Maine Freeze is Hosting Tryouts

September 12, 2002 - National Women's Football Association (NWFA)
Maine Freeze News Release


The word is out, be there or be square. The Maine Freeze, a franchise of the National Women's Football League (NWFL) announces its tryout schedule for the upcoming 2003 season. The first of three tryouts will be held on September 21st, from 4:00 - 6:00 (registration at 3:00) at Broadway Park in Bangor. The Freeze is eager to tap the resources of Central Maine for fresh talent. Last year, several players carpooled to the team's practices in the Portland area, and made exciting contributions to the team's inaugural season. With the population of the Bangor area and the University of Maine in nearby Orono, the Freeze was able to draw a corps of players to complement its showing from coastal and southern Maine.

For the tryouts, prospective players are required to show that they have health insurance (a current insurance card), be at the site promptly with a mouthguard (available at most sports stores), athletic shorts, t-shirt, cleats, the $35 tryout fee, and some water for between-drill breaks. Each player must sign a waiver provided at the tryout (also available on our website for early-bird review in the Acrobat format), and possess the drive to succeed as well as the spirit necessary to be part of something bigger than herself. With a corps of players and coaches returning from the inaugural 2002 campaign, hopes are high for a successful season and competition for playing time is sure to be tight, but a new player with some athletic skills and the ability to make a commitment will be welcomed into the locker room as part of the Maine Freeze football family.

Tryouts will include a general conditioning evaluation, agility running, some light contact with blocking dummies, and basic skill testing drills to highlight each player's potential for physical and mental toughness. If you like watching, thinking about, and playing football but never thought that you'd have the chance to play full contact, collision football, now's your chance. From the rookies, the team is looking for basic athletic ability, speed for some positions, agility for others and the willingness to learn complex offensive and defense playbook schemes, as well as the confidence to strap the equipment on, tighten it down and get to work.

Past players have included women with experience on the schoolboy teams at various high schools across the country, and with prior professional experience on women's teams out of state. The Maine Freeze plays in the hardscrabble Northeast Division of the NWFL, last year sparring to a 1-9 record after 8 league, and 2 non-league games as the only expansion team in the division. If you think you can do it, we want to see you try..

The 2003 practice schedule resumes full swing in December on dates to be announced as the fall progresses and are likely to be held twice per week indoors in the Portland area, with three indoor intra-squad scrimmages during the winter. As the warm weather, and the NWFL season approach, the team will move to its outdoor practice field in Portland's Deering Oaks Park. The season begins in late April, and extends through June, with playoffs through July leading up to the SupHer Bowl.

Jason McLeod returns as head coach and brings with him experience as a pro player from the European Arena League as well as high school and NWFL coaching experience. His staff includes semi-pro and arena league players, each with coaching experience in semi-pro, high school and college teams..

Subsequent tryouts are scheduled for October 26th from 9:00 - 12:00 (registration at 8:00) in Deering Oaks Park, the site of the team's 2003 warm-weather practice facilities; and November 16th from 9:00 - - 12:00 (registration at 8:00) at Marshwood High School. There is also a tentative tryout scheduled for December, details to follow. Players are encouraged to tryout at the designated venues, but if a player can't make these dates, alternative arrangements can be made on an as needed basis at the head discretion of the head coach.

Football starts with a fire inside.



National Women's Football Association Stories from September 12, 2002


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