MEET THE PRESIDENT OF THE IWFFA

DIANE BERULDSEN

The International Women's Flag Football Association was founded by Diane Beruldsen. Diane realized that by facilitating the unification of the women's and girls leagues, teams and players, the sport of flag football would become one of the premier elements in the women's movement as we enter the next millenium. With the advent of Title IX, the ground-breaking federal legislation that opened the world of athletics to women, new generations of young girls and women are benefiting from the physical and spiritual empowerment of the sports in ways the world has never known before. Diane Beruldsen had dedicated her life to bringing the sport of football, rich in opportunities for developing confidence, leadership and decision making skills, character, and physical conditioning into women's lives. Asked why she has dedicated her life to flag football Beruldsen replied " This sport, flag football, is unlike any other sport for women. There is blocking, running, throwing, catching, flag grabbing, and more that allows a diverse group of girls or women onto the field to compete on the same team, allowing for such a mix of personalities, skills to allow a special kind of bonding. Every player, on each team, at every moment of the game is "in the game" and part of the play (not like standing out in right field - softball and waiting for the ball to come to you). The contact in our rules, strategy plus the skills that are learned, allow players to take these "life skills" off the field to better compete with the men in the business, political and social worlds so that we may finaly have female influence in world affairs. And besides all this...... it's a fun game!".


The Stuff Diane Wouldn't Tell You About Herself
Diane has been traveling North America and Europe since 1995 promoting the game of flag football for females. Coordinating flag football tournaments and clinics for girls and women has taken Diane hundreds of thousands of miles around the world. Living largely out of her truck, an eye catching billboard on wheels for the IWFFA, Diane is an inspiration. Always on the road, frequently working through the night, and hoping to someday see a return on the life savings she has invested in the IWFFA, she is living the American dream. Diane is one of the most charismatic and engaging persons one could ever hope to meet. A fast-talking, quick-thinking and brash New Yorker, Diane is entertaining as much as inspiring. Those who are lucky enough to catch a moment alone with her find her thoughtful and warm. Her love for the game itself is ever apparent. Her passion, the thing that allowed her to sleep in her truck (the mermaid mobil) night after night, living on coffee and quick cheap bites of food, is in the potential that she sees for future generations of women and girls in the game of flag football. Conducting the IWFFA's biggest promotional tour of the United States in 1999, she traveled with two European women (apprentices for Europe) in a 33 foot RV. She towed her mermaid mobil (which has over 210 000 miles on it) cooks healthy food and sleeped more comfortably. In 2000, Diane traveled for six months to the Nordic Region: Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland to introduce the sport where it did not exist (exception Finland), and has since, created the Nordic Region for Girls and Women's Flag Football. Each year, she travels to expand the sport, bringing more and more players,teams, leagues under the umbrella of the IWFFA. Her endless work for the Kelly McGillis Classic, in Key West, Fl. USA in February, has brought more international teams and is the largest women's flag football tournament in the world....... besides bringing in Kelly herself, who endorses this huge event and is featured in the IWFFA's Promotional Video which highlights the best of women's flag football and is action packed. Updates on her promotions can be found on this website, under promotional tours. You can also read more about Diane in the section: Diane's Journal.
Diane Beruldsen is a role model, hero and inspiration for young people around the world. Check out the chapter about Diane in Sally Jenkins book: Men Will Be Boys (see photo) . 


FOR SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS AND INTERVIEWS CALL 1-888-GO-IWFFA
OR EMAIL DIANE HERE