Picture Credit: Manuel Findeis / Shutterstock.com (2018) MUNICH, BAVARIA, GERMANY – MARCH 13, 2016: close up on girl in American football clothes representing the Munich Rangers Ladies at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. [Accessed 4 May 2021]
Female American Football comes in many varieties. There are the 11v11 Outdoor Leagues in USA, 12v12 in Canada, 7v7 and 5v5 Outdoor Full Contact Kitted Leagues around the World such as the Sapphire Series in Britain, Femenil Indoor (Arena) 8v8 Leagues, which are popular in Mexico and 7v7 Legends or Ladies Gridiron Leagues where players wear very little in terms of protective clothing.
Women’s American Football
[21] Image Contributor Greg Perkins (2010) STOCKHOLM – JULY 3: Team USA wins gold in first ever IFAF woman’s tackle football world championship July 3, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden, Team USA dominates by winning all their games. Item ID: 56511814 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/stockholm-july-3-team-usa-wins-56511814 [Accessed 24 January 2022]
Women’s American Football (11v11)
WNFC; WFA
Women’s National Football Conference (USA Major):
Women’s Professional Football League (USA Major):
Women’s Football Alliance (USA Minor):
[21] Image Contributor Greg Perkins (2010) STOCKHOLM – JULY 3: Team USA wins gold in first ever IFAF woman’s tackle football world championship July 3, 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden, Team USA dominates by winning all their games. Item ID: 56511814 [Internet] Available from: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/stockholm-july-3-team-usa-wins-56511814 [Accessed 24 January 2022]
Women’s American Football Teams (11v11)
WNFC; WFA
Women’s National Football Conference (Major)
WNFC Atlantic Conference (2019-2022)
WNFC Pacific Conference (2019-2022)
Women’s Professional Football League II (Major)
WNFC American Conference (2000)
WNFC National Conference (2000)
Canadian Women’s Football
Arena Indoor Women’s Football
Ladies Arena Indoor Football Leagues (8v8)
LEXFA; S8FL
Indoor or Arena Football Leagues are 8v8 Full Contact Kitted Leagues played in converted Ice Hockey Arenas.
Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico Femenil
Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (LEXFA) Femenil 2011-2019
Liga Extrema de Football Arena Mexico (Seasons): 2011
Super 8 Football League Ladies Baja (Mexico):
European Women’s American Football
Picture Credit: Manuel Findeis / Shutterstock.com (2018) MUNICH, BAVARIA, GERMANY – MARCH 13, 2016: close up on girl in American football clothes representing the Munich Rangers Ladies at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. [Accessed 4 May 2021]
European Women’s American Football
BAFA Sapphire Seriers; Netherlands Queen’s Football League; Finland Naiset
Britain: Sapphire Series
British American Football Association Women’s Sapphire Series Division 1 2017-2019
Germany: Damenbundesliga (DBL)
Ladies Bowl X: Berlin Adler Girls 35 Munich Cowboys 0. (Irish connection – Mülheim Shamrocks)
Netherland: Queens Football League
Queens Football League (Netherlands) Queens Bowl 2017-Present
SAJL Finland Suomen Amerikkalaisen Jalkapallon Liitto: Naiset (Women’s National League):
World Women’s American Football
World Women’s Outdoor Leagues (7v7, 6v6 & 5v5)
FXF
Mexico Femenil
FXF Football Xtremo Femenil (Mexico) 2019
Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos
Legends Football Leagues
The Lingerie Bowl was first played in 2004 as a rival to the Super Bowl half-time show which was seen by many fans as two long and boring. It was aired on a rival TV network and featured two teams of scantily-clad Women. The Bowl eventually came a fully-fledged league in 2009. The owner of the League admitted it was aimed at beer-drinking college students and following claims of sexism the Lingerie was replaced by bicycle shorts and crop-tops, and the League renamed the Legends Football League. It is 7v7 American Football with very little in terms of protective clothing.
X – Legends Football Leagues (7v7 Arena Indoor Leagues)
LFL USA; LFL Global
United States Legends Football League (Bowls)
Legends Football League Legends Bowls 2004-2019
US Legends Football League (Overviews)
Legends Football League United States 2013-2019
Lingerie Football League (Overviews)
Lingerie Football League 2009-2012
X-League (Seasons):
2021 * 2020 * (*Cancelled due to Covid)
Legends Football League United States (Seasons):
World Legends Football Leagues
Legends Football League Global 2012-2014
Legends Football League Pacific Cup 2012-2013
LFL Global (Seasons):
Australia 2013-14 (Irish-Born Linda Holland) Canada 2012-13
Legends Football League Australia 2013-2014
Pretty Girls Football League (Mexico – Overviews)
Pretty Girls Football League (Mexico) 2014-2017 (Irish Connection Morrigans CDMX)
X League Teams
LFL USA; LFL Global
X League
Failed Women’s Football Leagues
Just like Men’s American Football Leagues which fail to get off the ground, so too do some Women’s Leagues. For a brief history of each of those leagues click the links in blue below.
Picture Credit: [3] Women’s Arena Football League (2021) Dallas Darlings Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.wafleague.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Dallas.jpg [Accessed 11 May 2021]
Failed Women’s Football Leagues
Women’s Arena Football League 2013