Womens Tackle Football

The Independent Women's Football League has grown from four teams nine years ago to almost 50 teams and more than 2,000 players today. Who knew?

Many hours of practices, film sessions and coaching were about to culminate in 12 plays at quarterback before my friends, my family, and perhaps most important by now, my coach and the 50 women I was calling "teammates."

I've never felt so sheepish in my life. In my notes from my initial tryout with the Chicago Force women's tackle football team, it says in all caps: "WHAT AM I DOING????"