Minor League Football Association

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Minor League Football Association
Sport	American football
Founded	2003
Motto	"Real Football for Real Football Fans"
No. of teams	36
Country	United States
Current champions	Bay Tickets 49ers/ NE Missouri Cyclones
Official website	Official Site

The Minor League Football Association ( MLFA ) is a full contact outdoor semi-pro minor league American football league, based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota with offices in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Fresno, California. The league is divided into Eastern and Western Conferences. Each conference is divided into regions and divisions. The league was formed in 2003 and has been in continuous operation every year.

Long have minor league teams and players dreamed of the formation of a national league whose goal was to bring together the best in minor league teams, owners, coaches, players, and fans. In June 2003, this dream became a reality. At that time, team owners and league managers came together to form the first minor league in the United States dedicated to the betterment and equal treatment of all its member teams and players. Here a few of the things that sets the MLFA apart:

A) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1) How old is the MLFA?

    The Minor League Football Association was organized in May 2003. 

2) What type of season will the MLFA run? How many regular-season games will each team play? What about the postseason?

   In 2007, the MLFA will play a 10-game regular season beginning on 

June 2, 2007 and culminating in the MLFA Championship Game at the end of September 2007. In 2007, we are anticipating a four-round playoff that will accommodate up to 16 teams. Based on the anticipated 32 teams, we are currently planning on 12 teams participating in the playoffs. However, if the number of teams in the league exceeds our expectations and demands that we add teams and/or an additional round of playoffs, we will move to accommodate that need. The starting date of the season may change, however, based on the needs of the league's teams.

3) What type of alignment will the MLFA have? An NFC and AFC? What about divisions?

    The MLFA has an eastern and western alignment. The league is further 

sub-divided into regions and then divisions. The ultimate goal is to limit, as much as possible, the amount of regular season travel teams have to incur.

5) Is the MLFA a national league, regional league or something else?

    Actually, we are something else. Our goal was not size-the number of 

teams. Rather, it was, and continues to be, the quality teams we are looking for. However, due to the significant number of teams who are looking for what we have to offer, the MLFA has become a national league that also has the feel of an association.

This is due to the geographic distances between teams in the West. In the East (remember that 2/3 of the population of the United States lives in only 1/3 of the geographic area of the lower 48 states), it is simple to set up regions and divisions that fall within the normal guidelines established by the league. However, in the West, where the distances between teams are much greater, we are working with the top local and regional league to include those leagues in the MLFA and the MLFA playoffs.

6) What rules will the MLFA use?

    The MLFA uses modified NFL rules. Most modifications are simple and easy 

to understand, such as two feet in bounds for receptions to count and the ball carrier must be down by contact--NFL rules. The only significant deviation from recognized NCAA/NFL rules is the league’s overtime procedure.

B) MLFA LEAGUE SUMMARY

1) Distinction – The MLFA is not just another "semi-pro" football league. Our goal is quality over quantity. Just because the players and coaches may or may not be paid, does not mean we cannot act as professionals. We are looking for owners, teams, coaches and players who are professional, regardless of whether or not they are paid.

2) Accountability – The MLFA is accountable to its team owners. Each has an equal say into the establishment and modification of the league's bylaws. In addition, the league will be divided into four regions, with the team owners of each region electing one owner from within their region to represent that region on the board of directors.

3) Structure – The MLFA is national in format, but regional in structure. Our goal for 2007 is to have 32 teams. The league will have two conferences, Eastern and Western Conferences. As teams join the league, each conference will be divided into regions and divisions. The conferences will be aligned based not just on some geographic line, but based on where the teams are to balance the number of teams in each conference. The number of teams that make the playoffs will depend on the number of teams in the league.

4) Scheduling – Our goal is to have the teams play each team in their respective division twice and other league teams once for a 10-game schedule. All the teams involved would have to join this league with the understanding that there may be two long road trips (8+ hours) per season.

5) Products and Services Provided via League Dues – A league is only as good as the teams in it. And, the teams are only as good as the league to which they belong. Below is what the teams in the league will get for what they pay to the league in league dues:

• The Director of Operations of the MLFA will be charged with promoting the league, upholding the league rules, ensuring that all teams pay their monthly fees and assessments, and work with the association’s directors to operate the league in the most effective and professional manner possible.

• A key part of league marketing will be getting trade-out sponsorship up front for the league, such as a league bus, hotel, airline, cellular, pizza, burger, and soda sponsor. Getting such sponsorships has the same effect as putting money in the teams' pockets. The goal in our first five years is to obtain discount and trade-out "sponsorships" with a wireless telephone provider, a national hotel chain, and a nation rental car or bus chain.

• A key point of emphasis will be to ensure that all teams’ scores are received by the league and that the league publishes the scores and standings to all media outlets, both nationally and locally.

• Professionally designed website and maintenance. The league hired a professional website developer to design the league’s website and train league staff to enter information into the website. The league is continuing to work with the developer to maintain the website at the highest professional and fan-friendly format possible. The MLFA website includes an integrated statistics and standings system.

• League Championship Game. In minor-league football, hosting a championship game at a neutral site, where it is almost impossible for many, if any, fans to go to see the game, robs the league of a prime marketing opportunity. A key point of this league will be to host the championship game at the home of the top-seeded team playing in the league championship game. The league will bear the cost of promoting and hosting the game. But, the league will also profit from the gate receipts, concession sales, etc. All proceeds from this game will be held at the league level to provide further services to the teams in the future.

With 32 teams in the league, all of this above can be paid for with just $250 per year in league fees per team!

6) Playoff Travel Fund – In order to maintain the quality of the playoff process, each team will contribute $300.00 per year to the league’s playoff travel fund. These funds will be held in trust for the benefit of the teams and will not be mixed in with league operating funds. These funds will be held for the use of the teams participating in the playoffs. In 2007, these funds will be used to subsidize the cost of travel by the visiting team for the league’s championship game. The MLFA is the ONLY league on this level to that has provided and followed through with this type of fund. The MLFA plays in a national east-west format.

Contents 1 Current MLFA Teams 1.1 =2007 Teams 1.1.1 Great Lakes Division 1.1.2 Midwest Division 1.1.3 Ohio Valley Division 1.1.4 Southwest Division 1.1.5 Independant West Division 1.1.6 Cascade Division 1.1.7 Central Valley Division 2 MLFA Champions 3 See also 4 External links

[edit] Current MLFA Teams

[edit] =2007 Teams

===MLFA East===

[edit] Great Lakes Division

• Grand Rapids Thunder
• Macomb County Strength
• Metro Detroit Saints
• Southwest Michigan Punishers
• Capital Colts

[edit] Midwest Division

• Missouri RedHawks
• Arkansas X Avengers
• Northeast Missouri Wildcats (formerly Cyclones)
• Central Missouri Lognhorns
• Missouri Outlaws

[edit] Ohio Valley Division

• Ohio Wildfire
• Michigan Giants
• Wayne County Wolverines
• Detroit Templars

[edit] Southwest Division

• TBA
• TBA
• TBA
• TBA
• TBA
• TBA

===MLFA West===

[edit] Independant West Division

• Valley Mustangs
• Rogue Valley Warriors
• King County Jaguars
• Snohomish County Vikings
• Stockton Trojans

[edit] Cascade Division

• Kitsap County Seawolves
• Olympic Peninsula Eagles
• Puget Sound Invaders
• Snohomish County Thunder
• Whatcom County Raiders

[edit] Central Valley Division

• Central Valley Outlaws
• Central-Cal Crusaders
• Reedley Renegades
• Selma Ravens
• Bakersfield Predators
• Delano Demons
• Clovis Wolves
• Fresno Pirates

[edit] MLFA Champions

• Year Champion, score Runner-up, score
• 2004 Daly City Renegades 21 Nashville Mustangs 0
• 2005 Daly City Renegades 44 Grand Rapids Thunder 3
• 2006 East NE Missouri Cyclones 19 Grand Rapids Thunder 13,
• 2006 West Bay Tickets 49ers 16 King County Jaguars 14,

  No East/West MLFA championship game played in 2006

[edit] See also

• American football
• List of developmental and minor sports leagues

[edit] External links

• MLFA Official Site
• Semi-pro Football Headquarters