Twelve rookie teams joined the fall season of the PFFL hoping to reach the pinnacle that STEELTOWN reached in the summer season… The PFFL championship.
However, as all twelve teams found out in week one, the competition in the PFFL is no joke.
The eleven teams combined to win four games in week one, no team winning more than one. But digging deeper into the four wins showed that only one team (TOM SELLECK) won a game against a non-rookie opponent. The combined, 4-20, record posted by rookies, shows the depth of competition at the PFFL level.
Rookie teams are always confident, but never truly know what to expect. So rookie teams, pay attention. If you want to be successful and competitive in the PFFL, listen to these tips.
TIP ONE – KNOW ALL OF THE RULES. This tip cannot be stressed enough. More experienced teams will always bank on rookie teams to not know the rules. Say you’re playing against a fast quarterback who is burning you on the ground. If you know the rules, you realize they cannot run unless you rush them. So you stop rushing them. If you understand the rules, it can help put your team at an even level competitively.
TIP TWO – WATCH VETERAN TEAMS. The PFFL is a copy-cat league. If you watch other teams and see what is successful for them, it may be able to work for you. If you evaluate games against certain opponents, you can see if a team is more vulnerable to be beat deep or short. Or if a team can’t stop the run. Watching the success that other teams have against opponents in your division, will eventually pay dividends for you.
TIP THREE – DON’T JUDGE OTHER TEAMS. It’s the most misunderstood idea in all of flag football. Younger players think they have an advantage because they appear to be more athletic. Newsflash. Younger players are at a disadvantage. Many of the teams in the PFFL have been playing flag football together for years, and know all the tricks of the game. Don’t underestimate your opponents because in this league, it will come back to haunt you.
TIP FOUR – BE GOOD TO THE WRITERS, REFS AND STAT GUYS. Okay, so maybe this tip won’t give you a competitive edge, but it’s still good to follow. The refs do the best they can in an incredibly fast-moving game, the stat guys control your stats and the writers ultimately decide who gets coverage. Let’s be honest, one of the best things about the PFFL is seeing your name in print. So practice courtesy and excel on the field, and there’s a good chance you’ll see your name a lot.
Hopefully the rookie teams are not too proud to take a little advice. If they are, it could be a long season filled with “Mercy Rule” games.
