AFA MEMBER LEAGUES GATHER IN CHICAGO TO SELECT PAIRINGS

Time is running out for semi-pro football league commissioners to take part in the AFA’s 2005 ‘National Tournament of Champions”. League commissioners and administrators from across the country will gather in Chicago on Friday June 3rd in order take part in the American Football Association’ pairings for the AFA’s 2005 ‘Nationals’.


Semi-pro football leagues will have until June 1st to commit their league champions to advance into the 2005 national championship series. Semi-Pro football league representatives from coast-to-coast are expected to attend the AFA’s 3 day semi-pro football meetings, Convention/Seminar/Trade Show, and 25th annual Hall of Fame Induction Dinner in the Chicago suburb of Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois from June 3/4/5.


Although the 3 day action packed semi-pro football agenda is open to all team, league and individual AFA members – attendance at the commissioners meetings will be limited to AFA Member ‘registered’ league administrators only. The ‘Nationals’ playoff structure will be in place prior to the commissioners meeting and only the pairing selections will be left to be determined by a vote of the commissioners. Semi-pro football leagues not yet registered with the AFA national association for the 2005 season may do so by contacting the AFA via phone or e-mail.

Among the leagues already committed to having representatives at the commissioners meetings are the Mid-States Football League, Mid-Continental League, Empire League, Lakeshore League, Mason Dixon League, Mid-America League, Southern Football League, Ironman League, Eastern League, United Football League, Southern States League, and the Golden States Football League. Several leagues have already formed ‘regional’ alliances to aid in the scheduling of the post season AFA ‘Nationals’ – which could easily include leagues representing more than 400 semi-pro football teams coast-to-coast.

Representatives from leagues not already registered as official AFA member leagues will have only until June 1st to meet the AFA’s final deadline for having 100% of their league members registered with the AFA national association for the 2005 season.

Teams looking to register with the AFA for the 2005 fall season can download a team membership application from the AFA’s website at www.AmericanFootballAssn.com. League commissioners wanting to have their league ‘champs’ advance to the 2005 AFA ‘Nationals’ (postseason tournament) and can meet the AFA’s playoff requirements can contact the AFA national office at 941-388-3510 or fax your request to 941-388-2224.

Fall league teams having questions about the AFA’s new liability insurance program can talk directly to John Sadler from Sadler & Company Insurance Agency, as he will have a display booth at the AFA’s Semi-Pro Football Convention and Trade Show in Chicago on Saturday, June 4th.

Wilson Sporting Goods will also have a display booth at the convention and the word is they will have some special deals on ‘blemished’ NFL game balls for teams to purchase. While most AFA member leagues require their teams to use new NFL balls for their games, Wilson NFL ‘blems’ are popular alternative practice balls among semi-pro teams fortunate enough to know where to obtain the discounted ‘blem’ balls.

Jostens Championship Ring Division will have a representative talking with semi-pro team and league administrators regarding league championship rings. Jostens manufactures all of the AFA’s “superbowl-sized” Hall of Fame, All-American and Semi-Pro Football Alumni rings and will have a display of their specially designed products on hand. Several other equipment manufacturers and football service related companies are expected to showcase their products at the first ever AFA ‘Convention/Seminar/Trade Show for semi-pro football. The names of more equipment venders will be announced in upcoming press releases.


NEXT RELEASE: Regarding Team, League and State Semi-pro Football Alumni Clubs