USAFL Central Regional Tournament Schedule Announced

NOTE: This article has been updated with the new game schedule released on 6/5/16, as well as the live stream link.

Though the state of Indiana has long been known as a basketball powerhouse and the home of the largest auto race in the world, time has brought new sporting interests to the Hoosier state.  Football, soccer, Gaelic football and cricket have all gained popularity in one of the country’s fastest growing cities.

And so it would only be fitting that, in that vein of growth and diversity that, for one weekend, the city known as the Crossroads of America be the site where some of America’s best Australian football teams

The 2016 USAFL Regional Tournament series begins in earnest next weekend with the Central Regional Tournament, hosted by the Indianapolis Giants Australian Football Club.  The tournament will be live streamed on Go Live Sports Cast.

Twelve teams comprising of thirteen USAFL clubs will take part in the tournament, to be held at the new Indianapolis World Sports Park.   The tournament itself will be part of a weekend full of festivities, including umpire’s clinics, national team training, as well an after party, sponsored by the Indiana City Brewing Company.

The teams will compete in three divisions of four teams each.  Each team will play the other teams in their division in a round-robin format, with the best record clinching the divisional title.  Any ties for position will be broken by percentage.

2016 Central Regional Tournament Groupings (USAFL Rankings as of 5/25/16)

This year’s division one field features four the top nine teams in the country, led by the defending USAFL National Champion Austin Crows.  Austin, who won last year’s Central Regional Tournament in Division 1 last year, in Racine, will face two familiar foes in Denver and Dallas.  The Crows defeated the Bulldogs twice last season, and have already turned back the Magpies twice here in 2016.  The Magpies are quite familiar with the Jackaroos, having defeated them in last year’s Central Regional Division 2 final.

The hometown Indianapolis Giants, who began play in 2014, will try to bring home its first piece of hardware in club history.  They’ll face a stiff test from Cleveland, Nashville, and a combined Des Moines/Milwaukee outfit.

In addition to the men’s matches, a women’s game will take place as well, pitting the Columbus Jillaroos and a combined team of players from the Tulsa Buffaloes, Chicago Swans, and Houston Lonestars.  The Jillaroos teamed with the New York Magpies to defeat the Minnesota Freeze in an exciting contest in last year’s Central tournament.

The USAFL Umpires Association will be conducting umpiring clinics on Friday night and again on Saturday at the ground prior to the game.   The USAFLUA is always looking for more perspective umpires, so anyone who is keen to do so should make plans to attend those sessions.

Following the action on Saturday, join the teams for the official after party at the Indiana City Brewing Company, 24 Shelby St, Indianapolis, IN 46202. 

Teams are asked to provide team sheets with names and numbers and list them in numerical order by Friday, June 10th.

Follow the action all weekend here, on facebook.com/usafl, and on Twitter @USAFL1997.  The hashtag for the weekend is #USAFLCRT

The full schedule of events, including the game schedule, is below:

Friday, June 10
7 - 10pm - Umpire Clinic Part 1 at Embassy Suites

Saturday, June 11
8 - 8:45am - Umpire Clinic Part 2 at Indy World Sports Park
9am – 6pm – USAFL Central Regional Tournament matches
8pm - After party at Indiana City Brewing Company

Sunday, June 12
9am - Club president's meeting at Embassy Suites

Game Schedule: All Games Played at Indianapolis World Sports Park:
UPDATED 6/5/16: