The Philly Special — NGFFL'S First Women's+ Tournament

In 2022, with the help of the NGFFL and Mallory Williams, Director of the Women’s+ Division, Women’s+ teams and tournament play saw incredible growth and development.  Building off this momentum, and a successful and fun 2021 pre-Gay Bowl scrimmage between NY/Philly/DC, we’ve decided to create a new tournament. As some of you may have heard announced at Gay Bowl Hawaii, regional tournaments are a new initiative of the NGFFL and we’re excited to be the first regional tournament in the Northeast.

TOURNAMENT PLAY

Aptly named “The Philly Special,” after a notorious football play popularized by the Eagles (Go Birds!), the tournament will take place in the heart of Philadelphia on the Saturday and Sunday of MDW, 2023. The tournament will be structured like other tournaments in the circuit, with pool play on Day 1 and semis/finals on Day 2.  We will utilize NGFFL rules and NGFFL trained Refs during the tournament. In the first year we are limiting registration to 6-8 teams and, while we anticipate these slots being filled by local teams, we encourage any team willing to make the trip to join us!

PARTIES

And parties? Of course there will be parties!  We are working with a local Philadelphia women’s party promoter and other sponsors to create amazing tournament parties. So, expect the healthy mix of competition and fun that you’ve all come to appreciate. In addition to visiting a historical city on MDW, conveniently nestled between the Jersey and Delaware beaches, the Liberty Bell Classic will also take place that weekend, meaning Philadelphia will be home to hundreds of LGBTQ athletes looking to celebrate queer sports. 

Questions? Email: phillyspecialmdwplus@gmail.com 

Instagram: @phillyspecialmdwplus