Sprint football

Sprint football, formerly called lightweight football, is a varsity sport played by United States colleges and universities, under standard American football rules. The sport is currently governed by the Collegiate Sprint Football League.

In sprint football, players must maintain a weight of 172 lbs or less and a minimum of 5% body fat to be eligible to play. The end result of these weight restrictions is that, unlike conventional collegiate football which places a premium on body weight and strength, sprint football emphasizes speed and agility.[1]

Competition

Current CSFL Members
SchoolYear joined
University of Pennsylvania1934
Princeton University1934
Cornell University 1937
US Naval Academy (Navy)1946
US Military Academy (Army)1957
Mansfield University2008
Post University2010
Franklin Pierce University2012
Chestnut Hill College[2]2015

As of 2014, there are eight teams in the CSFL; of the eight, five are private universities (three being schools in the Ivy League, and one being a for-profit institution) and two are national military academies; currently Mansfield University of Pennsylvania is the only state university or college playing sprint football. All nine teams are located in the northeastern United States. Three teams have been added since the 2008 season; none of the new additions have full-size varsity football teams. A ninth team is set to be added in 2015, likely on a probational basis for the first year.[2] The other five teams (all of which have been in the CSFL since 1957) have full-size football teams that compete in NCAA Division I—the service academies in the top-tier FBS, and the Ivy League schools in the second-level FCS. Each team plays a seven game season.[3] It is not uncommon for the CSFL teams to play against full-size junior varsity squads from other schools (in 2012, for instance, the Army sprint team scheduled a game against SUNY Maritime); this was generally more common before the CSFL began expanding in 2008. In addition, Army, Cornell, Princeton, and Penn all hold alumni games in which sprint football alumni return to campus for a full-contact scrimmage against the varsity squad. The alumni games serve the dual purpose of raising funds to support the team and maintaining alumni interest in the program.[4] Typically, the alumni have to donate a monetary weight penalty (e.g., $2 per pound) for weighing above the 172-pound limit.[5]

The CSFL does not hold any sort of postseason (playoff or bowl), and the season championship is decided solely by regular season record.

Weight limit

CSFL rules require that players must meet a 172-pound weight, that they also must have a minimum body fat content of 5.0% by weight and a urine specific gravity of 1.020 or less. Players with a body fat of under 5% must weigh no more than 165 pounds. The body fat requirement exists to discourage players from losing excessive weight.[1] League rules specify official weigh-ins four days and two days before each game with players allowed to gain back weight after meeting the weight limit but must remain under 177 pounds to practice with the team. Body fat and urine are tested once during the preseason.[3]

Notable players and coaches

See also

External links

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Thompson, Adam (2008-09-26). "A Small League for Little Dudes Is the New Hope at Mansfield U.". Wall Street Journal. p. A1.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Sprint Football Comes to the Hill; Chestnut Hill College Joins Collegiate Sprint Football League, Grows Griffin Pride". Griffin Athletics. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "CSFL Rules -- 2010 Season". Collegiate Sprint Football League. 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  4. ↑ "Army Sprint Football To Host Alumni Game". US Department of Defense. 2009-06-02. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  5. ↑ "A Video History of the Sprint Football Alumni Game is Now Available on YouTube". Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  6. ↑ Cornell Athletics Dept. (2008). "The Collegiate Sprint Football League" (PDF). Cornell Spirit Football Media Guide. p. 18.