Yesterday, I attended the Iris Bowl- the championship game of the Urban Football League spring tournament at the 江戸川区陸上競技場. Because of the running track around the field, the stands are rather far from the field, but it is a nice facility, and the lack of rain, and the nice breeze off the water made it a pleasant afternoon.
The game offered some excitement, but the BattleHawks were handily defeated by the Roebucks. Both teams have a rather long history for Japanese teams (the Roebucks were formed in 1974, the Battlehawks in 1981).
While ball handling mistakes no doubt played a part, depth was certainly also a factor in the one-sided nature of the game. This is all too often the case with football games here. Unfortunately game and season results directly proportional to roster size: the team with the larger roster usually wins. Size definitely does matter. Of course quality is also certainly important- particularly as we rise to the highest levels. But without a certain critical mass- quite literally- it becomes difficult to establish much of anything. Many teams are simply in need of warm bodies.
The nature of football- with its requirements of specialization, the possibilities of injury, and the need for numbers to properly prepare and practice, means that accumulating greater numbers is important to the health and survival of most teams, save perhaps a few elite Division 1 teams.
This is essential to help grow the game of football across a broader base. So to help with this issue, I will use some of the resources of this website and help players and teams to find each other. I invite you to submit information to accomplish this.
At the game, I met a fascinating team called the U59ers (technically under 59, but in fact anyone over 40 is welcome). More on them later...
