The Chicago Force

The Chicago Force, a women's tackle football team, is a force to be reckoned with. The team has only been around for six short years but already has two undefeated seasons and four division championships. The Force is definitely a star among the 41 teams in the league and the reason for this is because the women train hard while having full time jobs.

The league started in April but the women started training in January. With the help of a strength and conditioning coach, the players practice three times a week and exercise independently the other days. Practices with the team include weight lifting and running with a strong emphasis on injury prevention.

The team is made up of extraordinary athletes; most of the women played different sports in college ranging from softball to floor hockey. Sami Grisafe, who is the quarterback on the team, was also the first woman to play high school football on a Division 1 team. She gave up football her sophomore year in high school to pursue a sport she could get a college scholarship, despite the fact that the year before she was voted captain by the boys on the team. Luckily, she did not have to give up football for too long.

The Chicago Force usually has about 100 women tryout, although as the year progresses the team shrinks to about 45 due to injury and the time commitment. Who knows if I keep lifting maybe I can be the next member of the Chicago Force? Never mind, I forgot, I need to make sure I don't hurt my writing hand.

-Dana Fine