The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT Sports Reporter rdorsett@tribunemedia.net THE Bahamas Flag Football League (BFFL) is preparing for the start of its fourth year - the first week of the regular season is slated to begin at the Winton rugby field on Sunday. This year's season will be split into two divisions with the defending champions Ravens, pennant-winning Heineken Spartans, Predators, Hitmen, Warriors, RBC Lions, Bahamasair Flyers, Hurricanes, Galaxy Invaders and Pirates. For the first time this year, there will be a women's division featuring the Lady Spartans, Lady Raiders, G-Fit Pink Foxes, Femme Fatale Predators and Lynx. John Marc-Nutt, who is on the BFFL executive board, said the women's league has a record number of teams this year. "The women's league is very important for us. We had two teams last year and this year we have five teams. They can have a full schedule," he said. "We have 10 male teams in two divisions so this year we have an increase from nine games to 13 games." Each team will play their divisional opponents twice and an out-of-division opponent once. "We are extremely excited about the amount of support that we have gotten throughout the years. This year, we are going on with a whole new venture with 10 men teams and for the first time ever a female league," Nutt said. "We have increased the output of games by 40 per cent and we feel that is good for the teams and fans who enjoy flag football. We feel that we can make this league one of the best in the Bahamas. We are looking into developing the league more by exploring options with a youth flag football league." The league hosted two weeks of pre-season games to introduce this year's teams. Fellow BFFL spokesman Jayson Clarke reiterated the high expectations for the upcoming season. "We had a very successful year in 2011 and we anticipate an even more competitive and successful season this year as participation is exploding at a phenomenal rate," she said. "With all games being played on Sundays at the Winton rugby pitch, we will have to play two games simultaneously just to ensure that all teams play each week. With 15 teams in our league this year, this is truly a very exciting time for the sport of football in this country. I'm just happy that I am able to contribute to it's overall growth and development." Last year, the BFFL and its teams had a full year of events beginning with its 2011 regular season and championship. The Freeport Independence Tournament, the Devard Darling "As One Foundation" tournament and the National Invitational Tournament saw teams from New Providence, Freeport and the Cayman Islands collide in the men's and women's divisions. The regular season concludes on June 24 and the championship game in both leagues is scheduled for July 22. For more information, you can go to www.facebook.com/bffl242 or follow on twitter at www.twitter.com/bffl242 BFFL SCHEDULE (Week 1) - March 11 at Winton rugby field 1:30pm - Bahamasair vs. Hitmen 2:30pm - Ravens vs. Galaxy 3:30pm - Lions vs. Warriors 4:30pm - Predators vs. Spartans 5:30pm - Pirates vs. Hurricanes