MCFFU and USSSA Tag-Team Flag Football
National Partnership

LOUISVILLE, KY - The Metro Competitor Flag Football Union (MCFFU) and United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) announced this weekend a partnership that brings together two national organizations under one umbrella to provide teams with the largest competitive flag football circuit in the nation, with operations set to begin in January of 2008.

The meetings were held at the 2007 Travel, Events and Management in Sports Convention and Expo in Louisville, KY with USSSA’s CEO Don DeDonatis, Assistant Executive Directors Jim Swint and Dan Brown, and MCFFU National Director Jey Jones.  The MCFFU will be officially introduced at the 40th Annual USSSA National Meeting Convention in Daytona Beach, FL November 11-18, 2007.

Known mainly for their national softball circuit, the USSSA (formerly known as the United States Slow-Pitch Softball Association) redirected its focus in 1997 from Slow-Pitch Softball only to multiple national recreational sports, such as: Basketball, Taekwondo, Baseball, Golf, Soccer, Karate, Volleyball, Lacrosse and Flag Football.

The partnership will lead the efforts in providing more high-profile flag football events for youth and adults, national meetings, corporate sponsorships and trade shows to the game of competitive flag football with 1 goal in mind - building the biggest national stage, featuring more teams than any other organization, having representation from all 50 states competing in the World Championship Series!

Prior to 2008, the Union will restructure some of its current operations (most dates of major 2008 tournaments will not be changed) and ranking system; adopting some of the USSSA’s current rules and regulations to further assist unifying all regions and states.

Keys of the USSSA and MCFFU Partnership:

• More national exposure for teams, players, and most importantly the game of flag football
• The ability of the MCFFU to maintain its independence, complete control over all MCFFU/USSSA flag Football operations, HOF selections and staffing the National Board of Directors, Commissioners and Directors (State & Regional).
• Better incentive packages for regional, state, tournament directors and refs
• Provide an official National Referee Association, headed by Andre Bankston and the Florida Associations of Sports Officials to improve game management
• Turn-key operations currently operating in select states under the USSSA Flag Football division that will plug directly into the MCFFU’s current network
• Access to more quality fields, including Disney’s Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL
• More insurance coverage for participating players
• An improved World Championship Qualifying and ranking system
• More national exposure and marketability to corporate sponsors
• Ability to market the flag game to different markets generated by the USSSA with membership currently in the millions, enhancing overall national competition
• Instant presence in 43 states, including Puerto Rico
• Section in the USSSA Hall of Fame in Kissimmee, FL for flag football including honoring inductees with a large portrait, a biographical plaque, HOF ring, official HOF Football and a memorabilia case in which to display mementos highlighting each players’ career
• A huge national staff supporting the MCFFU; teaming with 2,400 USSSA national directors

The Union has begun building its national staff of State and Regional Directors, Commissioners and Board of Directors to team with those currently provided by the USSSA; solidifying WC rules and regulations, implementing the WC Flag Football Officials training format (by the FASO) as well as fine-tuning the World Championship circuit.

The main objectives of the MCFFU still remains bringing more national exposure to competitive flag football than ever before; via television and other mass-media outlets, constantly improving our product/services and building the strongest national team possible to see the goals and objectives through to the end. 

By teaming with the USSSA, the team is that much stronger and attaining bigger goals can be achieved that much sooner.