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IFL Indoor Football League

Over a Cup of Coffee

by Jerry Hewitt
March 28, 2010 - Indoor Football League (IFL)


This morning a thought came to mind, actually it was a thought put there by another who has written extensively on this game and other sports. Anyway, it got me to thinking who is responsible for different information in a league and getting it out to other media. Let's look at that today along with other miscellaneous thoughts.

I feel its the league's responsibility to get out a league-wide game preview each week along with a concise recap of the week's games. I feel the preview ought to be out no later than the day before the first game and the recap within a couple hours of the last game played each week. If a league wanted to do more, I see no problem with recapping each day after games with an overall recap after all games are played.

To my way of thinking, each and every team ought to have pre game notes a couple days before each contest and use a system that is used by most college and pro teams. I am talking about a more in depth report, not just a 'your team is playing that team' thing, but something of substance that can be used by fans and the media to get a real feel for the next game. It should include a team's notable stats, coaches notes, history between the two teams and any other relevant information. This should be a standard part of every team's playbook, in my opinion, and each league ought to encourage teams to provide this information each week.

I also feel teams should follow up the game notes the day before the game with something more informal, more a reminder to fans and the media that their local team is in action that weekend.

As to recapping, I think each team has the responsibility to its fans and the local media to put out a recap of the game including scoring drives, box score and relevant stats. This recap should be sent out within a couple hours of a game's completion.

Players should be a bigger part of the game than just the few hours they spend each week in a game. Key players in a league and/or on a team should be spotlighted. These are usually some of the fan favorites and fans like to know more. This I feel is a dual responsibility. I feel each league ought to be profiling players on the official league site as a regular feature, but also feel its up to each team to put that information together. I do not feel it is the league's responsibility to go hunting for popular or deserving players to be spotlighted, but up to the teams to bring a player to the league's attention. I don't feel players of the week in any way fill this need. They are a good idea of course and expected, but not what I'm referring to. This spotlighting doesn't have to be players only, but can be front office staff that stands out, a dance team member or even a fan, but I think at least we, the fans, should expect the basic package: the player.

I guess I could say doing these things is all about selling more tickets and putting butts in the seats and that is true in part, but my main reasoning for these things being done is that they are all what is considered the norm for a professional sports franchise.

The AIFA, CIFL, IFL, SIFL or any other sports franchise at this level doesn't set the bar. It's the NFL, NBA, NHL and other top tier leagues that set it and it, and it is expected for all under them to follow their lead. Granted these top tier leagues have more resources to draw upon and some of what they do can not be done by teams at this level because they lack those resources, but there are no excuses for not doing the basics. It all comes down to a couple reasons why teams and leagues don't measure up, but the main reason is simply laziness.

Other notes

I have said time and time again over the years that I am not so much a fan of the game as I am a fan of the fan. I believe it is the fan who ultimately makes this game, indoor football, what it is. I've followed a team or two over the years and follow one now from across the country. I have attended games in the past, but do not now as there are no teams in my area. If there were I might be inclined to buy a ticket simply because the game is what it is, energy at its highest level, adrenalin flowing on the field with the players and in the stands as well. There is nothing that compares with the pre adrenalin rush of a game and to get caught up in all the energy. I miss out on attending games, but if you as a reader have a team close and don't attend, you are missing out on some of the most exciting times you may ever have.

League sites updated last with news.

I took a look yesterday afternoon, Saturday, to see when the last time league websites were updated with news from their teams. For the AIFA, Thursday March 25th; CIFL Friday, March 26th after game; IFL, Friday, March 26th, and the SIFL Friday, March 25th. By itself this proves nothing except on OSC teams have sent out press releases for upcoming games and game recaps have not posted on league sites except in the case of the CIFL. AIFA press releases since the site was last updated on Thursday, two. In the CIFL since Friday night update, none. In the IFL since Friday, seven. And the SIFL since Friday, zero, although releases listed on OSC are dated March 26th, are actually from the 25th. Once again the little guys shine over the big boys.

What happened to the fan?

Some years ago there were only two places a fan could go to chat with other fans, the OSC message board and the Indoor Football one. Sometime later the Indoor Football Fan board was put in place. At times chat was lively and very competitive. I don't know the number of fans that were on these boards, but the community was very large.

Today I see the numbers on both the OSC and Indoor Football Fan boards very small in comparison to years past. Today there are a few other boards along with Facebook, Twitter and other social networking areas to share with fans. I see attendance down in all leagues and just wonder if it is just the economy or the sport itself losing some popularity or another reason entirely.

I used to think it was fun to get on the boards, share opinions, battle others on this topic or that, but now it seems those more friendly conversations are gone. On OSC I see way too much AFL vs. indoor ball, and little really on games or even what leagues are doing right and wrong. In years past, the AFL faithful had their spots to go chat, and the indoor people theirs, but now since the break up of the AFL and af2 and their reinvention it seems this is all some fans want to do is battle over who is better. And I say, who cares? Whether you prefer indoor or arena, its a personal choice. If you like both, great, if not, great as well, but why argue over which is better when the available boards and social networking sites allow you to enjoy the game you prefer with others of like mind?

I find myself getting caught up in this stuff and have to back off, stay away from the boards for a period of time. Right now I haven't even looked at the OSC board in almost a week. Its not that I wouldn't like to talk about this or that with fellow fans, but I'm just tired of the nonsense that plays out sometimes.

What happened to getting into the chat rooms on game nights, fans from all over listening to games, reporting on them and bantering with other fans over whose team is better? What happened to the long threads on boards discussing a particular game? What happened to the fan?

Positive notes

I enjoy pointing out who is doing a good job as opposed to who's not, believe it or not. I believe there is still much room for improvement, but that doesn't mean that in the ten-plus years I've been involved that there hasn't been major improvement. Of course it frustrates me that some areas of the game have not improved, but I still need to look at improvement as a step in the right direction.

I think the CIFL and SIFL are the two leaders in the online information area, both their websites and game reporting are overall superior to other leagues. I can not say that either having far less teams than the AIFA or IFL is any excuse for not being as good. the CIFL has the near perfect package: a good website, current and timely info, live game tracking and more. The SIFL has pretty much the same, except live scoring done via Twitter which is good, but no replacement for having stats available. This is a comment on the leagues, not their teams where some of those in each do fall short in getting on board with information.

It's a credit to the sport to have teams like Columbus (SIFL), Baltimore (AIFA), Sioux Falls (IFL) and a few others in all the leagues that have upped their game by providing good timely information. Those that do take the word "professional" seriously have always been in the minority and very well may always be, but it is still great to see some doing it right.

The area of stat reporting has improved over the years, but I think the CIFL is leading in this category. Of course the IFL has Pointstreak, but until all their teams learn the program it will lag behind. From what I've seen so far this season both the AIFA and SIFL need to figure out how to get stats posted the night of the games. This should be a no brainer, yet still seems to be a major issue, at least with me.

Recapping the action

In the SIFL one game was slated: the anticipated match up between the Columbus Lions and the 1-0 Louisiana Swashbucklers. After being down in the first half by as much as 25 the "Bucs crawled to within 13 by the break, but in the second half the Lions dominated on both sides of the game in the 88-32 win. I looked and couldn't find scores from the 'Bucs previous seasons, but the 88 points may be the most the Louisiana club has ever given up.

Turning to the AIFA, there was no score reported in the New Jersey-Fayetteville game at the time of this writing. San Jose, 2-0 got its second straight victory on the road against a much improved Ogden team, 39-26. Ogden drops to 0-2, while San Jose stays on top tied with Wyoming in the West at 2-0. In other action the Reading Express, 2-2, survived a late charge by Erie, 1-2, in their 53-51 win. The biggest difference in the AIFA this season appears to be real competition in the Western Division with San Jose, Wenatchee, Wyoming and Ogden all having a chance at the division title.

The IFL had six games going Saturday night with the Lonestar Conference taking center stage with division contests in four of the six. Out of division play had Chicago going for their first win against a much improved Alaska Wild team that won their first road game ever last week. Chicago held a 26-6 lead with 4:22 left in the second, but the Wild shocked the 4600 Chicago fans by reeling off the next four scores to go up 33-27. The Slaughter came back to take the lead with 31 seconds left in the game. The Wild's hopes of two road wins in a row ended with a Chicago sack on their last possession to end the game. Chicago, 1-3, earns their first win in maybe the best game of the night in the IFL. Alaska drops to 2-2 in the Pacific Division.

In the only other United Conference game, the winless Colorado Ice, 0-4, was at Sioux City, 2-2. This game was never in question as the Bandits took an early 13-7 first quarter lead and never looked back in winning 55-28.

In other games Arkansas, 3-1, easily disposed of Abilene, 0-3, 53-34, Amarillo, 2-0, downed West Texas, 1-3, 48-33, San Angelo, 2-1, defeated Corpus Christi, 2-2, 45-31 while out west in the battle for Washington, Kent, 1-3, got their first win in downing Tri Cities, 0-3, 55-49

The CIFL had the night off.

This article and more archived at The Indoor Football Report located at www.IndoorFootballNetwork.com Comments about this article or suggestions can be made to indoorbowl@yahoo.com



Indoor Football League Stories from March 28, 2010


The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer(s), and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


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