In 1999, two businessmen decided to start the Women's Professional Football League. They started the league becuase they thought the sport would be perfect for today's market. The league started out with only two teams, but has expanded quite a bit since the first years.Unfortunately, due to most of the teams moving to other leagues, such as the National Women's Football Association and the Independent Women's Football League, the original league is in jeopardy. Unless the league is able to get more teams they are going to have difficulty keeping it going especially since there are other football leagues that teams can choose from. The WPFL now only has two teams left and more than likely, those teams will move to another league for the 2009 season.
Another reason why the league has trouble surviving is that women are only paid a small amount of money to play and most have jobs away from the football field. Trying to maintain a full time job, as well as trying to find time to compete makes it very difficult for the league to survive. This is a problem that pertains to all of women's professional sports.
The IWFL offers players incentives and a chance to earn performance bonuses in an effort to offset the fact that professional women athletes just don't make alot of money. The league offers 16 cash prizes totaling $13,500 in the following categories:
Pre Season (Prizes will be awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place)
Bench Press (max reps of 150 lbs) – All Registered Players
40 Yard Dash – All Registered Players
Regular Season (Prizes will be awarded to all players that meet the set goal in each category)
Offense
Total Touchdowns – Prize: $1000
Total Rushing - Prize: $1000
Total Receptions - Prize: $1000
Quarterback Accuracy - Prize: $1000
Sacks allowed (this is a group bonus for the O Line) - Prize: $1000
Defense
Total Interceptions - Prize: $1000
Total Sacks - Prize: $1000
Total Tackles - Prize: $1000
Special Teams
Extra Point Accuracy - Prize: $1000
Field Goal Accuracy - Prize: $1000
The WPFL has opened many doors for women's sports in general and has proven that women can play any sports that men can. It has lasted almost a decade and although it hasn't officially shut down, things are not looking good for the women's football league that started it all. If you think about it, most sports were very sexist (some still are) and 40 years ago there were very few women athletes because of the sexism. All of the
leagues are full contact and the women play the sport just like men do. If you love watching the hard hitting action of the NFL, you should check out the action of women's football. They can hit just as hard. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UzVGW5-0u4.
I actually saw a womens football game once - I was pretty impressed with the skill and athleticism. They were more exciting to watch then the NFL. Probably because they were actually playing and not too scared to get hurt and loose their multimillion dollar contracts.
ReplyDeleteHi Kim!
ReplyDeleteI told you that I would take a peek at your blog. You floored me here. I have heard of the WNBA, but I had no idea that women had their own football league. Is it full contact? I know, I know, you're gonna slap me.
By the way, how did you get those pics on the side? I like the way your blog looks. The colors are nice and it's easy to read.
See you!
Sandi