the play of quarterback Erin Walton.
“We have a lot of new rookies on defence that have been stepping up and playing amazing,” said Nelson.

http://calgaryherald.com/sports/football/calgary-rage-set-to-tackle-lethbridge-steel-in-womens-football-semifinal

[jerrym]

After silver medal wins in 2010 and 2013, Canada has announced its national team roster (see url below) for 2017 Women's World Championship.


BY FOOTBALLCANADA (http://footballcanada.com/author/footballcanada/) · JANUARY 14, 2017
http://i2.wp.com/footballcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/10/2013-WNT-vs-Finland.jpg?resize=720%2C340


The dream of representing their nation at the highest level has come true for 45 of the top women’s tackle football players in Canada. Eleven additional players were named to a reserve roster. Canada heads into the 2017 IFAF Women’s World Championship with a pair of silver medals earned at the inaugural event in 2010 as well as the 2013 installment in Finland.
The national team retains a core group of players as 13 of the 45 women on the roster competed in 2013 including Alex Black, Trina Graves and Christine O’Donnell who are set to represent Canada for a third straight Women’s World Championship.
The selection process began this past summer as aspiring national team players were identified at the Women’s National Championship in Regina and invited to attend regional selection camps held this past December in Montreal and Moose Jaw. ....
The host nation and location for the 2017 Women’s World Championship has yet to be named.
Now held every four years, the inaugural 2010 event took place in Stockholm, Sweden while Vantaa, Finland played host to the second installment in 2013.



http://footballcanada.com/football-canada-unveils-2017-womens-national-team-roster/

[jerrym]

In the US, the Legends Football League which kicksoff April 15th has different rules.



http://www.lflus.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/01/gallery_0012_i-8zdKGXD-XL.jpg



http://www.lflus.com

[Wobbler]

The less said about that, the better.

[ArgoRavi]

The less said about that, the better.

Agreed. I didn't realize that was still around.

[jerrym]

Canada will host the third edition of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Women’s World Championship from June 24 – June 30, 2017 in Langley, British Columbia at McLeod Stadium. The event will be hosted by Football Canada in partnership with the British Columbia Provincial Football Association (BCPFA).
The six-team event features the top female tackle football players from around the world. Participating for a third time are respective two-time defending gold, silver and bronze medalists, the United States, host Canada and Finland, while Great Britain, the current European silver medalist, Australia and Mexico are set to make their women’s worlds debut in Langley.


http://www.cfl.ca/2017/02/19/canada-host-2017-womens-world-championship/?utm_content=buffer55bc4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[jerrym]

Two sisters have made a major contribution to the Regina Riot of the Western Women's Canadian Football League and are set to play in the Women's World Championship: QB Aimee and WR Alex Kowalski.



Both Aimee and Alex are getting set to participate in the 2017 Women’s World Championship in June with team Canada – the first time they’ve played together at the international level.
“She’s not very big,” Aimee said of Alex’s small stature. “She’s only 5-foot-2 so being as easy to throw to as she is is a feat in itself compared to some of the 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 receivers. We generally are known for our longer passes because she has a lot of speed.”
(Note: Check out this 75-yard touchdown pass from Aimee to Alex (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhrkq20_76Q) during a game versus the Saskatoon Valkyries back in 2015.)
The six-game event is just the third of its kind and will take place for the first time in Canada in Langley, B.C. Canada has runnered up in both the 2010 and 2013 championships. The team, Alex and Aimee – who participated in the 2013 championship where Canada lost the gold medal game to the United States – will be looking to win their first gold medal on home soil.
“I’ve always played sports to win,” Aimee professed. “I’ve never really been the recreational player. I’ve always done what I needed to do to prepare and you learn a little bit more when you’re preparing for something like this and actually realizing how far the little things go or even the psychological preparation, like visualization, really go a long way when you’re in a competition at this level.”
According to Kim Wudrick, President of Football Canada, having Alex, Aimee and the rest of the women named to the Canadian team participate in the championship will help to shine a light on the ever-growing tackle football events and leagues across the country.
“Hosting the Women’s World Championships is a great honour,” Wudrick said in a news release in February. “To do so during Canada’s 150 birthday is a tremendous way to celebrate our nation’s long football history as well as to promote the growth of women’s tackle football in Canada. I look forward to cheering Canada on alongside a loud and proud hometown crowd this summer.”


http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/08/sister-duo-set-tackle-2017-womens-world-championship/

[jerrym]

Despite having Andrew Harris, Nik Lewis and Brad Sinopoli at a flag football clinic for young girls, the girls focused more of the female players of the WCFL, perhaps suggesting that football is expanding beyond its typical borders.



Many of the young girls that had taken part in the flag football clinic at Evraz Place gravitated to a trio of Regina Riot players, asking the members of the women’s tackle football team to sign their t-shirts. When it was all said and done, that trio of women was busier than Harris, Lewis and Sinopoli were, still signing as the CFLers left the field and waited for a co-ed clinic to start shortly after.

The clinic had girls from 10-15 and had all of the established football players teaching the basics of the game: footwork, ball protection and one-on-one drills for about 90 minutes.
“It’s a huge opportunity,” said Riot slotback Claire Dore, who has been with the team since it was formed here seven years ago. “Any time we have an opportunity to volunteer and we have an opportunity to talk about football, show excitement for football, especially women’s football, it’s great for us.
“It’s great for us to have the Riot’s name (out there) but to show young ladies that football is something that’s accessible for them and that there are places they can go and play.”
Also on hand to deliver a similar message was Alouettes assistant general manager Catherine Raiche. She spoke to the girls at the end of the clinic and told them about her climb through the organization.
A lawyer for three years before she joined the team in 2015 as a volunteer, she was eventually hired to help manage the team’s salary cap, structured player contracts and handled the team’s travel arrangements. The message was brief, but powerful.
“This is what I always wanted to do,” she told the group. “I kept on working hard, working hard, working hard.
“I started and I volunteered, unpaid I was helping out with basic stuff: Driving cars, driving players around, really basic stuff. I got a contract, I worked for them. And now I just got promoted to assistant general manager, football ops.”


http://www.cfl.ca/2017/03/28/oleary-girls-flag-football-clinic-aims-crack-gender-barriers/

[jerrym]

Until today, I didn't even realize that there was a women's football league in the Maritimes, let alone that it is the oldest women's tackle league in Canada, having been founded in 2004.




https://scontent-sea1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/13047654_1034337629981578_2922770592519179352_o.jp g?oh=917580cd2d183b2454c8d45a514ecfad&oe=59894DBC


(https://www.facebook.com/245519498863399/photos/1034337629981578/)The MWFL is the first women’s tackle football league in Canada. We are a competitive, recreational league that welcomes players of all skill levels and backgrounds.

We have 4 teams: the Moncton Vipers, the Capital Area Lady Gladiators, the Saint John Storm and the Halifax Xplosion.

We are excited that women’s football is growing in Canada and invite you to like our page!

In supporting our league, you are actively supporting the inclusion of women and young girls in a non-traditional sport and breaking down barriers and stereotypes.

Did you know?

- We play May through July -- Summer road trips!!
- There are Junior Girls teams in NB!!
- 23 players from our league were selected to compete on the 2010 National Canadian Women’s Tackle Football Team in the inaugural IFAF Women’s World Championship.







https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeWomensFootballLeague/

[jerrym]

The Calgary Rage won the league season opener of the WWCFL's of 2017 on April 29th (4 minutes of video highlights are included at the url below).



http://www.chatnewstoday.ca/sites/default/files/styles/main_image/public/field/image/vlcsnap-2017-04-29-19h50m29s17.png?itok=WZA2QylN

Calgary Rage running back Tolu Fasuba punches it in for a touchdown Saturday at the Methanex Bowl


MEDICINE HAT, AB — The Calgary Rage defeated the Lethbridge Steel 25-21 in the first ever WWCFL regular season game to take place in Medicine Hat Saturday afternoon.
Rage running back Tolu Fasuba had a monster game after starter Erin Walton was knocked out during Calgary’s opening drive. Fasuba rushed for over 150 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns when all was said and done.







http://www.chatnewstoday.ca/article/510024/rage-beat-steel-wwcfl-season-opener

[jerrym]

Women's football has grown enormously in the last decade in Western Canada and is well established in the Maritimes (see post #19), raising the question about whether it's time to start such a league in Central Canada.



Just 10 years ago, all of this – seven different tackle football games in both the Manitoba Girls Football Association and the Western Women’s Canadian Football League – would have seemed like a far-fetched fantasy.
And now?
Well, there are days when even MGFA Commissioner Tannis Wilson can’t wrap her head around the rapid growth of women’s football in this province.
“And yet as much as we’re growing,” began Wilson in an interview with bluebombers.com (http://bluebombers.com/), “our biggest issue right now is just getting people to know that we exist.” ...

Here’s a start:

The MGFA, founded six years ago, was the first program in the world to offer girls aged nine to 16 the chance to play against girls. It is a spring league that allows girls to compete against each other and not conflict from playing against boys in the Manitoba Minor Football Association in the fall.
The MGFA began play in 2011 with three teams – the East Side Eagles, St. Vital Mustangs and Charleswood Broncos – and now has eight teams at the Senior level (aged 13-16), including the Eagles, Mustangs Red and Mustangs Black, Broncos and also the North Winnipeg Nomads, St, James Rods, Interlake Thunder and Sunrise Coyotes. The Nomads, Eagles, Thunder and Mustangs also run teams at the Junior level (9-12). All games feature six women on the field per team and as registration grows, the plan is convert to games with nine players per side.
The WWCFL, meanwhile, is the largest full-tackle women’s football league in Canada with seven teams in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba: the Calgary Rage, Edmonton Storm and Lethbridge Steel comprise the Western Conference while the Saskatoon Valkyries, Regina Riot, Manitoba Fearless and Winnipeg Wolfpack make up the Prairie Conference.


http://www.bluebombers.com/2017/05/18/womens-football-growing-game/

[jerrym]

In 2014, a Central Canada Football League was announced but it never got off the ground from what I can tell.



Central Canada Women’s Football League (CCWFL) Official LaunchBY ADMIN (http://footballcanada.com/author/admin/) · APRIL 9, 2014
http://i2.wp.com/footballcanada.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/WomensFootball_April9.png?resize=720%2C340


On April 9, the Central Canada Women’s Football League announced the official launch of a new women’s tackle football league in Ontario.

The Central Canada Women’s Football League is seeking women aged 18 and over to fill all positions in their newly formed 2015 teams. Women aged 16 and 17 are also welcome to participate in the CCWFL as “Rookies”, where they will be given the option to train and practice with teams until they are eligible to participate in game play.

The CCWFL aspires to give all women the opportunity to advance their tackle football training on an equal playing field and to be a part of one of the first tackle football leagues in Ontario for women.

Women’s tackle football has a rich history in Canada. Founded in 2001, the Montréal Blitz are currently the only Canadian team to play in the semi-professional Independent Women’s Football League where they’ve won 4 titles in the past 6 years. The Maritime Women’s Football League was established in 2004 and currently has teams in Fredericton, Saint John, Moncton and Halifax. Taking root in 2011 following the inaugural 2010 IFAF Women’s World Championship the Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) currently boasts teams in Calgary, Edmonton, Grande Prairie, Lethbridge, Okotoks, Regina, Saskatoon and two in Winnipeg.



http://footballcanada.com/central-canada-womens-football-league-ccwfl-official-launch/

[jerrym]

Regina Riot blew out Calgary Rage in the Western Women's Canadian Football League championship game on June 10th.

http://leaderpost.com/sports/football/regina-riot-captures-wwcfl-championship

[jerrym]

With names of the WWCFL teams such as Regina Riot (http://www.canadahistory.com/sections/eras/crash depression/Regina.html), Calgary Rage, Grand Prairie Northern Anarchy and Lethbridge Steel, it is obvious that the women on these teams in choosing these names are being subversive to the established view of many that football is a man's game, not for those many consider dainty and feminine.

[jerrym]

On Saturday in the Maritime Women's Football League, Saint John Storm shut out the Moncton Vipers 25-0, thereby earning a spot in the SupHer Bowl on Saturday June 24th in Saint John.
In the other semi-final, Capital Area Lady Gladiators defeated Halifax Xplosion 7-0 to become Saint John's in the SupHer Bowl.

[jerrym]

Saint John Storm edged the (Halifax) Capital Area Lady Gladiators 7-6 to win the SupHer Bowl in the Maritime Women's Football League.



The Saint John Storm Tackle Football Team (https://www.facebook.com/SaintJohnStorm/?fref=mentions) defeated the Capital Area Lady Gladiators Football Team (https://www.facebook.com/LadyGlads/?fref=mentions) by a score of 7-6 to become the 2017 SupHer Bowl champs for the fourth year in a row, solidifying their dynasty within the MWFL.
Both teams were tied at a touchdown a piece going into the fourth quarter. With little time left the Storm were able to kick a rouge, taking a one point lead. Despite a hard fought battle by the Gladiators offence and defence, they were unable to get back into scoring position before time ran out.


https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeWomensFootballLeague/

[jerrym]

The Western Women's Canadian Football League (WWCFL) has started up again and already completed the first two weeks of its 2018 season. The following post discusses why women play football.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Beginning tomorrow, we’ll be posting profiles of players from around our league. The purpose of the these profiles? To answer the age-old question about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whywomenplay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#whywomenplay</a> football. <br>We encourage other female athletes to join the conversation and explain <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/whywomenplay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#whywomenplay</a> their sport too. <a href="https://t.co/DUJLKuIntD">pic.twitter.com/DUJLKuIntD</a></p>&mdash; Western Women&#39;s Canadian Football League (@WWCFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWCFL/status/990342242333229056?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.d383dc1d510865aceaa5e552afcf5663.htm l?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argofans.com&settingsEndpoint=https%3A%2F%2Fsyndication.twitter .com%2Fsettings" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="Twitter analytics iframe" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 0px; height: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none;"></iframe><iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.d383dc1d510865aceaa5e552afcf5663.htm l?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argofans.com&settingsEndpoint=https%3A%2F%2Fsyndication.twitter .com%2Fsettings" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe>

[jerrym]

The writing on the tweet regarding "Why do we play?" is too small to read so here is what the answer says:

It's a question female football players - and female athletes in general, no matter what their sport - get asked often. And usually after giving their answer to the question, they're asked to reaffirm their reasons. "Really" and "You like that". Many times the questions, and the follow-ups, are asked because people don't believe that the same qualities that attract male athletes to any given sport, are the same qualities that attract female athletes.

Well, who better to disprove that belief than a bunch of female athletes? We've asked players from across our league to help us explain the reasons why women play football and answer these questions once and for all.

We also encourage other female athletes to join the conversation and explain why women play the particular sport they're involved with.



You can find some on the women's answers to this questions in the thread of tweets below.

https://twitter.com/WWCFL

[jerrym]

The Montreal Blitz are a women's football team that has played football in an American league until 2016. However, this year they will be playing games against Canadian teams from New Brunswick and Mississauga.



They are the only Canadian team in a women's American football league.[1] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Blitz#cite_note-Join_WFA-1) The team won four championships in the Independent Women's Football League (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_Women%27s_Football_League), at various levels. Their highest achievement came in 2012 when the beat the Sacramento Sirens (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacramento_Sirens) 28-27 to become World Champions of the IWFL.[2] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Blitz#cite_note-2)
The Blitz were created in 2001. In 2004 Quarterback (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarterback) Saadia Ashraf (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saadia_Ashraf) bought the team from the original owners.[3] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Blitz#cite_note-3) In 2015, the management of the team was transferred from Saadia Ashraf to Football Féminin Blitz de Montréal, a non-profit created to run the team.[4] (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Blitz#cite_note-4) They played in the IWFL until 2016, when they decided to leave the league due to financial and travel constraints.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Montreal_Blitz

[jerrym]

Under the Videos Populaires section of the url below there is an excellent video entitled "We are the Montreal Blitz" of the team in action and of the women discussing their playing football.

http://montrealblitz.ca

[jerrym]

The Maritime Women's Football League, the oldest women's tackle football league, is also back in action now. Started in 2004, it has four teams: the Moncton Vipers; the Capital Lady Gladiators; the St. John Storm; and the Halifax Xplosion.


https://scontent.fyvr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/30073218_1792944724120861_8136252517241331777_o.jp g?_nc_cat=0&oh=b919856660670c3e8bfd97531be1dec4&oe=5B769CA2





(https://www.facebook.com/245519498863399/photos/1792944724120861/)

[jerrym]

The WWCFL semi-final teams have been determined.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">And then there were four.<br>With some nail-biting games on the weekend, we&#39;ve narrowed down the field to the final four teams. These teams will compete in the league&#39;s first cross-conference semifinals. Details for those games coming out soon! <a href="https://t.co/sxKwE3dygk">pic.twitter.com/sxKwE3dygk</a></p>&mdash; Western Women&#39;s Canadian Football League (@WWCFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWCFL/status/1006214960219938816?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 11, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[jerrym]

The Montreal Blitz, which had played in the Independent Women's Football League from 2001 until 2016, winning four championships in the process, and then in the Women's Football Alliance in 2017 (American football), was told that the Alliance would no longer accept Canadian teams. As a result of this, the Blitz is now trying to organize games with teams in Mississauga and the Maritimes. (The quote is translated from French).



The football initiation camp organized by the Montreal Blitz last March was a success, there is definitely an important craze! In Quebec, our organization is the only competitive team. The challenge for the 2018 season? Find other teams in Eastern Canada to have games in this year of restructuring. There is a women's league in the Maritimes, the MWFL, which has 3 organizations and 1 team in Ontario in the Toronto area, MIFA Allstars Canada. Initially, the scheduled schedule for this year included 4 clashes, 2 against MIFA and 2 against a New Brunswick team. Unfortunately, we learned very recently that the Maritimes had to withdraw from our schedule for reasons beyond our control. Given the urgency of the situation to replace the matches, MIFA agreed to schedule 2 additional meetings.
The first 2 dates are confirmed:

June 16 at 2:30 pm: Blitz @ MIFA Allstars, Oakville, ONT.

30 June at 5 pm: MIFA Allstars @ Blitz, Dalbé-Viau High School, Lachine

http://montrealblitz.ca/une-ligue-de-football-feminin-dans-lest-du-canada-pourquoi-pas/

[jerrym]

The Maritimes Women's Football League SuperHER Bowl championship game will be played on Saturday June 23rd at 6:00 PM in Fredericton between the Halifax Explosion and the Fredericton Lady Gladiators at the website below.

http://bellaliantthumbs.communitylive.ca/thumbnails/18533061SupHerBowlBanner.png (https://www.facebook.com/MaritimeWomensFootballLeague/)MWFL SupHER Bowl (http://player.communitylive.ca/Player/Player/223#)
Date: 6/23/2018
Time: 6:00 PM

Halifax Explosion vs Fredericton Lady Gladiators from Fredericton, NB

Watch (http://player.communitylive.ca/Player/Player/223#)


(http://www.bellaliant.net/fibreop?page=bundles&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=BellAliant.net^Live Player&utm_campaign=2012 Q1 FibreOP&utm_content=en_300x250_alia_419bun_c01.gif)http://player.communitylive.ca/Player/Player/223










(http://www.bellaliant.net/fibreop?page=bundles&utm_medium=banner&utm_source=BellAliant.net^Live Player&utm_campaign=2012 Q1 FibreOP&utm_content=en_300x250_alia_419bun_c01.gif)

[jerrym]

The Regina Riot will play the Saskatoon Valkyries for the Western Women's Canadian Football League championship on Sunday at 3:00 PM at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.



The Riot punched its ticket to the championship showdown by downing the Edmonton Storm 45-9 in a semi-final on Sunday. In the other semi-final, the Valkyries defeated the host Calgary Rage 30-6 on Saturday. Those results ensure that Saskatchewan will continue to own the WWCFL’s championship trophy. Since the league’s inception in 2011, only Regina and Saskatoon have won the title. The defending-champion Riot is hoping to win it all for the third time in a span of four seasons. Saskatoon won the first four league titles and also prevailed in 2016.

On Sunday, the Riot led 43-7 at halftime and waltzed to victory while wearing uniforms that are usually donned by the Regina Thunder. The PFC team loaned its gear to the Riot after its uniforms were stolen.
Mallory Starkey had three touchdowns en route to being named the player of the game. She had TD receptions of 35 and 26 yards in addition to scoring on a 38-yard run. Alex Kowalski (53 yards), Jenna Koller (12) and Diane Nesbitt (six) also hauled in scoring strikes from Aimee Kowalski, who had five touchdown passes.
Quarterback Aria McGowan rushed for Edmonton’s lone touchdown. She was intercepted twice by Mira Trebilcock and once by Payton Kuster.
The Riot has won all five of its games this season, with one victory coming by default. Saskatoon went 2-2 in the regular season before winning back-to-back playoff games. In the teams’ only head-to-head meeting to date this season, the Riot defeated the Valkyries 21-16 at Mosaic Stadium on June 3.


http://leaderpost.com/sports/football/regina-riot-saskatoon-valkyries-to-meet-in-wwcfl-final



<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Two days to go! <a href="https://t.co/rxw0MaiM9O">pic.twitter.com/rxw0MaiM9O</a></p>&mdash; Western Women&#39;s Canadian Football League (@WWCFL) <a href="https://twitter.com/WWCFL/status/1010303068594896896?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 22, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[jerrym]

Fredericton Lady Gladiators defeated the Halifax Xplosion 27-6 to win the Maritime Women's Football League SupHER Bowl championship on Saturday.

[jerrym]

The Regina Riot defeated the Saskatoon Valkyries 14-10 to win the Western Women's Football League championship on Sunday.



Regina posted a 4-0 regular-season record before winning both of its playoff games en route to the team’s second straight league title and the third in four seasons. This year was also the first time that the Riot won both of its regular-season games against the Valkyries, who lost 28-7 and 21-16 to finish with a 2-2 record. Regina made it a clean sweep in Sunday’s final thanks to a comeback effort led by running back Mallory Starkey, who rushed for two touchdowns.
“This isn’t the season you plan to have — a perfect season,” noted Starkey. “I’m so proud to be a part of this team. It wasn’t how we wanted it to be at halftime (down 10-7) but it was awesome to fight back and not get our heads down. (It was important) to not worry about the score. Just go out and play our best.”

Saskatoon jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter thanks to a 29-yard field goal by Carly Dyck and a two-yard touchdown run by Sarah Wright. The home team responded in the second quarter when Courtney Tafelmeyer intercepted quarterback Alex Eyolfson at Saskatoon’s 47-yard line. That led to a 12-play drive — including three third-down gambles — that culminated with a one-yard touchdown run by Starkey. Regina made it 10-8 in the third quarter with a single by Morgan Turner, who missed a 17-yard field goal.
The Riot threatened to take its first lead early in the fourth quarter when quarterback Aimee Kowalski scrambled 64 yards to the four-yard line. However, Saskatoon’s defence stiffened at the goal line, forcing a turnover on downs. Regina got the ball back with 6:30 left in the fourth and marched 59 yards on 10 plays, culminating in another one-yard TD run by Starkey. On the ensuing series, Saskatoon scrimmaged near midfield but Eyolfson was sacked for a 19-loss by Adrienne Zuck with two minutes left. Zuck added her second sack with 22 seconds remaining to seal the victory.


http://leaderpost.com/sports/football/riot-wins-second-straight-wwcfl-championship

[jerrym]

The Calgary Rage women's football team will have two former CFL players as their dual head coaches in 2019: Wes Lysack and Keith Crawford but their goal is to be replaced by female coaches.



Lysack played parts of eight seasons with the Stampeders, winning the 2008 Grey Cup. And Crawford spent time with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats during his tenure in the league.

“I would like to thank everyone on the Calgary Rage board in the process of hiring a new head coach for our tenth season,” said Calgary Rage president Tatrina Medvescek. “When we first interviewed Wes and Keith, their professionalism, passion and knowledge of the game really stood out to this board the most and we really wanted them to be a part of this team. “We had the pleasure of working with both of these coaches last season as they worked as positional coaches. Their dedication, leadership and patience with our team was evident. “We’re so fortunate to have two former professional players wanting to share their experience and knowledge of the game with us.”

Calgary is one of eight teams in the Western Women’s Canadian Football League and are coming off of an undefeated season that saw them come away as Western Conference Champions.

Entering their second season on the Rage sidelines, the two coaches are excited for the journey ahead. “To come to the Rage and be a part of it with Wes, it’s a dream come true,” said Crawford. “The professionalism that hopefully we’ll bring to the game and the change of philosophy we’re going to use with the Rage is something we’re excited about. We’re excited about what the Rage has in store this year and we’re excited about the direction we’re going.”

Unlike many coaches, these two came to the Rage with their exit strategy firmly in place. Lysack and Crawford plan to develop female coaches to eventually take the reins and coach the team. In order for the league and the game of football grow, there needs to be more women as coaches.
https://www.stampeders.com/2019/01/21/a-new-direction/

[CFLfan]

Didn't realize that women were playing football. It's not really a popular game for women in this part of the country.
It's not like they have organized football in high school or university.
Plenty of women playing soccer at all levels including the CIS. Rugby too is a CIS women's sport.
Our women's National soccer team and Rugby teams are made up almost entirely of Canadian NCAA players.

[jerrym]

I think TSN and the CFL could improve viewership by having some half-time features on Canadian women's football in order to attract more women and build the sport's reach. While there are women's teams in the Maritimes, Montreal and the West, there is only the tentative start to women's football in Ontario in 2018 with the Mississauga team. Some help in creating more Ontario teams might also help.

[jerrym]

Reina Iizuka is the first woman to make the roster a U Sports football roster while playing for the University of Manitoba.



Reina Iizuka is Canadian university football’s best-kept secret.
The five-foot-seven, 160-pound defensive back is entering her third year at the University of Manitoba, having been a red-shirted player on the Bisons in 2018.

Red-shirted players, who practise but do not dress for games, usually aren’t in the spotlight. However, it’s a different story for the 19-year-old Iizuka, who is believed to be the first woman to appear on a U Sports football roster.
The well-spoken native of Mississauga applied to Manitoba in 2017, but wasn’t on the roster her first year, working out with the team while she recovered from a knee injury.

Iizuka sees herself as a football player first, but understands how others can consider her a trail-blazer and pioneer in her chosen sport.
“I’m someone who plays the game but I also realize with that will be responsibilitycp,” she said during a telephone interview. “I’m just a player but at the same time I’m that (pioneer) as well.
“It’s something I aspire to be. I don’t think I’m mentally there yet, but I’m working hard to become that.” ...

Bisons head coach Brian Dobie made it clear Iizuka had earned her spot in his program. That’s quite a statement from the winningest football coach in school history (92-90-1), who is entering his 24th season at Manitoba.
“I didn’t do this to make a political statement that I’m going to be the coach or we’re going to be the program that’s going to give this young woman a chance and be a breakthrough,” Dobie said. “I brought her here because of her drive, passion and determination and she had the skill level and experience to back it up.
“Winning in my job is really important, but more important is the student-athlete experience. We’ve certainly done our share of winning at Manitoba, but I’m proud of the student-athlete experience.”
Dobie, 66, fondly remembers watching Iizuka for the first time while serving as a guest coach at a summer football camp in the Toronto area. Her rapport with Dobie was a key reason she chose Manitoba.
“I was at a tackling drill and there was a player who made two or three impressive tackles in a row,” Dobie said. “I literally turned to one of the coaches I was standing beside and said, ‘Wow, he’s a really good tackler.’
“And he replied, ‘Yeah coach, that guy is a girl.’ So she went to the back of the line and I went over and gave her a coaching tip and we had a brief chat. We talked again at lunch and I was immediately struck by her passion and drive for being the best player she could and taking it as far as she could. She was really impressive.” ...


Ultimately, though, it will be up to Iizuka to determine whether she’s able to play for Manitoba. Dobie, for one, isn’t betting against her.
“Oh no,” he said. “The rules say we can dress 50 players at home and we’re going to carry 85 to 90 so you can do the math.
“Can she make her way through that group and get to the top 50? It will be extremely difficult, no question, but she’s overcome a lot just to get here.
https://www.bttoronto.ca/2019/02/27/mississauga-native-attempting-to-become-first-female-to-play-u-sports-football/

[jerrym]

The CFL and U Sports worked together to send four women to the NFL Women's Careers in Football Forum at the end of February.



The event provides participants with valuable networking opportunities as well as sessions preparing attendees with resources and knowledge about working in football.
Representing the CFL were Christina Litz, the Canadian Football League’s (CFL) Chief Marketing, Digital and Strategy officer and Ryan Janzen, Senior Director, Football Operations. Representing the U SPORTS contingent will be Erin Craig, Andrea Eccleston, Reina Iizuka and Kristine Walker.

Erin Craig, who serves as the director of strength and conditioning for the Saint Mary’s University football program. She attended the Montreal Alouettes’ 2018 training camp and has also worked with the Dalhousie women’s hockey program.

Andrea Eccleston (Maple Creek, SK), the equipment manager and team administrator for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies. Eccleston has volunteered with Football Canada in numerous capacities and served as the Chef de Mission for the women’s Team Canada tackle football team at the International Federation of American Football World Championships.

Reina Iizuka, a defensive back for the University of Manitoba Bisons who is in her redshirt freshman year with the team. Iizuka previously played for the St. Marcellinus Spirit and the Toronto Junior Argos, where she was a 10-time team captain and a three-time Team Ontario Selects.

Kristine Walker, the current strength and conditioning coordinator at Western University. She has worked with over 500 varsity athletes from a wide variety of sports, including football. Walker has also assisted the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) camp and Gary Roberts High Performance Training.
https://usports.ca/en/sports/football/m/news/2019/02/3439282887/u-sports-cfl-to-send-four-canadians-to-nfl-women-careers-in-football-forum

[jerrym]

Emilie Halle discusses below some of the problems women face in playing a non-traditional female sport.

https://www.cfl.ca/2019/03/29/oleary-womens-tackle-football-aiming-level-playing-field/

[jerrym]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">History in the making.<a href="https://twitter.com/StMarkOCSB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@StMarkOCSB</a> held the first all girls tackle 🏈 game at <a href="https://twitter.com/TD_Place?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@TD_Place</a> with help from <a href="https://twitter.com/FoundationOSEG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoundationOSEG</a> and two special guest coaches.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RNation?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RNation</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RCommunity?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RCommunity</a> <a href="https://t.co/8mYhRHYwlu">pic.twitter.com/8mYhRHYwlu</a></p>&mdash; Ottawa REDBLACKS (@REDBLACKS) <a href="https://twitter.com/REDBLACKS/status/1123009202979528704?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2019</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

[jerrym]

The Western Women's Canadian Football League, which plays Canadian rules, started its 2019 season on the May 4-5 weekend with four games involving all eight teams in the league. Below is a video report on the Lethbridge Steel team, which has been in the league for ten years.

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/science/lethbridge-steel-looking-for-redemption-as-wwcfl-season-kicks-off/vi-AAARwUM

[jerrym]

The Prince Edward Island Island Demons has joined the existing four teams of the Maritime Women's Football League for the 2019 season. The other four teams are the Halifax Xplosion, Moncton Vipers, Capital Area Lady Gladiators and St. John Storm. The league began the 2019 season last weekend.


https://scontent.fyvr4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/c0.51.200.200a/p200x200/49800290_2143227775759219_7535080981900820480_n.jp g?_nc_cat=102&_nc_ht=scontent.fyvr4-1.fna&oh=bc840ebcdc92a641ad65906ea2c86472&oe=5D76BEAD

https://www.theguardian.pe.ca/sports/football/island-demons-bring-womens-football-to-prince-edward-island-306032/

[jerrym]

If the five team Maritime Women's Football League and the eight team Western Women's Football League are able to start up and continue operating since 2004 and 2011 respectively, why can't a women's league get going in central Canada?

[jerrym]

The Saskatoon Valkyries defeated the Regina Riot on June 29th to win the Western Women's Canadian Football League title with Sam Matheson rushing for 176 yards.

https://leaderpost.com/sports/football/saskatoon-valkyries-win-western-womens-canadian-football-league-title

[jerrym]

The Halifax Xplosion beat St. John Storm 15-7 to win the championship game of the Maritime Women's Football League.

[jerrym]

Montreal Alouette HC Danny Macocia and others argue that U Sports schools should start offering women's flag football as a sport. The NAIA has already started it.



Danny Maciocia believes U Sports schools should begin offering Women’s Flag Football as an athletic program. TSN 690 host Moe Khan tweeted Tuesday (https://twitter.com/MoeKhan19/status/1277992837540466689?s=20) that he “still cannot believe that U Sports has yet to introduce Women’s Flag Football. So many CEGEPs and high schools are playing across Canada”. The Grey Cup and Vanier Cup winning coach-turned-GM responded in kind.

“Totally agree! Would be great initiative, lots of talent available,” Maciocia tweeted (https://twitter.com/dmaccoach/status/1277996721688231937?s=20).

The discussion came on the heels of Women’s Flag Football earning emerging status in NAIA, a small school collegiate sports organization in the United States, with more than 15 schools signed up to play an inaugural season as part of an NFL initiative. Canadian schools have a long history of association with the NAIA, with the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria hold full membership status in both organizations.

Women’s football has grown in recent years at both the flag and tackle level, with Canada fielding competitive teams internationally in both categories. Last year, eight women’s flag teams from across the country competed in the Canadian Flag Football League National Championships in Regina after first advancing from their regional tournaments.
https://3downnation.com/2020/06/30/alouettes-gm-danny-maciocia-supports-call-for-womens-flag-football-at-the-u-sports-level/

[jerrym]

Emmarae Dale who played for the Saskatoon Valkyries in the Western Women's Canadian Football League has signed with the Saskatoon Hilltops of the Canadian Junior Football League, becoming the first women to do so.



Emmarae Dale, a linebacker who helped the Saskatoon Valkyries win a pair of Western Women’s Canadian Football League (WWCFL) titles in 2016 and 2019, is the first female football player to join the Hilltops roster. She is also believed to be the first female player in the Canadian Junior Football League’s storied history.

“It’s definitely pretty surreal,” Dale said before the Toppers’ practice on Tuesday night. “Yeah, it’s still hitting me, I guess. I’ve known about it for a while and it’s been in motion for a few months now, but I guess now that it’s brought to light, it’s definitely hitting me all over again that this is happening. “It still just kind of feels like it’s a dream.”

Hilltops defensive coordinator Jeff Yausie, as a former Valkyries head coach, got to see Dale first-hand in the WWCFL. ....

“Nothing’s token about this,” Yausie stressed. “We’re not doing this for any (publicity). She’s very talented. “Last week was sort of the first time we saw her on the field with our guys and, to me, she fits right in and does not look out of place at all.”

When Yausie coached the Valkyries, Dale was still young and raw. “But to see her grow up and dominate at that level, we kind of had this idea, Tom (Sargeant) and I, in the winter,” added Yausie, noting that Dale was invited to their winter workouts before the COVID-19 pandemic put a stop to everything. When the Hilltops returned to the field last week after a pandemic pause (https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/saskatoon-hilltops/after-a-pandemic-pause-saskatoon-hilltops-resume-training-with-covid-19-restrictions/wcm/058621bb-daa0-4bc8-b92b-04edc30ba08f/), Dale was among those to show up.

“She’s unique,” said Yausie, a former CFL player. “What sets her apart is she’s very strong and she’s a great athlete. I was able to watch her with the bag drill with our linebackers. She is at the same level or perhaps a little bit quicker than some of the players.
https://thestarphoenix.com/sports/local-sports/saskatoon-hilltops/emmarae-dale-becomes-first-female-player-on-saskatoon-hilltops-roster

[jerrym]

Sarah Fuller today became the first woman to appear in a Power Five football game.



Vanderbilt (https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/VANDY/vanderbilt-commodores/) kicker Sarah Fuller made history on Saturday when she kicked off at the start of the second half against Missouri (https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/MIZZOU/missouri-tigers/), making her the first woman to play a snap in a Power Five college football (https://www.cbssports.com/college-football) game. Fuller, a starting goalkeeper on the Commodores' SEC championship women's soccer team, joined the football program this week after Vanderbilt lost multiple specialists due to COVID-19 issues.

Fuller's squib kick was recovered by Missouri at its own 35-yard line.

"I just want to tell all the girls out there that you can do anything you set your mind to. You really can. If you have that mentality all the way through, you can do big things," Fuller said after the game, a 41-0 loss for the Commodores.
https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/vanderbilt-kicker-sarah-fuller-makes-history-as-first-woman-to-play-in-a-power-five-college-football-game/

[jerrym]

A new women's league called the Central Canada Women's Football League (CCWFL) is scheduled to start playing in Ontario and Quebec in 2022.



Football Quebec and Football Ontario have joined the movement Les Reines Football, created in November 2020, to create the first inter-provincial women’s football league in the eastern part of the country.

The Central Canada Women Football League (CCWFL) has launched with the objective of empowering all women to participate in football in a competitive and safe environment, regardless of the role. More than 50 women answered Les Reines’ call at their launch in February and more than 100 women have already expressed their interest in playing in the CCWFL even before its launch. Extending Les Reines’ existing reach to new regions, the CCWFL is confident to have their first competitive season in 2022.

The league currently has two teams: the Montreal Blitz and the Ottawa-Gatineau Capital Rebels. By the first season, the CCWFL’s objective would be to develop four new teams in Quebec City, Toronto, Sudbury and Sault Ste. Marie.

According to the CCWFL website, the Blitz will be coached by Larry Ghio, who worked as a scout for the Edmonton Elks from 2010 to 2012.

The association of the two provincial sports organizations is accelerating the pace towards the development of women in football in these two provinces.


“The association of Football Quebec and Football Ontario is a key element of this project of which we are very proud,” underlines Andréanne Dupont-Parent, founder of the movement Les Reines Football and now commissioner of this new league.


For Mathieu Joyal, General Manager of Football Quebec, this union reiterates the importance “of developing the women’s aspect in football in order to create an environment open to everyone, all passionate of the same discipline.”

Les Reines Football movement was launched by Andréanne Dupont-Parent, a former football player with the Montreal Blitz, in the midst of the pandemic to create a supportive community promoting accessibility to football for young girls and women.



https://www.americanfootballinternational.com/central-canada-women-football-league-launches-planning-2022-season/

[Mocha]

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I was just going to post this in response to the positive news about the CCWFL.

It's great to see the growth of the game for women. I hope some of the initiatives being discussed to get more indigenous youth involved will succeed as well.

Here's another article about amateur women's tackle football in the Ottawa area:

https://ottawasun.com/sports/football/cumberland-panthers-will-start-the-first-all-girls-tackle-football-program<iframe scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.06c6ee58c3810956b7509218508c7b56.htm l?origin=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.argofans.com" title="Twitter settings iframe" style="display: none;"></iframe><iframe id="rufous-sandbox" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 0px; height: 0px; padding: 0px; border: none;" title="Twitter analytics iframe"></iframe>

[AngeloV]

I know I've said it before, but as someone that played a lot of touch football after my contact playing days were done, I have seen some very talented female ballers out there, especially in touch football Ontario tournaments. I think it's great that they are growing the game form a female perspective.

[jerrym]

The commissioner, Andreanne Dupont-Parent, of the Central Canada Women's Football League (CCWFL) which plans to start in 2022 with six teams, including one in Toronto, comments on the league below.



Andreanne Dupont-Parent is the commissioner of the CCWFL. She’ll spend the next year gearing up for the on-field action to kick off and will be talking with stakeholders in different regions as they build and grow their teams.

“I’m mostly very excited that things are coming together and that different people from both Quebec and Ontario are willing to work together to make this work because it’s long-awaited,” she said from her home in Montreal. “I’m just very excited for the future of senior women’s tackle football in central Canada, that has been mostly non-existent in a structured way in Canada. So it’s big shoes to fill, but like in any team, it’s teamwork. I’m relying on amazing people and hope to keep building, like a great team so that we can spread the word about this project.” ...

Women’s tackle football has steadily grown across the country over the last decade or so. There’s the Western Women’s Canadian Football League, which has teams in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. In Atlantic Canada, there’s the Maritime Women’s Football League, which has teams in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

While there’s been dedicated interest in the women’s game in Ontario and Quebec — the Blitz has played against American teams since its inception in 2001 and Canadian players close to the U.S. border have joined women’s teams in the States — this will mark the first time that there will be league play in women’s football between Toronto and Montreal, Canada’s two biggest cities.

Dupont-Parent played for the Blitz and for many years that’s just the way that women played tackle football, so that lack of a Toronto-Montreal involvement didn’t seem as strange to her. Over the last year, with border restrictions and time to think about where she’d like to see the game go, that feeling changed. “In big markets like Toronto and Montreal — and Ontario and Quebec are big football provinces — it made no sense that it had been left on the side and not picked up by any federation or any local clubs,” she said.

The group’s communications and media relations manager Maelle Benoit says that over 50 women have expressed interest in Les Reines since Dupont-Parent held a virtual clinic in February and more than 100 have already inquired about playing in the CCWFL. While that’s great grassroots buzz, this consortium of football-loving women feels like it can be just the start of an explosive growth of the game in the country’s most populous regions.

https://www.cfl.ca/2021/06/21/oleary-organizers-see-world-opportunity-w-womens-league/