af2 training camps underway
March 13, 2006 - arenafootball2 (af2) News Release
CHICAGO - Teams from arenafootball2, the nation's top developmental Arena Football league, officially open training camp this week in preparation for the league's seventh season, which begins on March 30.
A highlight of this year's preseason schedule includes a special international exhibition between the expansion Everett Hawks and the All-Japan Samurai Warriors. The game will take place on Sunday, March 19 at 5:00 p.m. ET at the Everett Events Center.
The game between the Hawks and the Samurai Warriors will mark the third straight year that a team from Japan takes on an af2 team. The San Diego Riptide (2005) and Louisville Fire (2004) also hosted exhibition contests.
This year's game will be the highlight of a busy week for the Japanese team. Their hosts from Everett have an exciting schedule planned that includes a number of community appearances and sightseeing tours around the region.
In addition to the Hawks, several other teams plan to participate in scrimmages or preseason games prior to opening weekend of the regular season. Scheduled scrimmages/preseason games include:
3/19 - Bakersfield at Central Valley - 9:30 a.m. - Selland Arena
3/23 - Green Bay at Quad City - 7:15 p.m. - OS Field at the MARK of the Quad Cities
3/26 - Tennessee Valley at Birmingham - 2:00 p.m. - SPORTSBLAST Indoor Sports Facility
All times local
The af2's seventh season also features the startup of two more new teams, the Spokane Shock and Stockton Lightning, as well as the return of one of its original franchises, the Tennessee Valley Vipers.
Under af2 rules, teams are allowed to open camp two weeks prior to the week of their regular season game. Teams are allowed to bring 35 players to camp (not including the optional two-player International Training Squad), but must cut down to 30 on the third day of camp. The final cut to 22 players (19-active; three-inactive) is the Monday prior to their first game by 3:00 p.m. ET. Each team's training camp cut dates are listed below
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