The LFL is currently perhaps the most attractive competition in the world, which above all, enjoys great popularity among the male population.
The origin of LFL (Lingerie Football League)
The concept of scantily clad girls playing this somewhat badass sport was introduced at the 2004 Superbowl under the name Lingerie Bowl.
It was an event that could be seen at halftime only in the United States under the figure of “pay-per-view” as an alternative entertainment to traditional halftime.
Such was the success of seeing beautiful women play practically in lingerie that a formal league went by the Lingerie Football League’s name. It began its inaugural season in September 2009. Mitch Mortaza is the founder of the league.
In 2013, the league changed its name, and today we know it as the Legends Football League whose administrative offices are in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The equipment
These girls’ equipment when playing is protection for shoulders, elbows, knees, and helmets similar to those used in ice hockey.
The LFL Rules
Don’t worry if you don’t know the rules of women’s football. We assume that after the Super Bowl, you want to know how football is played. But first, you must bear in mind that there are also female players and that there is a female competition that takes place that same day: the Lingerie Football League.
There are two modalities: the tackle, which allows contact and has 11 players on each team; and flag football, which stops play by removing a ribbon from a player from the opposing team, there are four to twelve members in each group and no helmets or shoulder pads are used.
Taking as a model the style of play of the Lingerie Football League, we will explain women’s football regulations:
- Annotations
A team has four chances to score in the opposing zone. To be valid, the player must pass the line that limits the space to score points. That is known in American football as a touchdown.
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- Conversion of two points
In women’s football, this play is allowed. After scoring, the team can be near the opposing end zone to score for a second time.
- Game time
The game is divided into four ten-minute quarters and a 12-minute halftime. What is peculiar about these quarters is that they only run when the play is on. Every time there is a touchdown, foul or other inconvenience, the clock stops. Also, there is an additional 8 minute sudden-death period in the event of a tie.
- The team
Each of the groups must have eleven players. It is divided into three positions:
Offensive, which are the ones that can score
Defensive, position to prevent the other team from scoring
Special teams, which kick the ball at specific and specific moments
- Yards
The court is divided five times from the middle to each end. There is an identification every ten yards: it goes from 0 to 50. The end zone is at the ends, after 0.
- Prohibitions
Unlike men’s football, certain moves are not allowed. That is the case with the field goal, one of the few movements with the foot, which will enable you to score points. The use of so-called punt kicks where the ball must not touch the ground is also not allowed. In Lingerie Football League matches, the kickoff is also not allowed in the women’s soccer regulations, given the ball in the hands.
These were some basic rules of women’s football. We hope that you will understand a little more about this fascinating sporting technique the next time you attend a game or watch it on television.
Women and American Football: A History
The history of women’s American football dates back to the 1960s when feminist movements were frequent and intense. The idea arose as a desire to establish something new and rebellious, something that would dispel prejudices about women at the time.
The history of women’s American football is not as mysterious, famous, and rich as the NFL. Still, it certainly has great significance, and we (women) should talk about such a history with great pride.
For the first time, in 1962, Frankford Yellow Jackets women appeared at halftime to entertain the masses. For the next 39 years, women’s football did not officially exist. There are attempts, but most do not approve and do not support them, so these attempts fail.
The first ideas and the beginning of a project appeared in 1965. Agent Sid Friedman gathered talents and began to form a professional women’s league. I started with two teams. Later, the Women’s Professional Football League also includes its teams, such as Bowling Green, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Dayton, Pittsburgh, and Toledo.
In 1970, a woman named Patricia Barzi Palinkas was the first to step on the “men’s” field and play first. Realizing soon that the WPFL would disappear, she worked to create and survive the National Women’s Football League (NWFL). It included teams from the Dallas Bluebonnets, Fort Worth Shamrocks, Columbus Pacesetters, Toledo Troopers, Los Angeles Dandelions, California Mustangs, and Detroit Demons. It was amazing how much success that league achieved! In her first year, Linda Jefferson was already running back, won yards for the Troopers team, and became incredibly famous for her abilities. Her football career will forever be remembered, including 1000 consecutively searched yards, and 4th place on ABC’s Women’s Superstars.
In 1976, the NWFL was divided into three parts: East, South, and West. In the eastern region were the teams: Columbus Pacesetters, Detroit Demons, Philadelphia Queen Bees, Middletown (OH) Mustangs, and Toledo Troopers. In the southern part, the teams played: Oklahoma City Dolls, Houston Hurricanes, Dallas-Ft, Worth Shamrocks, San Antonio Flames, and Tulsa Babes. Groups also adorned the western part: Los Angeles Dandelions, California Mustangs, San Diego Lobos, and Pasadena Roses.
From 1971 to 1976, the Troopers team was convincingly invincible and first on the list. They achieved remarkable results. Despite everything, the management of the NWFL is slowly falling apart; Russel l Molzahn, the owner of the Dandelions team, decided to found a league called the Western States Women’s Professional Football League (WSWPFL). The groups involved in this league are part of the team from the southern part of the NWFL, and the new groups are Hollywood Stars, American Girls, Phoenix Cowgirls, Tucson Wild Kittens, Long Beach Queens, Cowgirls…
Both leagues had difficulties in financial problems, which was expected so that in the period from 1980 to 1998, there were no significant changes. It was only in 1998 that collaborations were launched, and everything started at a faster pace, hence the slogan that is remembered today: “Women… It Is Time That We Get A Chance At This Game!”.
In 1999, business partners Terry Sullivan and Carter Turner launched the Women’s Professional Football League (WPFL). By presenting the newly formed teams, they attracted the most talented women in the country and started something phenomenal and compelling. Their thought was, “SUCCEED WHERE OTHERS DID NOT!” Such a strong desire to make the dream of many women came true, and at that moment, it was to play on the field! It was so huge that women now come three times a year to participate in seminars and absorb knowledge. There will be no less than 700 women at these seminars, and each of them is grateful to the women who fought so that today they can sit where they sit and hear about football.
Uniforms
The original Football League underwear uniforms consisted of a sports bra and underwear that were more revealing than protective. The uniforms had lace and ribbons, and the athletes all had to wear garters.
The uniforms have received much criticism for their revealing nature. In one famous article, Sarah Spain, the co-host, wrote: “After watching these women play, I can honestly say that I respect the heck of them as athletes, but I still won’t appreciate this Lingerie league or however it is called. ”
Some players have responded ambivalently or positively to the uniforms. One was quoted saying, “I just appreciate playing soccer, I don’t care what they assigned me,” and another in favor of limited clothing, saying: “It’s more comfortable than this.” Comparable surface players with experience in track and field competitions have pointed out that the typical LFL uniform is similar to other uniforms. Elizabeth Govrick of the Minnesota Valkyrie stated that “the track worked and I was wearing, you know, stuff if not close to almost less than what I’m wearing out on the soccer field. Whether you take volleyball or other sports, it’s pretty much the same. “Adrian Purnell of the Jacksonville Breeze says the suits are for marketing purposes only. Heather Furr, a quarterback for Chicago Bliss, said, “I think with the girls watching the game … if they can see beyond the uniform and see us as role models, then that’s what I want.” Abbie Sullivan of Crush Cleveland stated, “Just because we play in the LFL does not mean we promote promiscuity. We are smart women. We are athletes who take care of our bodies. We are the total package.”
Similarly, Crush Toledo player Marija Condric stated: “Everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Sit back and watch. You will forget what we are wearing, and you will be thinking about how hard that girl has been hit in the last move”.
Other players are expressed as viewing uniforms as a necessary evil, with one saying, “Maybe one day, girls won’t have to wear underwear to get people interested [in women’s soccer].” Liz Gorman, a player with the Jacksonville Breeze, stated that she prefers to wear a conventional uniform. She also indicated that the league is likely to switch to traditional uniforms in the future: “You look back at basketball, you used to wear skirts. It has changed; they have the WNBA now. So women’s sport has continuously evolved. and I think this sports league is going to end up changing the uniform. ”
Along with the league’s rebrand in 2013, the club decided to change uniforms. The association felt like the uniforms were too heavy on sex appeal, and these uniforms are traded for “performance wear.” While the US was left with the old uniforms for the 2013 season, minus the ribbons and leagues, LFL Australia’s debut season in early 2014 marked the new “performance wear” uniforms. The new uniforms resemble volleyball players’ uniforms, replacing the ribbons with the shoelaces.
The new uniforms made their debut in the US for the 2014 season. In addition to the shoelaces, the United States uniforms feature brighter and more vibrant colors for teams. The white uniforms have been mostly replaced, with the two home teams sporting what could be considered home away and color uniforms. White uniforms returned for the 2015 season, but only for specific groups.
In partnership with Sleefs, the LFL announced new uniforms with new colors for the 2016 season. Numbers and logos are now printed on the uniform rather than having been previously stitched on. Additionally, the league also announced that teams would have the option of black alternates.
The league announced that CandlenCaleb would become the new uniform supplier for the LFL beginning in the 2017 season. In the announcement, the club announced that the uniforms for the final home games from the 2017 season would include long pants instead of the regular bikini bottom for the first time in the league’s history. The new uniforms still lack the leg, hip, or chest padding, and include the existing bra and shoulder pad combo. The uniforms debuted as standard equipment at the beginning of the 2018 season. While the league, some players, and many fans were satisfied with the change, other more vocal fans and players were not, prompting the club to change the uniforms. The shorts, which look more similar to indoor volleyball shorts, are 2-3 inches longer than the original bikini bottoms. Some players have already worn athletic shorts underneath for added protection.
Safety measures
Source: abcnews.go.com
Former underwear soccer player Nikki Johnson was one of many players who suffered multiple injuries. Those were injuries from hard blows, and she also had a broken wrist and had to go to surgery. Like many other players, she believes that the club gave very little protection to women, providing them with soft shoulder pads and soft helmets. Due to the lack of coverage around the torso, arms, and legs, they can sustain scratches and bruises very easily.
As part of the overhaul and rebranding, LFL and partner Rawlings changed the shoulder pads to be more protective, including a hard plastic shell to cover the shoulders. Additionally, the helmets were given more padding on the inside, intended to come out and warn the coach of a blow to the head, regardless of the players saying they are fine. It will put a system in which, if a player goes out of action with a head injury, they must pass a physical and mental test before returning.
At the beginning of the 2014 US season, Bauer unveiled new LFL helmets, designed with a more hardened outer shell and more padding than the MCP helmets used the last four years.
The shoulder pads were redesigned again for the 2014 season, with more padding given to the shoulders, and a thicker plate was given to the chest pad. They also introduced new sturdy elbow and knee pads, in addition to the new gloves designed by the Gloves champion, replacing Cutters as the official glove leagues.
Teams
| Team | City | Venue | First season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Empire | Duluth, Georgia | Infinite Energy Arena | 2020 |
| Austin Sound | Cedar Park, Texas | H-E-B Center | |
| Chicago Blitz | Bridgeview, Illinois | SeatGeek Stadium | |
| Denver Rush | Denver, Colorado | Denver Coliseum | |
| Kansas City Force | Independence, Missouri | Cable Dahmer Arena | |
| Los Angeles Black Storm | Ontario, California | Toyota Arena | |
| Omaha Red Devils | Ralston, Nebraska | Ralston Arena | |
| Seattle Thunder | Kent, Washington | ShoWare Center |
Former teams
LFL US
| Team | City | Venue | First season | Last season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Steam | Duluth, Georgia | Infinite Energy Arena | 2013 | 2019 |
| Austin Acoustic | Cedar Park, Texas | H-E-B Center | 2016 | 2019 |
| Baltimore Charm | Baltimore, Maryland | Royal Farms Arena | 2010–11 | 2014 |
| Chicago Bliss | Hoffman Estates, Illinois Bridgeview, Illinois | Sears Centre Arena SeatGeek Stadium | 2009–10 | 2019 |
| Cleveland Crush | Cleveland, Ohio | Quicken Loans Arena | 2011–12 | 2013 |
| Dallas Desire | Grand Prairie, Texas Dallas, Texas | QuikTrip Park Cotton Bowl | 2009–10 | 2010–11 |
| Frisco, Texas | Dr Pepper Arena | 2016 | ||
| Denver Dream | Commerce City, Colorado | Dick’s Sporting Goods Park | 2009–10 | |
| Loveland, Colorado | Budweiser Events Center | 2017 | 2019 | |
| Green Bay Chill | Green Bay, Wisconsin Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Resch Center U.S. Cellular Arena | 2011–12 | 2014 |
| Jacksonville Breeze | Jacksonville, Florida | Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena | 2013 | 2014 |
| Las Vegas Sin | Las Vegas, Nevada Ontario, California | Orleans Arena Thomas & Mack Center Citizens Business Bank Arena | 2011–12 | 2015 |
| Los Angeles Temptation | Los Angeles, California Ontario, California | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena Toyota Arena | 2009–10 | 2019 |
| Miami Caliente | Sunrise, Florida Miami, Florida | BankAtlantic Center FIU Stadium | 2009–10 | 2010–11 |
| Minnesota Valkyrie | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Target Center | 2011–12 | 2013 |
| Nashville Knights | Nashville, Tennessee | Nashville Municipal Auditorium | 2018 | 2019 |
| New England Liberty | Manchester, New Hampshire | Verizon Wireless Arena | 2016 | |
| New York Majesty | Reading, Pennsylvania | Sovereign Center | 2009–10 | |
| Omaha Heart | Ralston, Nebraska | Ralston Arena | 2013 | 2019 |
| Orlando Fantasy | Orlando, Florida | UCF Arena Florida Citrus Bowl | 2010–11 | 2011–12 |
| Philadelphia Passion | Trenton, New Jersey Chester, Pennsylvania | Sun National Bank Center PPL Park | 2009–10 | 2013 |
| Pittsburgh Rebellion | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Highmark Stadium | 2017 | |
| San Diego Seduction | San Diego, California | San Diego Sports Arena | 2009–10 | 2010–11 |
| Seattle Mist | Kent, Washington | ShoWare Center | 2009–10 | 2019 |
| Tampa Breeze | Tampa, Florida | Tampa Bay Times Forum | 2009–10 | 2011–12 |
| Toledo Crush | Toledo, Ohio | Huntington Center | 2014 | |
| Toronto Triumph | Toronto, Ontario | Ricoh Coliseum | 2011–12 | |
| Never played | ||||
| Team | City | Venue | Stated to debut | |
| Arizona Scorch | Scottsdale, Arizona | |||
| San Francisco Seduction | San Francisco, California | Cow Palace | 2009 | |
| St. Louis Saints | St. Charles, Missouri | Family Arena | 2013 | |
| Washington Warriorettes | Washington, D.C. | Capital One Arena | 2016 |
LFL Canada
| Team | City | Venue | Operated |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Angels | Abbotsford, British Columbia | Abbotsford Entertainment & Sports Centre | 2012 |
| Regina Rage | Regina, Saskatchewan | Brandt Centre | 2012 |
| Saskatoon Sirens | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Credit Union Centre | 2012 |
| Toronto Triumph | Mississauga, Ontario | Hershey Centre | 2012 |
| Never played | |||
| Team | City | Venue | Stated to debut |
| Calgary Fillies | Calgary, Alberta | Stampede Corral | 2013 |
LFL Australia
| Team | City | Venue | Joined |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales Surge | Sydney | Centrebet Stadium | 2013–14 |
| Queensland Brigade | Gold Coast | Skilled Park | 2013–14 |
| Victoria Maidens | Melbourne | AAMI Park | 2013–14 |
| Western Australia Angels | Perth | nib Stadium | 2013–14 |
| Never played | |||
| Team | City | Venue | Stated to debut |
| Adelaide Arsenal | Adelaide | Coopers Stadium | 2014–15 |
