Over the last couple of years a number of clubs have started developing a Co-Ed Recreational version of Australian football. This game goes under various names around USFooty, including Ausball (www.ausball.com), Aussie Ball, or just Co-Ed Footy.

In some cases, like Dallas, their Touch Footy (OZ Ball) competition is not co-ed, but the Baltimore Washington Eagles, the Denver Bulldogs and the San Diego Lions all run co-ed competitions. In Baltimore/Washington there are two leagues. In Baltimore, Denis Ryan, runs a very successful Ausball league for profit, while in Washington, the Eagles run a not-for-profit league.

(PHOTO: San Diego co-ed footy player looks for options.)

For the most part, USFooty clubs are using the game as an introduction to Australian football for both potential players (in the Mens and Womens teams) and spectators/supporters for the regional and local league games. According to Eagles Ausball Coordinator Greg Borchardt, "The benefit to promoting Ausball is that co-ed recreational footy is more accessible to a wider range of participants. It is an easier sport to promote to newcomers who might be wary of full contact or are looking for a fun, athletically challenging alternative to soccer or softball. We've also had success incorporating Ausball players into our men's and women's teams. Ausball was instrumental in establishing our club's first ever women's team who competed last year at the National Championships in Louisville. On the men's side, we tell our new players that our club is organized with three levels of footy: Ausball is the first level for developing the fundamental skills, metro is the next level for learning to understand game situations, and EAFL footy is the top level where skills and instincts are required. We've had several new players come through the system starting with ausball and working up to metro and EAFL footy."

Co-ed footy also brings a new demographic to the footy club. San Diego's Jeff Blankman says "Now, we’re getting even more women around! Having a strong female presence brings a different and exciting dynamic to our club. It can be hard to attract people to a club when it is somewhat one-dimensional. There are those of us who, of course, don’t mind spending a lot of time with rough-necked, beer-swilling dudes all the time . . . but I think anyone with sense can understand that that’s not for everyone.

A more well-rounded presence at games and social events just seems to attract more and more people. Besides that, the ladies tell us that one of the great things about playing footy for them is that they have a greater understanding and interest in the game. You should see them at our games now!" San Diego has even started playing interclub co-ed rec footy games. The first of these was on Saturday May 31 2008, when a co-ed rec game against Las Vegas was the curtain-raiser for the league game between the Lions and the Gamblers.

Denis Ryan's approach in Baltimore has been somewhat different. In just its second season, Baltimore's Ausball league has 114 participants. According to Ryan, "I believe within the next 3 - 5 years I will have more people playing Ausball within the Baltimore area alone than there is playing USFooty throughout the country. Along the way I will have built myself a business that will be able to support my family."

Be first to comment this article

Only registered users can write comments.
Please login or register.

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.6
AkoComment © Copyright 2004 by Arthur Konze - www.mamboportal.com
All right reserved