AFA PRESIDENT URGES SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS and POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION’S MEMBERSHIP “GAME PLAN 2006”

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AFA PRESIDENT URGES SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL LEAGUE COMMISSIONERS and POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT DIRECTORS TO SUPPORT THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION’S MEMBERSHIP “GAME PLAN 2006”

While the current semi-pro football season winds down with the playing of several postseason tournaments and bowl games across the country, the American Football Association is busy preparing its membership “Game Plan 2006”. In a phone survey taken by the AFA recently the question was asked “What are the 3 most important benefits the national association should provide for its member teams?”

Number One – the answer was that all member teams be allowed to be power-rated by the AFA, not just those belonging to leagues having 100% of their league teams as AFA members. The national association is expected to do away with the associate membership category in 2006 and include ‘all’ member teams in the weekly in-season ‘power-rating’ next year…… regardless of what league they play in.

Number Two - the AFA should work with independent semi-pro football
tournament promoters (such as the National Football Events, Eastern Football Alliance, Harvest Bowl, USFA, West Coast Championship Alliance, etc.) to develop meaningful ‘post-season’ regional tournaments and season ending ‘Bowl Games’ allowing those teams wanting to travel or host extra games at the end of their regular season to do so with bowl game wins counting for points toward the AFA’s Annual National Championship Title.

Number Three - they want a reliable 12 month spectator liability insurance program that allows team owners to obtain an additional ‘certificate of insurance’ should they need to change playing venues during the season and/or be able to switch to new playing sites prior to the start of a new season without a lot of red tape from the insurance company. The AFA’s insurance plan through Sadler & Company does that already.

While there were other suggestions - such as marketing the total number of semi-pro teams across the country (720 teams in 65 different leagues) in order to develop purchasing power with football equipment manufacturers and associated product companies for special pricing and/or team discounts; getting more recognition for players; providing access to player hospitalization plans; and providing additional opportunities for veteran footballers in each of the AFA’s 8 regional areas to be nominated for induction into the AFA’s Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame ……… the AFA hopes to incorporate all of the above, and more, into its membership “Game Plan 2006” thus providing additional services to member teams from coast-to-coast.

In an effort to further the progress of semi-pro football in the United
States the AFA is asking for early cooperation of league commissioners,
organization presidents, team owners, head coaches and in general – anyone else that promotes the semi-pro level of the sport in their football communities.

The AFA National Semi-Pro Football Association has scheduled its annual
winter board meeting for February in Sarasota, Florida. While the AFA directors will address ways of implementing items contained in their soon to be released membership “Game Plan 2006” - they will also provide time to discuss issues of common importance to the future growth of the AFA national organization.

In addition to the winter directors meeting that weekend, the AFA Hall of Fame nominating committee, made up of one member from each of the AFA’s 8 regional areas, will submit to the AFA executive committee the names and informational profiles of those candidates they suggest as individuals from their region who should be considered for enshrinement into the AFA’s Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame. The selection committee will announce the names of the “Class of 2006” by the conclusion of the 4 day AFA winter meeting in Sarasota. The 2006 Hall of Fame Induction Dinner is schedule to take place the first week in June at a venue in the Midwest.

During the Semi-Pro Football Alumni Club breakfast business meeting the AFA will present their annual “Gold Ball Awards” to the outstanding football performers during the 2005 season as well as present the AFA’s National Championship flags to the association’s number one team in all 3 divisional categories - AAA-AA-A.

Also, the names of each player on the 2005 AFA National Championship ‘triple A’ team will have their names engraved on the AFA’s 26 year old Arthur S. Arkush Memorial Cup. Currently there are 1277 names engraved on the Arkush Cup.

It’s semi-pro football’s answer to ice hockey’s Stanley Cup.

As a kickoff for the membership “Game Plan 2006” program, the AFA is asking for league commissioners and league presidents to publicly pledge the support of their leagues to the AFA for the coming season by requesting AFA team membership applications for each of the teams in their respective leagues.

Several leagues have already made AFA membership for the coming year mandatory for all their teams and have incorporated the $100 per team AFA membership fee right into their league’s annual membership dues.

If you are interested in obtaining 2006 membership applications for your team or for other teams in your league, contact the AFA membership committee at AFAmember@aol.com. Be sure to leave your name, team name, league name, phone number and home mailing address.

About the American Football Association:
The AFA is dedicated to the advancement of semi-pro/minor league football throughout the United States and serves as the National Organization for non-professional leagues and teams from coast-to-coast. For more information about the AFA, please visit their Web site: www.americanfootballassn.com.

Contact: Dave Burch, Director of Communications, American Football Association, 877-624-4485 or amerfoot@aol.com

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