Obscure Sports News

Let’s take a look as some news from the obscure sports world:

Football League Brings Back Rebound Nets

The National Arena League (NAL) has announced that they will install rebound nets in the end zones similar to what was used in the defunct Arena Football League.  The rebound nets - which was once trademarked by the league - will mean that any kickoff or pass that hits the net remains in play.  The nets will add a new twist to the game as it did for the original Arena Football League.


Going Bananas

The Savannah Bananas announced 2022 was the last season for its summer-collegiate team that played in the CPL for seven seasons (2016-22). Since the team's start, it has operated both the amateur CPL team and a separate professional Savannah Bananas exhibition team, which played by different rules called "Banana Ball". This team played local off-season games against a team called the Party Animals and some tour-based games against independent professional teams. The organization will now concentrate on expanding "Banana Ball" to a year-round schedule for the Savannah Bananas professional exhibition team, which will play the rival Party Animals and other professional independent league teams across the country.


New Rugby League To Start…Maybe

The proposed new professional NARL, which will play under the 13-man "rugby league" rules, originally planned to start play in 2021 with 12 teams across the United States. The league has yet to start play in a 2022 season that was to be a "soft launch" for the league. The NARL is currently comprised of teams called the D.C. Cavalry, Atlanta Rhinos, Toronto Wolfpack, Cleveland Rugby League and New York Rugby League.


New Teams Coming Soon

Four leagues have added new expansion teams to begin play in their next seasons.


  • Fayetteville Mustangs will join the National Arena League (NAL) in 2023.  Then Mustangs will play at Cumberland County Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina.  They will be the NAL’s seventh team.  Fayetteville previously had the Cape Fear Wildcats (2002-2004), Fayetteville Guard (2005-2010), Fayetteville Force (2011) and Cape Fear Heroes (2012-2015, 2017-2019)
  • ICT Regulators will be the newest members in Champions Indoor Football next season.  The Regulators will be based in Wichita, Kansas.  They will play their home games in Hartman Arena.  I’m still not sure where the “ICT” comes from but from what I have found, it is the airport code for Wichita.  Would like a little more explanation about that one.  Wichita’s previous arena/indoor teams have been Wichita Stealth, Wichita Wild and Wichita Force.
  • Tulsa will be added to the Indoor Football League’s roster in 2023. They are still looking for a name and have narrowed it to Bison, Crude, Oilers, Tornado and Wildcatters.  The team is owned by Andy Scurto who also owns the Tulsa Oilers hockey team.  The team will call the BOK Center home.  Tulsa will be the IFL’s 16th team.  Tulsa previously had the Talons from 2009-2011.
  • Montreal Force will join the Premier Hockey Federation (PHF) for the upcoming season.  The PHF is a professional women’s ice hockey league.  The Force will be the league’s seventh team.  Home games will be played at Verdun Auditorium. Montreal will join Toronto as the league’s two Canadian franchises.  
  • The National Indoor Soccer League (NISL) has added the Tampa Bay Strikers and Central Florida Crusaders to the league.  The NISL is an indoor soccer league which features both women’s and men’s teams.  They will join the Columbus (GA) Rapids, Fayetteville (NC) Fury, Memphis Americans and Rome (GA) Gladiators.  Former NFL kicker Martin Gramatica will coach the Tampa Bay Strikers.

Obscure Leagues Crown Champions

League Champions were crowned in:

  • Major League Quadball (formerly Major League Quidditch) - Austin Outlaws.  The Outlaws won their fourth title by sweeping the top-seeded Boston Forge in the Benepe Cup finals played in Maryland.  
  • North American Floorball League - Florida Vikings.  The Vikings won the Troy Cup in the league’s inaugural season.  The Vikings topped the Fort Worth Jaguars, Utah Raptors and Fresno Force to claim the title.
  • Arena Football Association - Wichita Force.  The Force beat the Magnolia State Spartans 52-6 at the Wichita Ice Center to win the AFA Cup.
Have any obscure sports news or information?  Please send it to me.  We like reading about them.





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