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A NOTE TO OUR READERS:

Last month we introduced a new contributor to our IWFFA Flag Football Newsletter: Nassima Jaghar who writes "A Woman's Prerogative", which covers feminine issues around the world, is riveting and a must read.

 This month we introduce a new IWFFA Philosopher: Kim Hamlin, who is another solicitous

 writer, who shares a variety of thought-provoking topics. In addition, we've added an interesting section:: "Did You Know" by: Yoshi Bujek who shares about the origin of quotes you hear often in the English language, where they came from, their original meaning, thought provoking quotes.

I encourage you to read our other articles written to benefit teams, players, coaches and officials.  Long time writer: Alison Wood: "Let's Talk Flag Football"  who shares about flag football situations on and off the field and how to handle them. Georgeann Lewis, USA head official , covers: Officials Corner, where she writes directly to flag football officials helping them to understand better the rules, and how to handle certain situations.

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What Makes a Great Flag Football Team



You can have extremely talented players and you will not have a team. You can have a few extraordinary players and you still will not have a team. You might fill every position, have a well rounded squad and even still not have a team. Not until you develop a culture, a standard, a philosophy will you have a team. To do this you must have leadership. You must have off field leadership. Off field leadership, or sideline leadership, will come from starters. It will come from talented players but it does not necessarily have to come from the best players or the most gifted. Those players will be leaders on the field but they may not be the leaders that develop the team.

OFFICIALS

CORNER

Keeping the game in calm and in control

By Georgeann Lewis - Head Official U.S.A.

April 2025

Officiating women’s flag football is fun and rewarding. When things get emotional we can lose sight of this. Managing difficult personalities, players, coaches, or spectators requires patience, confidence, and strong communication skills. Here are some key tips to handle challenging situations effectively.

Establish authority early. As an official, it is your responsibility to set the tone. Set the tone on the first whistle, with clear, firm, and fair officiating. Be confident in your calls and positioning. Communicate proactively to prevent escalation. Stay calm and professional. Do not take complaints or arguments personally. Maintain a composed demeanor, even when others are upset. If someone raises their voice, lower yours. It forces them to listen. Be consistent and fair to avoid bias. Enforce rules the same way throughout the game. Be transparent in your decision-making. Use preventative communication. Give quick, clear explanations when making calls. If a player is frustrated, acknowledge their feelings but stay focused on the game. “I hear you, but this is what I saw”. This can help de-escalate. Set boundaries with coaches and players. If someone becomes too aggressive...

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Meet: Marina Gernaat

& ARTICLES

The revolution isn’t coming ... it’s already here.

We are living in a time of undeniable transformation. Across the globe, the world is shifting socially, politically, technologically, and culturally. Ideas once considered radical are now becoming reality. Voices once silenced are rising with strength. Structures that once seemed immovable are beginning to bend. In the heart of this change lies a silent revolution that’s gaining momentum: the rise of women. But as the world moves forward, we are faced with an urgent question, are women changing with the world, or are they the ones driving this change?

While women have always contributed to the evolution of society, they have often done so behind the scenes, with little recognition or reward. Now, the tide is turning. More women are taking up space as leaders, visionaries, scientists, athletes, and activists. From climate movements to boardrooms, from grassroots organizing to high-level diplomacy, women are no longer waiting for permission. They are redefining what power looks like, not by mirroring patriarchal models, but by reshaping them with empathy, inclusion, and resilience.

Meet Kim Hamlin

Introducing IWFFA 's Newest Philosopher: Kim Hamlin

Kim Hamlin has been an athlete (softball shortstop, soccer, football, basketball, and swimming), musician, and writer most of her life. She has lived in most of the eastern states in the US and in Ontario, Canada, as well as Germany for four years. She loves to meet people and explore different cultures - and has visited most of the western European countries and Israel so far. Getting ready to slide into retirement, she and her wife sold their house in Northern Virginia in September 2025 and moved into their RV full time to travel around the country. Since they're both still working, travel has mostly been between New York, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida. After retirement, Kim hopes to spend more time writing, playing music, and traveling.

Welcome Kim! 

HOW BIG IS YOUR WORLD?

When I was about 15, it occurred to me that all of the agonizing I was doing about whether I was wearing the right thing, saying the right thing, or the dumb thing I couldn’t stop being embarrassed about was a total waste of my energy and I was suffering for nothing. I don’t remember what brought the revelation, but I realized that every single other person around me – the jockiest jock, the brainest brain, and the coolest of the cool – were all worrying about the same things. The realization that everyone spends almost zero time thinking anything about me and way more time thinking about what everyone thinks of them was profoundly freeing. And it helped me to be gentler and kinder to the people around me.

When you’re in the middle of a game, it's really easy to put your head down – only paying attention to the ball and the play you’re trying to make or stop. It’s easy to forget to see the whole field, all of the moving parts, and that every single person on the field (players, coaches, referees, and spectators) is bringing their life experiences – good and sometimes really bad – to the field with them. And it’s easy to not see every single person on the field as a human – a beautiful person with value, humor, hopes, fears, dreams, and insecurities.

"Blood is Thicker Than Water"

Why would you use a quote instead of your own words? First of all, if it conveys it concisely, why not? Or, what if someone else’s words explain it better than you could? Regardless of the reason, quotes are used everywhere. Sometimes, the quotes we are using to get our point across are incomplete, or completely misunderstood.



“Blood is thicker than water” is one such quote. This speaks to the idea that family is the closest bond you can have. But where did this come from? There are different theories as to the origin of the quote but it seems to have originated in the 10th and 11th century in Flanders and Germany. A satirical symbol, Reynard the Fox, is credited with the proverb, “I also hear it said that kin-blood is not spoiled by water.” This was interpreted to mean that even baptism could not erase the lines of family. Which is where many believe the saying came from, although currently religion is rarely the reason this is said.

Another take is that the full saying is actually, “the blood of the covenant is thicker than the waters of the womb.” This is actually not a religious slant and it leans in the opposite direction. Think of a covenant ascontracts, promises, or agreements. Combine that with medieval feudalism and the vassal/lord relationship; that these promises are stronger than the family you were born into. This is in direct opposition of the modern-day interpretation that family is more important than others.

This quote has two different origin stories and neither align fully with why we say it today. We have alsomanaged to shorten it and let’s be honest, it is easier to remember fewer words. So, the next time you quote someone, even if you don’t know who you’re quoting, keep in mind that over time sayings can morph into meaning something completely different. Crazy to think that what we may say today may be the opposite of what it will mean in the future.

https://auralcrave.com/en/2023/04/11/blood-is-thicker-than-water-the-full-quote-and-its-origin/

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Reynard-the-Fox-literary-character

MEET YOSHI

Yoshi Bujek is a cook, a housekeeper, a mother, an organizer, a chauffeur, a working and voting citizen. She likes to garden, although she doesn't have a green thumb, and enjoys actively participating in fighting the patriarchy. She likes reading and writing, learning new and odd facts that are usually useless. She also enjoys taking naps and working for equality. But, unfortunately, she only gets paid for one of these roles. 

Yoshi contributes each month well known Quotes and their history.

Welcome Yoshi

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