Women’s tackle football coaches eyed

Players in the Bud Light Guam Women’s Tackle Football League block each other in a game last season. BLGWTFL president Linda Salas is working closely with Commonwealth Football League Association officials to start a women’s league on Saipan. (Contributed Photo)

Bud Light Guam Women’s Tackle Football League president Linda Salas vowed to help Saipan take baby steps so the sport can gain some traction in the CNMI.

Salas, who was part of the Guam delegation that watched Team Guahan play against the CNMI Sharks in Saturday’s friendly match, said her first goal is to find coaches who can help train and put up at least three teams on Saipan.

“It can be anybody who loves football, who might have an experience in coaching. John Blanco can be one of the coaches. I want the coaches to form at least 2 or 3 teams. Someday we can also come here and play against them or vice versa,” said Salas,

“We’re going to fundraise and come here, just like what the men’s team has been doing.

I want to see women’s football grow here,” she said.

Salas, who arrived Friday morning along with Team Guahan, added that she would still meet with Commonwealth Football League Association board chair John Blanco to discuss other matters since everything is in its planning stage.

“There’s interest in women’s football. When I was touring Saipan I bumped into two ladies and they are interested to join. In Guam, we have players from different walks of life. They are students, doctors, clerks, secretaries and stay-at-home moms.

Salas said playing tackle football is one of their ways to take some aggression out.

“Anyone can play the sport, all you need to have is commitment. The ladies also want to play football. Maybe, it is their way of taking out their stress since in football they can hit legitimately as long as it is within the rules. And you also have protective gear.”

“Gear won’t be a problem since it is the same like the men’s wear. You could order it online and I can tell them where to order the gear. I have the resources if they want to buy in bulk,” she added.

Salas said Saipan could start with 6-aside teams just to familiarize the players with the rules.

“We need to make sure first that there are teams here on Saipan. We want to follow the same formula on how American women’s football started in Guam. In our first year, we played 6-aside and I think that is the formation that Saipan should start playing with.”

“After starting with 6-aside, we had 8-aside the following year, and now we currently play 11-aside. We want to take baby steps here on Saipan and not form the standard 11-man formation. We could also provide them with the rulebook,” she said.

“And hopefully in a year, we could come down here and play a friendly 6-aside game with the Saipan ladies.”

Salas said 6-aside matches can be complicated at first but with the help of a coach who knows football, the female players can get used to it.

“The only challenge for the women is the one who is not in shape or not in good condition. They might have a hard time in the beginning. You know how some of the coaches are, they are like drill sergeants,” Salas said with a laugh.

She added that in 6-aside games, one is assigned as the quarterback, three will be at the offensive line, while two are running backs.

“The only difference is the five remaining players are all eligible as wide receivers. Anyone can catch the ball and carry it all the way down to the end zone.”

Salas said that women’s football in Guam now has a strong fan base since they started in 2012.

“It has grown big in Guam. Right now we have seven teams. Before, the number of team varies as we started with 8 in our first year and five played the next season. We also gained more attention as a lot of people watch it.” Salas said.

She said they are not expecting the sport to make an impact right away on Saipan.

“I just want the CNMI to start off somewhere. I want to show that women on Saipan can also play the sport. I’m excited and I really wanted to see ladies play football,” she ended.

For more information or any interested players or coaches, email John Blanco at johnsblanco@yahoo.com.