Volume 5, Issue 19

Here We Go! It's Game Time!

We're incredibly excited to kick off our fall season this Saturday! Read on for important details!

Saturday's forecast does call for some potential rain, so please check our Facebook group, website, and your inbox for any announcements about game cancellations. If there's no announcement, it means games are on as scheduled!

Saturday's Forecast:

League Practice & Skills Night

As a reminder, tomorrow (Thursday) is our league-wide practice and skills night. This is another great opportunity to come get a taste of live action play before our games start this weekend. Michael Petracca will also be leading a cornerback clinic for those who are interested in learning more about that position.

League-Wide Practice Night is TOMORROW, September 7th from 5:30-7:30pm at North County Club Field (160-168 Monroe St, Warwick, R 02888).

The weather is expected to be very hot and humid! Please bring water and ensure you are taking appropriate breaks!

These weekly practices/skills clinics will take place each Thursday evening throughout the season and are being offered in response to league-wide requests for more practice and development opportunities.

Game-Day Reminders

Welcome to the Fall 2023 Season!!

Week 1 Date: Saturday, September 9th

Location: Our fields for all our season games are located at North Country Club Field in Warwick (210 Monroe St., Warwick, RI 02888). Join us afterwards at Grid Iron Ale House & Grille (1599 Post Rd, Warwick, RI 02888) for food, drinks, and league social.

Reminders: Please bring plenty of water, dress accordingly for weather, and remember that everyone will need to wear pocketless shorts and non-metal spike cleats to participate. You will not be allowed to play with pocketed shorts/pants or metal cleats.

For Week 1, please be sure to arrive 30 minutes before your game (unless your captains ask you to arrive even earlier) to pick up your jersey and ensure you have time to stretch and warm up. All players who are new to the league will also receive a free pair of pocketless shorts.

Take a few minutes to review our Code of Conduct as well as other important league policies.

Week 1 Game Schedule - September 9th

The most up to date schedule is available on our website and the SportsEngine app (iOS or Google). Check out all our teams including full rosters and current standings on our website.

Fall Season - Team Names

Team Names Are In:

• Black - Dark & Horny
• Red - Red for Filth
• Texas Orange - Not Easy Being Cheezy
• Maroon - All Brick'd Up
• Gold - Goldie Jocks & The Three Bears
• Royal Blue - The Squirtle Squad
• Neon Blue - It's Azul Out There
• Dark Green - The Mary Janes
• Navy Heather - The Navy Bunch
• Neon Pink - Touchdown Barbie
• Iron Gray - Don't Say Gray
• Neon Yellow - Corn Stars
• Purple - The Cher Bears
• Neon Orange - Home Deep-Hoes

This season, for the first time, we've created logos for each team and will be rolling out those logos over the next three days in the lead-up to our Week 1 games. These logos will also be used to promote each week's schedule/matchups. The first five team logos were released this afternoon. Check out them out on the league Facebook and Instagram accounts!

Health & Safety

Hey there all! Welcome back to another season of flag football!

Just a few health and safety reminders to start the fall season:

 1)   For First Aid help on the fields, please look for folks wearing the GREEN REFLECTIVE ARMBAND

2)   The first aid tote is available on a self-serve basis for all of our league participants. The tote will be located on the tarred/court area. Please use items only as needed.

3)   Mouth guards are not required by our league, but some folks do choose to wear these for preventative measures.

4)   Remember to HYDRATE OFTEN before and during game play!

5)   Use sunscreen!! (There is sunscreen in the first aid tote. Please use this only as needed and bring your own sunscreen next time!)

Any questions or concerns, please contact Theresa Waterbury, director of Health and Safety (theresa@pvdgffl.org)

NOTE: Theresa will NOT be at the fields for our first weekend of games on 9/9. Please reach out to Chelsea Beaudin (chelsea@pvdgffl.org) if you need assistance on 9/9.

 ***NEW CLINIC ALERT***

 Have you ever wanted to learn how to tape ankles/feet in order to prevent injuries?

The Health and Safety Committee will be holding an Ankle & Foot Taping clinic!

WHEN: Saturday, October 14th @ 7am-8am (before games start)

WHERE: North Country Club Fields

Registration is required. Please register here: https://forms.gle/hvc5Xi3AzqQBVHCAA

DISCLAIMER: This clinic is for educational purposes only, and does not substitute for professional medical advice. There is no guarantee that taping will prevent injuries. Consult a medical professional or healthcare provider if you are seeking medical advice, diagnoses, or treatment.

PVDGFFL Volunteers

For this week, Sojourner House is looking for volunteers this Sunday at 10am for their booth at PVDFest.

We will be posting volunteer opportunities here and interested parties can reach out to Pat Mac, Director, Volunteerism and Community Outreach.

Options Awards - Vote for PVDGFFL!

For the second consecutive year, the Providence Gay Flag Football League has been nominated for an Options Award as the Best Local LGBTQ Sports League or Club. We're incredibly honored by this nomination and the fact that so many amazing people have chosen to join our ever-growing league!

Several of our PVDGFFL players have also been nominated as the Best LGBTQ Local Athlete!

If you'd like to vote for our league and any of our nominated players, please click here to vote! You can vote every day through September 16. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on October 17.

Helmets & Heels 2023 - Tickets Now Available!

Tickets are now on sale for Helmets and Heels, which is our largest fundraiser of the year! You don't want to miss this opportunity to see some of your favorite PVDGFFL players perform in drag!

Hosted by three of our own drag superstars, Helmets and Heels is a night of fun, fashion, and fabulous-ness, benefitting our Gay Bowl tournament teams.

We'll have 15+ drag performances, plus great raffle items, including P-Town vacation packages, sports memorabilia, PVDGFFL swag, and more!

Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 at the door. Purchase your tickets below. Our Director of Events - Michael Maio - will also be selling tickets at the fields on Saturday.

2023 PVD Lobsters Non-Player Supporter Jersey

Help us raise money for our Gay Bowl tournament teams by purchasing these awesome supporter jerseys, which include panels from all of our tournament teams, our PVDGFFL and PVD Lobsters logos on the front, and sponsors on the back. Thank you, Red, for this incredible design, which not only looks amazing, but also captures the heart, spirit, and unity of our league.

The deadline to order a jersey is Friday, Sept 22. Jersey cost is $45.



You will be contacted in late September regarding a date/time for you to pick-up your jersey.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates

Sept 7 -- League-Wide Practice Night

Sept 16 -- Helmets & Heels 2023

Oct 5-8 -- Gay Bowl XXIII (Seattle, WA)

Oct 21 -- PVDGFFL Family and Friends Day

FALL 2023 SEASON DATES

• Sat, Sept 9 (Week 1)
• Sat, Sept 16 (Week 2)
• Sat, Sept 23 (Week 3)
• Sat, Sept 30 (Week 4)
• Sat, Oct 7 - No Games (Gay Bowl Tournament)
• Sat, Oct 14 (Week 5)
• Sat, Oct 21 (Week 6) - PVDGFFL Family and Friends Day
• Sat, Oct 28 - No Games (Spooky Bear) - Makeup date, if necessary
• Sat, Nov 4 (Week 7)
• Sat, Nov 11 (Playoffs & Rhody Bowl)

Additional events, including league socials and fundraisers, are constantly being planned! Check our events page for the latest details.

2023 Board of Directors

Chris Almonte — Commissioner

Rolfe Hubley — Assistant Commissioner, Open Division

Red McSwiggan — Assistant Commissioner, Women’s+ Division

Greg Polzer — Treasurer

Josh Klemp — Secretary

Chelsea Beaudoin — Director of Travel Teams

Michael Lucerto — Director of Captains

Marc Perkel — Director of Marketing and Communications

Sean Corcoran — Co-Director of Football Operations

John Mancone — Co-Director of Football Operations

Sean Davis — Director of Recruitment and Player Development

Anthony DeRose — Director of Fundraising and Sponsorships

Jay Potter — Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Red McSwiggan — Director of Rules and Referees

Theresa Waterbury — Director of Health and Safety

Michael Maio — Director of Events

Pat McIlveen — Director of Volunteerism and Community Outreach

Bri Gil — Director of Field Operations

Please give a warm welcome to Bri Gil to the PVDGFFL Board as Director of Field Ops!

2023 League Sponsors