Female American Football comes in many varieties. There are the 11v11 Outdoor Leagues in USA, 12bv12 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)
WFA
Women’s Football Alliance (USA):
Woman’s Football Alliance Division I 2017-Present
Woman’s Football Alliance Division II 2017-2019
Women’s National Football Conference (USA):
Canadian Women’s Football
Women’s Canadian Football (12v12)
WWCFL
Western Women’s Canadian Football League (Seasons): 2019
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
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
Legends Football Leagues (7v7 Arena Indoor Leagues)
LFL USA; LFL Global
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.
United States Legends Football Leagues
Legends Football League Legends Bowls 2004-2019
Lingerie Football League 2009-2012
Legends Football League United States 2013-2019
Legends Football League United States (Seasons): 2019
X-League Extreme Football League (Seasons): 2020
World Legends Football Leagues
Legends Football League Global 2012-2014
Legends Football League Pacific Cup 2012-2013
LFL Global (Seasons): Canada 2012-13 Australia 2013-14
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]