Last Updated on Friday, 28 August 2009 16:11 Written by James Zimolka Wednesday, 24 June 2009 04:41

French run the Honor system Tournament

Flag Football is growing around the globe all thanks to our big brother the NFL, which promotes the sport globally. Leagues and tournaments can now be found everywhere in the world. This Weekend France will be hosting there 11th annual Flag Oceane Flag football Tournament on the Shores of their Famous Normandy Beach. Back in 2001, I took Team FlagMag/USA to the event to promote the sport. We took 10 players, from all over the USA looking to compete in an international tournament.

The Flag Ocean event offered an Irresistible all inclusive package, $25 per player. The package included team registration, breakfast, dinner, and lodging. Sounds like an incredible offer right? Well remember the old saying, If it sounds too good to be true ... it probably is. We all expected the food to be different in another country, but sleeping in a military tent that sleeps 400 did not fare well when we arrived. Needless to say we were all surprised on Friday, but the biggest shock came the following day. Saturday we realized that the tournament had NO REFEREES and we were on the honor system. Surprise, Surprise, a flag football tournament on the honor system, that's a first.

The Tournament had all the bells and whistles of an NFL event, Registration Tables, Field signs, souvenir booth, field monitors etc, it was just lacking one small item,the REFEREES!! Yes, that's right 100 plus teams playing in a competitive flag football tournament without the men hated the most. Impossible you say? Not in France, as the event has taken place for eleven years, but there have been a few snags. Spotting of the ball, scores, penalties, and game clock are all big factors when there are No Referees

We were the team everyone wanted to play as it was a novelty to play a team from the USA. Teams wanted to learn from us, that meant following us everywhere like rock stars and taking photos. Games were played five-man no contact on a 30 x 60 yard field. Teams had four plays to get a first at the midway point, and the clock was a continuous 20 min, where one person on a team kept track of the time. Our games were not competitive, as this was the second year of the event, and none of the teams had experience playing good competition. The games were humorous as I remember one game were we scored on the first play of the game, a 50 yard bomb to Adam Desanctis, the opposing cornerback, in broken English, called do over, "I wasn't ready". So we obliged and did the same play again, and Adam, scored. The player then protested, saying "the QB cant be under center, he needs to be back five yards". So we obliged and I stepped back and through Adam another bomb on the same play. It was that easy back then as I can only imagine how it would go now.

Other games were not as amusing as ours. Several games were more competitive which lead to more problems. The best game I saw was when Mexico played Austria in the playoffs. Losing 13 to 12 in the final two minutes Austria scored to take a commanding 18 to 13 lead, but here is were the controversy began. The clock never stops, so inside of two minutes, you might be able to get two or three plays, but not eight?? See Mexico had the clock, and the ball, so lets just say father time was on there side. Next we got into ball spotting, where after Mexico would catch a pass and be de-flagged, the ball would mysterious roll another five yards ahead. Then there was the argument of which down it was? I was sure the game would not end until Mexico scored a td, but as fate had it, Mexico threw and Interception to end the game. Mexico called for interference, but Austria walked off the field victorious. If Austria lost if would have been there countries biggest embarrassment in Flag Football,as the Mexican team was ALL WOMEN.

That was seven years ago, and oh how things have changed. The Teams around the world have improved greatly. Remember more play means more experience and the International teams are playing everywhere now. Take a look at last years IFAF 5man World Championships in Montreal Canada. Team USA placed fourth out of 12 countries. Team USA was destroyed by Canada 46 to 6 in the semifinals and then crushed 40-0 by Team France for third place. Yes Team France gave a good spanking to the hand picked team from Ayer,MA. Nine years of Flag Football tournaments in France has given them all the experience they need.

If you thought it was tough to run an event, just imagine how much harder it would be with out referees, every tournament directors biggest nightmare. Our hats go off for the French, as they have done it successfully for eleven straight years.

Good Luck this weekend !!

can this be done in the USA?

would you play in a tournament with no referees?

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