2011 GAY BOWL

PLAYER SURVEY
January ± February 2011
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
OBJECTIVES
The NGFFL was interested in learning from the people that make up its member
teams the following:
1) Do people care about the national league (meaning, flag football in cities other than
their own), or could they be compelled to care if given a reason?
2) What would people love to see from gay flag football nationally over the next five
years, if they were imagining?

METHODOLOGY
An online survey was conducted starting in January and ending February 2011. The
target respondents came from the Phoenix Gay Bowl list of players. This list was
approximately 340 strong and 148 completed ± a very strong 44% response rate.

Respondents «
y Were from 24 teams representing 19 different cities
y 22% classified themselves as a team captain while 73% identified as a player
y 83% came from a city with a league
y 17% were from a city that has no league but sends a team to the Gay Bowl
y 89% identified themselves as gay, while 9% identified as straight
y 38% did not play in the prior Gay Bowl (Washington, DC)
 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
KEY FINDINGS
RIWKHUHVSRQGHQWVIHOWWKH\XQGHUVWRRGWKHSXUSRVHRQWKH1*))/7KLVZDVVXSSRUWHGE\WKHUHVSRQGHQWV¶XQ-
aided responses to the role of the NGFFL. These responses generally paralleled the direction that the NFFFL board
is considering for its forward looking plan. Respondents expect the NGFFL to promote and grow its member
leagues/teams; to support and promote the gay athletes that play the sport; and to support tournaments including, but
not limited to, the Gay Bowl.

Never-the-less, the NGFFL could improve the communications between it and its members as only about 37% of the
respondents felt that they received too much or the right amount of communication. The most suggested tool for
increasing the communication channels was an annual player survey (such as this one).

The results provide a solid foundation for the direction of the NGFFL board to follow. Respondents suggest the focus
on helping establish and grow leagues and programs in cities where they don't currently exist and raising awareness
of gay flag football in both the LGBT and broader sports communities.

Supporting existing, or helping to establish, local leagues is a primary focus of the board and expectation of the
NGFFL members. They are most interested in structured mentoring from established gay flag football programs
elsewhere, as well as a 'how to' toolkit. The specific needs of local leagues are centered on strategies for the
recruitment and retention of players and league operations (board, organizational management, and administration).
On a positive note, 77% of the respondents indicated that serve in some sort of mentoring/information sharing role ±
suggesting that they are engaged and extremely interested in seeing this sport growing and thriving.

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teams. Topics within the survey focused on the direction the Gay Bowl should follow. 'HYHORSPHQWRIDZRPHQ¶V
division should proceed with further research into its viability. Still, more than a quarter of the 19 cities represented in
the survey indicated that there would likely be enough interest to field DZRPHQ¶Vteam. There is more of a split
opinion on the idea of forming multiple divisions within the Gay Bowl. This is further complicated by the split in opinion
about how to handle such a set-up: whether teams should be allowed to play into upper divisions once at the Gay
Bowl. Straight players in the Gay Bowl has the potential to be a hot topic. While there is very strong support for
allowing straight players to play, most believe that the number per team should be limited. The general opinion seems
to focus on the difficulty for truly enforcing a straight player limit and that, in a league preaching tolerance, excluding
certain people seems counter intuitive. Still, there are those that have a strong opinion that straight players should not
even be allowed to play ± that this is first and foremost about gay athletes.

Potential sponsors should find strong reason to consider the NGFFL. Players indicated their strong support for
sponsoring organizations ± in excess of the numbers generally seen in the gay community at large. A profile
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sponsors.
Role and Focus
 NGFFL ROLE
"To promote and help grow flag
football within the gay community. To
serve as a resource for bringing teams
together to compete against one
another. It should consider everyone,
however. My team in Phoenix had 2
players under age 21. It's ironic that
every event is centered on a bar that
doesn't make exceptions for such
events (not allowing them to drink, but
allowing to enter). As a result, we
didn't attend many of the events."
"There should be more cohesion
among the different local leagues...it
seems that the only interaction we
have with people from the other cities
is just once a year at Gay Bowl.
NGFFL should do more to put on
other tournaments, activities, etc. to
foster a greater brotherhood among
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"To promote gay flag football
nationally, to help grow to new cities
and expand within existing cities. to
share best practices and ideas across
cities and not just be focused on
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"More outreach to the non LGBT
community, every ally is important and
sports is a great bridge between the
'straight' and LGBT communities."
y The unaided responses provided indicate that the respondents share the same thoughts on the role
of the NGFFL: league growth/support; promotion of the players; and involvement in tournaments
(including non-Gay Bowl).
When thinking about the NGFFL, do you have any initial thoughts you'd like to offer on what the purpose, role, or vision of the NGFFL
should be?
"To be a better leader as a unit to give info about up coming
tournaments and be more involved with every city. It should be the
"Foundation for support, including
umbrella organization but it seems as though it's just there as a
providing structure, like rules, to
board to tell people what rules are for gay super bowl. It should be
regional/local teams and
much more than that. Helping out more with budgets for gay super
supporting/organizing national
bowl etc. If it already does that then I haven't heard that or received
events including Gay Bowl."
any info."
"I wish that there was more
publicity in gay magazines,
League/team/city  support 25% publications, websites about the
league."
Support/promote  gay  athletes/sport/tolerance 25%
"I would like to see more
Tournaments/Event  Support  (Gay  Bowl, others) 22% communication between the
NGFFL and the individual
Forum  for  gay  flag  football  players  to  play/interact 17% players. Also would like to see a
mission statement, if one exists.
Community  outreach/promotion 8% Is it to support gay athletes or
gay/straight athletes to
Communication  to  members 7% breakdown stereotypes?"
Consideration  of  various  players  (non-­‐LGBT,  age) 4% "I think the main goal of the
NGFFL would be to help develop
General 2% new teams in cities around the
country as well as develop
Flag  football  training  (rules,  etc) 2% national tournaments in addition
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Not  sure  what  it  is 1%
"It would have been nice to have
Other 17% a Directory of players to keep in
touch."
BOARD FOCUS
Mean Rank  #1 Rank  Top3
Helping  establish  and  grow  leagues  and  programs  in  cities  where  they  
2.4 34% 77%
don't  currently  exist.

Raising  awareness  of  gay  flag  football  in  both  the  LGBT  and  broader  sports  
2.8 23% 66%
communities

Spearheading  and  supporting  a  high-­‐quality  Gay  Bowl  experience. 3.0 20% 60%

Identifying  and  recruiting  national  corporate  partnerships  in  which  local  

3.1 13% 62%
leagues  and  programs  can  opt  in  to  participate

Strengthening  the  quality  and  level  of  on-­‐field  officiating,  both  at  the  Gay  
3.6 10% 35%
Bowl  and  at  the  local  level.

y 5HVSRQGHQWVZDQWWRVHHOHDJXHVJURZDQGGHYHORSLQFLWLHVZKHUHWKH\GRQ¶WFXUUHQWO\
exist. Support for these endeavors was the top focus suggested.
y Raising awareness is also a key suggested focus. This, like league development,
correlates with the unaided suggestions seen in response to the NGFFL role.

What would you like to see the NGFFL Board focus on during 2011? Please tell us how you would prioritize the below areas of work. Give a '1' to the work you see as top priority, a
'2' to what you view as second priority, and so forth for each of the areas of work - using each number, 1 thru 5.
NGFFL ASSISTING LOCAL LEAGUES
Total League  City No/NS  League  City
Mean Rank  #1 Mean Rank  #1 Mean Rank  #1
Provide  structured  mentoring  from  established  gay  flag  
2.2 39% 2.1 40% 2.5 32%
football  programs  elsewhere

Provide  an  authoritative  'how  to'  toolkit 2.6 27% 2.5 30% 3.2 12%

Provide  seed  funding 3.1 22% 3.2 19% 2.4 36%

Train  local  referees 3.6 7% 3.6 7% 3.6 8%

Ongoing  series  of  online  videos  full  of  tips  from  successful  
3.6 5% 3.6 4% 3.3 12%
leagues  on  'taking  your  league  to  the  next  level'

y In non-league cities, Seed Funding was viewed as the most valuable resource from
the NGFFL, followed by a mentoring program.
y League cities are most interested in the functioning of the league, finding Mentoring
3URJUDPVDQGDµ+RZ7R¶7RRONLWDVWKHPRVWYDOXDEOHUHVRXUFHVWKH\FRXOGUHFHLYHIURP
the NGFFL.
y Online videos and Referee Training were not considered high priorities for the NGFFL to
pursue.
How would you prioritize these various options the national league could pursue to assist new and growing local leagues? Give a '1' to the
work you see as top priority, a '2' to what you view as second priority, and so forth for each of the areas of work - using each number, 1
thru 5.
 NGFFL MENTORING PROGRAM
League and non-league cities share
top interest in mentorship topics.
Total League  City No/NS  League  City
Mean Rank  #1 Mean Rank  #1 Mean Rank  #1
Recruitment  and  retention  of  players 2.7 25% 2.8 23% 2.4 36%

Board,  organizational  management,  and  

3.0 35% 3.0 37% 3.3 24%
administration

Team  formation,  captaining,  creating  happy  players 3.4 16% 3.4 17% 3.9 8%

Finding  local  sponsors 4.3 8% 4.4 7% 3.8 16%

Game  officiating  and  educating  players  on  rules  of  play 4.6 8% 4.7 7% 4.3 12%

Fields,  equipment  and  other  logistics 4.9 3% 4.8 2% 5.1 4%

Development  of  on-­‐the-­‐field  skills  and  strategy 5.0 5% 4.9 7% 5.3 0%

y League cities are looking for help in two areas: Recruitment/Retention of players and
Board/Organization Management/Admin. Player recruitment/retention was ranked a top 3 area by
72% of respondents. Board/Organization Management/Admin was selected in the top 3 by 62% of
respondents, but ranked #1 more frequently than the other areas.
y Non-league cities were more clear in their top need: Recruitment and Retention of players. Not
only was this ranked #1 most frequently, 76% of the respondents ranked it a top 3 area. Player
recruitment/retention was followed by Board/Organizational Management/Admin.

The NGFFL is launching a mentoring program to connect leaders from successful leagues around the country to leaders of growing and aspiring local leagues who would like to
participate. Below is a list of areas in which these mentors might be able to provide tips, techniques, tools, perspectives, and feedback. Please tell us how you would prioritize these
areas. Give a '1' to the area you see as top priority, a '2' to what you view as second priority, and so forth - using each number, 1 thru 7.
 COMMUNICATION TOOLS
Mean Ranked  1 Ranked  1  or  2
Annual  Gay  Bowl  player  surveys 1.9 41% 72%
An  annual  meeting  at  the  Gay  Bowl 2.5 22% 51%
Structured  online  dialogue  on  Facebook 2.7 18% 44%
All-­‐are-­‐welcome  conference  calls 2.9 18% 32%

y Surveys are the most preferred tool for increasing communication

with the NGFFL.
y Respondents were divided on the other options ± each having
some potential logistical hurdles.

The NGFFL is committed to hearing much more from local league leaders and Gay Bowl players on a variety of topics related to the future of the NGFFL, the Gay Bowl, and gay flag football
nationally. Below is a list of tools that might assist in achieving this objective. Please tell us how you would prioritize the below tools. Give a '1' to the tool you see as top priority, a '2' to what
you view as second priority, and so forth for each of the tools - using each number, 1 thru 4.
 Overall, respondents feel that the Gay Bowl presents a
welcoming environment to new teams and players (85%).
This opinion was common among recently new teams
(Cleveland Rockers, Jacksonville Metros, Philadelphia
Revolution, Pittsburgh Ironmen, San Antonio Diablos).
Welcoming Not
Additional topics explored: Existing  Team 86% 14%
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New  Team 82% 18%
Inclusion of straight players
Multiple teams from a city Total 85% 15%
Quality of officiating

Do you believe the Gay Bowl is presenting a welcoming environment for new teams and players?
 GAY BOWL FORMAT
36%
64%
57% 43%

Teams decide Teams assigned

Divisions As is Teams  Decide Teams  Assigned

Teams  play  into  upper  division 49% 65%
Separate  divisions 51% 35%

y There is a slight preference for keeping the Gay Bowl format as is: with pool
play leading to two (or more) playoff brackets.
y Should the Gay Bowl be divided into divisions, almost two-thirds prefer that
teams be allowed to register for the division they prefer.
y Almost two-thirds of those that believe teams should be assigned a division prefer believe that
teams should be allowed to play into the upper division.
The Gay Bowl has grown so large and successful that there is some discussion of creating separate 'competitive' and 'recreational' divisions. Would you personally like to see the Gay Bowl
split into 2 divisions?
If the Gay Bowl were to create two such divisions - competitive and recreational - what method would you prefer for assigning teams to divisions?
And, during the actual Gay Bowl, which of the following would be your preferred method of handling the two divisions?
 WOMEN¶S DIVISION Enough
Interest
Denver 100%
n=9

44% New  York 80%

56% n=15

Chicago 67%
n=9

Boston 60%
n=10

Washington,  DC 55%

Strive to create Don't n=11

y While there was some positive support for the development of a

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Given the unknown elements, this is a topic that likely should be
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y Certain cities showed a greater belief that enough would interest would
H[LVWWRILHOGDZRPHQ¶VWHDP5HVSRQGHQWVIURPILYHFLWLHVLQSDUWLFXODU
(Boston, Chicago, Denver, New York, and Washington, DC) believe that
their city/area would be able to support a team. Each of these cities had
a large enough number of respondents to indicate a general pattern;
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It could be argued that an organization with the title 'National Gay Flag Football League' should include more members of the LGBT community. Do you think the NGFFL should strive to create
a women's division of the Gay Bowl?
As best you can say, do you think there would be enough interested women from your city/area to field a team in such a division?
 STRAIGHT PLAYERS
"I believe in the Honor System but a Disclaimer/Warning should be given to teams that if they
violate such rule, their team and players are not allowed to play for two years and any awards
will be taken away. The Board needs to be active in ensuring this policy is enforced, especially
during Gay Bowl."
10%
"I don't think the 'honor system' is a viable option because we have already seen it taken
20% advantage of, however, it seems to be the only option at the moment, unless we start labeling
straight players with a 'scarlet letter' to identify them for playing purposes. It is clear and
70% obvious, despite denials from some of the top teams that they don't recruit, that they do and
they skirt the 'Integrity Rule' by claiming straight players are gay."

"If a straight man wants to play he should be allowed to. Just as No straight league should
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"I think its silly to limit the amount of straight players. Our league invites them to participate
and it is a positive for both them and our league. To limit straight players is to say that the gay
ones are inferior."
Yes, limited Yes, unlimited Not allowed
"This question is so ridiculous and I cannot stress that enough. The fact that straight players
are even allowed in this league makes the mission a joke! I am not the only person that feels
this way either. I will give you an example. It would be similar to a Caucasian male receiving a
scholarship from the United Negro College Fund. The law doesn't allow for this because there
are other scholarships available to the Caucasian student as well. This is the same for us.
There are a ton of options for straight players to play flag football. Also, the titles won by the
teams are kind of a joke because the first allegation that surfaces by the rest of the
tournament teams is that Team A must have won because of all their straight players etc. If
you allow straight players then stop representing that this is a gay bowl."

y Fully 90% of respondents believe straight players should be allowed to play, but 70%
overall believe there should be a limit on the number.
y 66% believe that the honor system is a viable option for enforcing straight player
OLPLWV&RPPHQWVDERXWHQIRUFHPHQWLQGLFDWHWKLVFRXOGEHDVHQVLWLYHWRSLF«
although hard to enforce.
Do you believe the Gay Bowl should be open to straight players?
Do you believe that the 'honor system' is a viable option for limiting the number of straight players who play in the Gay Bowl?
 ADDITIONAL TEAMS
11%
32%
Understand  Process Captain Player
Completely/Somewhat 81% 49% 57%
Not  at  all 19% 51%

Completely Somewhat Not at all

y Only 57% of the total respondents understand the process of selecting

additional teams. This is largely skewed, however, by those that identify
themselves as players. Team captains ± likely those most involved in national
matters ± largely understand the process, with over 80% indicating they
completely or somewhat understand the process.
y Most that do understand the process believe that it is a completely or somewhat
fair process (89%).

How well do you understand the process by which second/additional teams (additional teams from a city already sending a 'primary' team) are selected to compete in the Gay Bowl?
Do you believe the process by which second/additional teams (additional teams from a city already sending a 'primary' team) are selected is fair and equitable?
 SELECTION CRITERIA
Size  of  local  league 89%
Whether  the  city  has  paid  its  dues  on  time 61%
Status  as  a  Gay  Bowl  host  city  or  previous  host  city 49%
Number  of  referees  city  is  sending 32%
Whether  a  city  has  held  another  tournament  during  that  year 27%
Other  (please  specify) 24%

y Size of the local league was most supported as a selection criteria.

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y Combined, there seems to be a trend toward limiting the restrictions on
cities sending multiple teams.

Select any and all of the below criteria that you believe should be taken into consideration when determining if a city can send additional teams to the Gay Bowl?
 OFFICIATING ISSUES
Concerns Improvement Suggestions
Lack  of  Consistency 48% Better  training/preparation 53%
Not  enforcing/knowing  rules 32% Pre-­‐Testing 16%
Biased 30% External  refs  or  evaluation 16%
Lack  of  quality,  general 5% No  ties  to  teams  playing 13%
Attitude 4% More  than  2  refs 9%
Teams  grade  refs 9%
"The Gay Bowl officiating needs to be more consistent.
Too many officials are misinformed about the rules and Uniformity  between  leagues  and  national 7%
many are not on the same page."

"Generally it can be inconsistent. That's always an

issue with referees, but rules need to be interpreted
consistently. Often you will play 1 game where a rule is
applied one way only to have it applied differently in
your next game. It's hard to compete when you are
adjusting to how referees will apply the rules."
Enforce  rules 2%
"If it isn't done already, ask local leagues to suggest refs from their leagues that they feel are
good enough to ref at the national level. Maybe have some sort of timed online quiz that tests a
refs ability to interpret various situations and apply rules correctly. Provide ongoing training ... not
just in the week(s) leading to the Gay Bowl. Ask local leagues to assist in applying the training
from NGFFL."

"People should not referee games involving their own city teams except in the championship
game - the championship game should feature the best referees regardless of where they are
from."

y Officiating concerns focused primarily on the lack of consistency, knowledge of the rules, and
perceived bias toward certain teams.
y As such, suggestions for improvement focused on better training/preparation of officials leading
up to the Gay Bowl.
The NGFFL board strives to ensure fair and effective officiating at the Gay Bowl. If there are any specific concerns you have about the quality of the officiating at the Gay
Bowl, please write them in the box below.
And, what specific suggestions - if any - do you have to improve the overall quality of officiating at the Gay Bowl?
Attitudes and
Demographic Profile
 SPONSORSHIP
Strongly/Somewhat  
Agree
The  company's  sponsorship  makes  me  more  inclined  to  view  that  company  as  
97%
a  supporter  of  the  GLBT  community  and  champion  of  equality
I  appreciate  its  sponsorship  in  helping  to  make  the  gay  flag  football  possible 100%
I  would  be  more  likely  to  be  loyal  to  the  corporate  sponsor's  brand  and  choose  
93%
its  products

y There is a strong message to potential

sponsors: players involved with the NGFFL
relate strongly to sponsors. All three
attributes scored in excess of 90%, and
everyone agreed with that they appreciate
the sponsorship from companies.
y Similar questions asked across the gay
FRPPXQLW\VHHUHVXOWVLQWKH¶VWRORZ
¶V

How much do you agree or disagree with the following statements about a potential sponsor of gay flag football?
DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE

y When approaching potential sponsors, key

demographics fall as such:
y 64% have a yearly income of $50,000 or more

y 89% are between the ages of 26 and 50

y 50% are Single, 50% married or with partner

y 7% have children