Experience the Excitement!

International Women's Flag Football Association

Officiating

"Our sport needs much more female involvement on every level to truly develop the woman's game to showcase the "female style" of play and the beauty of the female athlete"

 

                                                                                                        - Diane Beruldsen, President and Founder IWFFA

 

 

 

Developing the Women's Game

 

 

Traveling to Denmark in 1997 to introduce our sport in a country where flag football was never heard of before, was most interesting. There, the group of women I trained also never heard or saw "American Tackle Football" (they call soccer.....football). Their sport was soccer, and so catching and throwing the football was a new skill for them. They demonstrated a very distinct style to do this, and at first I thought this style would develop into the typical American female flag football player (whose influence is the men's professional football seen on T.V.). But through the years in Scandinavia, this never changed and if you watch these women's teams who have learned the game from reading our rules, then creating their own plays, understanding of the game, developing their own strategy for the game, even attitude during their play on the field ....... you will notice a true female style for playing flag football. And this is what the IWFFA strives for, because we believe that the woman's game is more exciting to play and watch than the men's game.

 

 

Where the men are stronger and faster than the women, the women use more finesse to play their game and this makes for a much more stimulating game. It is not necessary to "plow down" your defender, but rather more effective in the women's flag football, to be a smarter blocker, by preventing the defender from grabbing your ball carrier's flag, by perhaps placing your body in between these two players, then to proceed downfield (with your ball carrier) to approach your next defender....... using brains, finesse and strategy instead of brute force.

 

 

A Need for Female Officials

 

When male officials officiate football, they do not call every penalty, and I give you an example here:

During tackle games, if an offensive team runs a: "sweep right" play, and there is a "clip, or holding " on the left side of the field, the officials will not call a penalty as it was not "a part of the play". When women play flag football, they understand the game on a different level than men in sports do. In other words, a penalty is a penalty, no matter where it is on the field and if you do not call a penalty made against them, they feel "violated". When male officials officiate our games, they transfer what they know from tackle and bring into our flag football games. During our tournaments and league play, we then have to remind and ask male official's to call every play, no matter where it is no the field. But, when women officiate our games, they internally understand the difference between tackle and flag football and call every penalty, no matter where it is on the field. This female style of officiating, is something the IWFFA wants to develop to better our game and for women to take control of their own sport: flag football (the men have had tackle all these years and is more in their nature to "take down" your opponent, whereas women's flag football, it is more in their nature to "grab the flag".  Finding good officials has always been a sore spot for women's flag football. We have had some great male officials through the years, who show the women respect, take time and care in penalty calling, and who have shown great judgment during our games. But then, there has also been officials who did not show these qualities and instead of being at the mercy of what officials are out there, we need to develop our own to increase the quality of our games and competition.  Players, should become officials to not only further develop our cause, but to learn and understand every aspect of the game to make them better players. When you understand everything about the game: as a player, coach, official and manager, then as a well-rounded participant of our game, you will definitely enhance all those areas, and also become a role model to others not so strong in these areas, who watch you in action (as a player, coach, official or manager).  The IWFFA is a woman's organization, started by women, run by women who want to take control of our game and who wants to address and separate the women's style of play, officiating, coaching and managing for the sake and development of girls and women's' flag football. That is why for year 2005 (and starting with our first official's clinic in Hjorring, Denmark) we offer a circuit of officiating clinics to focus on the issue of female officials, training them and offering them a chance to support their leagues, tournaments and the women's game of flag football.

 

 

 

 

Where are the IWFFA Officiating Clinics

click on the officiating clinic you are interested in to get more information (clinics will be added)