PVDGFFL: 2023 Fall Open Division Rhody Cup & Playoffs

Volume 5, Issue 26

2023 Fall Open Division Rhody Cup & Playoffs

After a great regular season, we're excited for this weekend's Rhody Cup Playoffs!

Read below for important information about this weekend, including:

Saturday, November 11:

Sunday, November 12:

Fall 2023 Open Division End of Season Party at GPub (61 Orange St, Providence, RI 02903) from 12-3pm. Please note that only registered players and supporters are able to attend.

Be sure to also check out information about 2024 Tournament Try-Outs (on November 19) and 2024 PVDGFFL Board Applications (due November 19).

Just a reminder: for the safety of others, PLEASE stay home if you are feeling ill!

Saturday's Forecast:

Rhody Cup & Playoffs Bracket

[Click for larger PDF of Bracket]

The fight for the Rhody Cup is a single-elimination tournament. We encourage you to stay for the entire day and cheer on your football family as the tournament field is narrowed down. The Championship Game begins at 2:30pm with our final remaining teams fighting it out for the Rhody Cup. We encourage you to bring snacks and drinks as the games will go from 8:00am-3:30pm.

This season, we're also introducing the Rainbow Cup, which will take place at 11:45am. Any player whose team has been eliminated is eligible to play in this fun game. Players from all different teams (hence the "Rainbow") will be scrambled up to make two new teams that will play a fast-paced and casual game. The winners will receive a special surprise.

Substance Free Reminder

Please remember that, in accordance with our Code of Conduct, no one may play if they're under the influence of alcohol or any other substance. If you choose to 'partake' after you are done playing for the day (including in the Rainbow Cup), please do so discretely (no cans or bottles) and be sure to clean up before you leave the fields.

See below for our league policies:

Save the Date - 2024 Tournament Tryouts Will Be November 19

2023 was a GREAT year for our tournament teams, including two Pride Bowl Championships, a Gay Bowl Championship appearance, and countless league milestones.

As we look to build off the success of our 2023 showings, we'll be jumping into 2024 tournament preparations a little earlier than usual and with exciting plans for an expansion of our Women's+ tournament program.

Any player who wants to be considered for our 2024 Pride Bowl or Gay Bowl teams must complete this tournament interest form. In addition to the form, we'll be holding tryouts to ensure that everyone who wants to show off their skills has an opportunity to do so. Tryouts are not mandatory, but strongly encouraged.

Tryouts for our Open Division and Women's+ Pride Bowl and Gay Bowl tournament teams will be Sunday, November 19 from 1-3pm at our fields in Warwick.

We recognize that this time is shortly after the Women's 8's championship. We've made this plan in consultation with (and with buy-in from) the Women's+ captains and we're making accommodations for those players who will be playing in the championship earlier that day. The Women's+ tournament captains will be attending the championship that day to watch any players who are interested in being considered for the tournament teams.
Tryouts will consist of position-specific drills and a scrimmage.
All players will be able to choose whether to tryout with Open Division players or Women's+ players.

Holding the tryouts in November (instead of waiting until January/February as we did this year) allows us to 1) hold tryouts outside, where we have more space, time equipment, etc. 2) allows players to try out while they're still fresh from a season of football, instead of during the middle of winter 3) makes it easier for players to plan ahead/budget for tournaments, and 4) allows the tournament teams to practice throughout the winter and start team building activities. We believe this will make our teams even stronger next year.

More information about tournament logistics and an explanation of how teams are selected will be shared in the coming weeks. For now, we just want to put the tryout date out there so you can plan ahead.

2024 Board Applications Are Now Available

It takes a team of dedicated volunteers to keep our league running. Each year, we seek active league members to join our Board of Directors. If you'd like to help our league continue to grow and thrive, now's your chance!

Board applications are open through Sunday, November 19. Board responsibilities, positions, and applications are available here.

Interviews will be scheduled with all candidates in late November/early December. Elections will take place in mid-December, and the new Board will be announced in late December.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates