More than 220 women representing 17 countries will gather Tuesday, March 1 through Sunday, March 6 in New Orleans for the third annual Women's World Tackle Football Games.
Hosted by USA Football, the sport's national governing body and recognized by the U.S. Olympic Committee, the six-day event features female tackle football players from around the world coming together to learn, play, improve and network. During the event, athletes will be instructed by some of USA Football's top coaches.
USA Football's 2016 Women's World Tackle Football Games focuses on further developing female tackle football players. American football is played in more than 70 countries spanning six continents. The USA Football event provides in-depth experience to assist in skill development through drills and scrimmages, while also giving women an opportunity to showcase their talent during competitive games.
Practices and games will be held at the New Orleans Saints Training Facility.
The six-day event offers player development sessions as well as opportunities for registrants to mentor other participants. Throughout the 2016 Women's World Football Games, participants will attend sessions, practices, position meetings, player/coach meetings and social activities. Players will also attend seminars led by New Orleans Saints Director of Sports Nutrition Jamie Meek and first female NFL coach Jen Welter.
Competitive games will be played 8 a.m., 10:15 a.m. and 12:30 a.m. CT Sunday, March 6, on the indoor field of the New Orleans Saints Training Facility, 5800 Airline Drive, in Metairie.
"USA Football is committed to developing female tackle football players from across the globe," USA Football Director of Football Development Samantha Rapoport said in a news release. "In its first year, the Women's World Football Games attracted 77 women from nine countries. Both of these figures have nearly doubled in the past two years, as more women worldwide become eager to learn and enhance their skills in the sport."
Countries represented in the 2016 Women's World Tackle Football Games:
- Austria
- Brazil
- Canada
- China
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Hungary
- Japan
- Norway
- Russia
- Spain
- Sweden
- United Kingdom
- United States
