Baltimore/Washington's Ausball

Almost since the day I got involved in USFooty, I’ve been trying to think of ways to get our game out to the US masses. Break down the misconceptions about the violence of the game, accentuate the skills and athleticism and if only we could get them to play, they’ll find out what a great game Australian Football is to play. Plus, along the way make my passion my job and actually make a living out of it. But how to do it? It’s my personal equivalent of the missing link.

Well it’s a long way from the masses, but I just may have found the link to get us there. Alarmed at the amazing growth of sports and social leagues (sometimes called beer leagues) in Baltimore over the last ten years, I’ve been toying with a way to come up with a modified version of footy to tap into this market (over 45,000 members just in my area alone, from 0 ten years ago). Ironically, the answer has been in front of me for a long time. The modified games I get the kids in schools to play. Just add a couple more rules for the adults, but keep it simple and very basic.

I also decided I wanted complete novices to the game so everyone would be on the same level. I approached the owner of the Kickball league of Baltimore (started 5 years ago with four teams and now has 240) and worked out a deal to run some exhibition games during the opening games of their fall season in the hope I could get four teams together and get a league started. We ended up with six teams and have just completed our inaugural season of a game I call Ausball. Over 90 players, most of who had never heard of Australian Football, have just finished 7 rounds of games and a week of playoffs. I surveyed the players and the feedback has been unbelievable, they can’t wait to play again in the spring and I’m confident we’ll at least double the amount of teams. A good percentage of them (interestingly more of the girls than guys) want to learn about playing the “real” version of the game.

It’s too early to call yet, but I just may have found the way to educate the masses about our game, recruit players to our club and make a buck or two along the way. For now, I’ll just say watch this space. If you’d like to know more about ausball, contact me at usfootykids@usfooty.com

Below is a wrap up of our playoff games:

Finals
By the White Maggot

Congratulations to Majerks on running out comfortable winners in the inaugural Ausball Fall season. Undefeated all year, they had no trouble accounting for a depleted Garaj Mahal who had lost five players to a cross country road trip (check out www.daveforddoesearth.com to see what the guys are up to) but who none the less put up a great fight. Well done to coaches Crystal and Jorbie and the rest of the Majerks on being the first team to win the as yet unmade perpetual Ausball trophy.

Jose’s Ho’s and the Bohemenians were also comfortable winners in their playoff games  on the night.

Our MVP winner for the year is Katie (10) from Jose’s who pipped Nate (9) from Majerks with a sensational final game to win a $50 gift card from the Vineyard Wine & Spirits. Katie, who had a fantastic season for the Ho’s, was always dangerous around goals and when the ball was in dispute, well you had just better get out of her way!

Benny the Ball (11) headed up the goalkicking list but as he’s now halfway across the country and won’t be here to enjoy his prize (as an Aussie that’s obviously played a game or two he’s ineligible anyway) joint winners of the goalkicking award are Martine (Bohemenians) and Nate (Majerks) with 7 goals apiece. Both win $50 giftcards from the Vineyard.

For the full lists of MVP votegetters and goalkickers, please see the bottom of this report.

Response to the survey has been extremely positive and we will no doubt be seeing most of you next spring. At this stage, provided we can secure lighted fields, we will hopefully have leagues in both Canton and Federal Hill. To do this we will obviously need to expand and add more teams, so if you enjoyed playing Ausball this Fall, please spread the word. If you have not responded to the survey, please fill out the attached doc and send it back to me at usfootykids@usfooty.com

Finally I want to thank you all for coming out and giving Ausball a go. To have over 90 people come and play this season was far better than I could ever had expected. You’ve been a great bunch of people to get to know and I look forward to many good times ahead.

To keep us together from time to time during the winter we will be organizing different events. First up will be a British Olympics tournament at City Limits on Tuesday, Dec 11. This will be a four person to a team tournament where we’ll play all the indoor games that the British are famous for, like darts, pool, shuffleboard, etc. Full details to come, but keep the date free.

Results

Playoff for 1st place
Majerks   4     3     27   6     3     39
Garaj Majal   0     1       1   1     2       8

Goalkickers:
Majerks: Lara 2, Jason, Dan, Steph, Crystal 1
Garaj: Matt 1 

Playoff for 3rd place    
Jose’s Ho’s    1    6     11   5    10   40   
Canton Crows   1    1       7       1    2      8

Goalkickers   
Jose’s: Jen 2, Katie, Leah, Matt 1
Crows: Jason

Play off for 5th place
Bohemenians   0.  5.   5   3.   7.   25
Ausholes   0.  1.    1   1.   1.    1

Goalkickers
Bohemenians: Martine 2, Damien 1

Goalkicking Award
Goals
Benny  Garaj Mahal  11
Martine Bohemenians  7
Nate  Majerks  7
Kelly  Garaj Mahal  6
Katie  Jose’s Ho’s  6
Jen   Jose’s Ho’s  5
Stephanie Majerks  3
Jason  Majerks  3
Dan  Majerks  3
Crystal  Majerks  3
Lara  Majerks  3
Sherry  Ausholes  2
Alden  Ausholes  2
Gab  Canton Crows  2
Ricky  Canton Crows  2
Boxy  Canton Crows  2
Erica  Canton Crows  2
Jorbie  Majerks  2
Jeff  Ausholes  2
Beau  Majerks  2
Tim   Jose’s Ho’s  2
Matt  Jose’s Ho’s  2
Leah  Jose’s Ho’s  2
Damien Bohemenians  2
Dave One Garaj Mahal  1
Tazzie  Garaj Mahal  1
Daddio  Garaj Mahal  1
Wendy  Garaj Mahal  1
Cara  Ausholes  1
Chrissy Ausholes  1
Austine Ausholes  1
Greg  Ausholes  1
Kerry  Majerks  1
Quinlan Majerks  1
Misty  Majerks  1
Bam Bam Jose’s Ho’s  1
Justin   Jose’s Ho’s  1
Mac  Jose’s Ho’s  1  
Sonya  Canton Crows  1
Steve  Canton Crows  1
Scotty  Canton Crows  1
Julie  Canton Crows  1
Jason  Canton Crows  1
Stacey  Bohemenians  1
Bill  Bohemenians  1
Bill  Bohemenians  1
Sarah  Bohenenians  1
John  Bohemenians  1

MVP Award
Votes
Katie  Jose’s Ho’s  10
Nate  Majerks  9
Tazzie  Garaj Mahal  7
Kelly  Garaj Mahal  7
Alden  Ausholes  7
Stephanie Majerks  7
Scooter Majerks  6
Jeff  Ausholes  6
Damien Bohemenians  6
Sarah  Bohemenians  6
Ricky  Canton Crows  5
Justin  Jose’s Ho’s  5
Austin  Ausholes  4
Jeff  Canton Crows  4
Benny  Garaj Mahal  3
Mark  Garaj Mahal  3
Bam Bam Jose’s Ho’s  3
Julie  Canton Crows  3
Erica  Canton Crows  3
Bob  Bohemenians  3
Lori  Garaj Mahal  2
Dave Two Garaj Mahal  2
Sherry  Ausholes  2
Sean  Jose’s Ho’s  2
Colleen Jose’s Ho’s  2
Dawn  Jose’s Ho’s  2
Matt  Jose’s Ho’s  2
Bill  Bohemenians  2
Stacey  Bohemenians  2
Misty  Majerks  2
Quinlan Majerks  2
Jason  Majerks  2
Lauren  Ausholes  2
Leah  Jose’s Ho’s  1
Jen  Jose’s Ho’s  1
Tim  Jose’s Ho’s  1
Bob  Bohemenians  1
Kerry  Majerks  1

Denis Ryan
USFootyKids National Coordinator

- Denis Ryan
(1039)