Volume 5, Issue 6

Standings Update

As we enter the second half of our Spring season, Who's That Daddy and The Mojithoes are battling it out for the top spot, with Bluella De Vils nipping at their heels.


Will this be the week we break the five-team log jam in the middle of the standings?


Check out the latest standings on our website.

Week 4: Game Schedule

The most up to date schedule is available on our website and the SportsEngine app (iOS or Google).


Check out all our teams, including full rosters and current standings on our website.

Women's+ 2023 Season

We're excited to welcome more than 70 players for the 2023 Women's+ Summer season!


Mark your calendars for some important events:

Saturday, May 13 -- New Player Orientation & QB Clinic at our fields in Warwick

Saturday, May 13 -- Player Draft at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Greenville

Tuesday, May 16 -- Meet Your Team Party at Revival Brewing

Saturday, May 20 -- First Week of Games at our fields in Warwick

Helmets & Heels

Are you looking to give back to the PVDGFFL? Want to have fun while doing it? Do you want to live your best drag queen/king fantasy? Have we got the event for you…check out the 2023 Helmets & Heels Show.


Helmets & Heels is our biggest fundraiser of the year, with proceeds going to our Gay Bowl tournament teams. This year’s event will take place on Saturday, September 16th at The Dark Lady in Providence.


We're looking for league members who want to strut their stuff as Drag Kings or Drag Queens. Never done drag before? Not to worry! You'll be teamed up with a Drag Parent - a local Providence drag icon who will help mold you into a fierce performer.


Your Drag Parent will help with your makeup and outfit, and work with you to select a fun drag name and lip sync number. You'll “werk” the main stage at Dark Lady with adoring fans screaming your name and showering you with cash, all to help raise money for our 2023 Gay Bowl travel teams.


If drag isn't your thing, there are other ways to participate!


If interested in signing up or learning more, please reach out to Anthony DeRose via email at anthony@pvdgffl.org.

Pet Policy at the Fields

We love our four-legged PVDGFFL friends and want to make sure they (and our players) stay safe on game day. Please make sure that if you do bring your pet to the fields, you abide by the following rules:

  • You cannot leave your pet unattended. You or a pet-sitter must be watching your pet at all times.
  • All pets must be on a leash or in a carrier at all times.
  • Please do not "stake" your pet to the ground - it's dangerous for them and for other pets/participants.
  • You must clean up after your pet.
  • You are responsible for your pet, their behavior, and any incidents that may occur while they're at the fields.
  • If your pet nips, please consider whether our games are the right environment for them.

Health & Safety Weekly Update

Wow, this season has flown by!! With only two weeks left before playoffs, we hope you're enjoying the season and that you've had an opportunity to meet some new friends!


WEATHER: The weather this coming weekend looks fantastic for flag football! Cloudy conditions are expected with temps around 52 at 8am and rising to around 62 by 1pm! Don't forget your sunscreen!


Weekly Health Highlight: Concussions


What is a concussion? 

Also called a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), “A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury—or TBI—caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth. This sudden movement can cause the brain to bounce around or twist in the skull, creating chemical changes in the brain and sometimes stretching and damaging brain cells.” 


Watch this video for a quick video from the CDC on “what is a concussion?”

https://www.cdc.gov/headsup/basics/concussion_whatis.html


What are the symptoms of a concussion? 

The symptoms of a brain injury can be subtle or may not be noticed until you return to normal activities. Symptoms can last up to 4 weeks and can fluctuate in intensity, but should improve with time. Symptoms include:

  • Headaches
  • Sleep
  • Trouble falling asleep
  • Sleeping too much or too little
  • Feelings of fatigue or exhaustion
  • Memory
  • Trouble remembering new information
  • Trouble concentrating or thinking
  • Feelings of confusion
  • Mood
  • Irritability
  • Feelings of sadness
  • Feelings of nervousness or anxiety
  • Other physical symptoms
  • Blurry vision
  • Dizziness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Sensitivity to light or noise

https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-concussion.htm 


What are the stages or “grades” of a concussion? 

Concussions are graded by severity based on the conditions listed below: 

  • Grade I: no loss of consciousness; amnesia is absent or present for less than 30 minutes.
  • Grade II: loss of consciousness for less than five minutes or amnesia for between 30 minutes and 24 hours.
  • Grade III: loss of consciousness for more than five minutes or amnesia for more than 24 hours.

“Go to an emergency room if you or someone with you has suffered a head injury and has lost consciousness, is vomiting, having seizures, or having obvious difficulty with mental function or physical coordination.

If left undiagnosed, a concussion may place a person at risk of developing second-impact syndrome, a potentially fatal injury that occurs when an athlete sustains a second head injury before a previous head injury has healed.”

https://mayfieldclinic.com/pe-concussion.htm 


Important Concussion Notes: 

  • Most people DO NOT LOSE CONSCIOUSNESS with concussions
  • When in doubt, SIT OUT!
  • See your healthcare provider for proper evaluation and assessment for concussion symptoms and return to play


Reminders: Please review previous Rhody Huddle emails for more information on the topics listed below

  • Remember your sunscreen and mouth guard if you use one
  • There will be a first aid tote and AED located on the tar
  • There will be QR codes to request NARCAN and fentanyl testing strips on the first aid table
  • Concussion information sheet will also be on the first aid table
  • Additional first aid kits will be located near each field in red tote bags 


Take care and stay safe out there! Check out our Health & Safety section of our website for more helpful information.

Sponsor Spotlight

This week, we spotlight our ORIGINAL PRESENTING sponsor - 6-time Super Bowl Champions, the New England Patriots.


The New England Patriots and the New England Patriots Foundation have been dedicated sponsors of the Providence Gay Flag Football League since its inception in 2019. They have also been presenting sponsors of our sister league, FLAG Flag Football in Boston.


In 2017, the New England Patriots and owner, Robert Kraft were the first NFL team to help sponsor the annual Gay Bowl tournament when it was held in Boston. They even attended the Closing Party! Mr. Kraft was also instrumental in pushing other NFL teams such as the Denver Broncos, New York Giants and New York Jets in sponsoring Gay Bowl, the National Gay Flag Football League’s annual national tournament.  


In 1994, Robert Kraft established the New England Patriots Foundation to give back to the communities that the New England Patriots call home. The mission of the foundation is to aid individuals and families that are often marginalized today. Through the implementation of year-round programming and support of philanthropic agencies, the foundation is building stronger communities throughout New England. For more information about the New England Patriots Foundation, visit www.patriots.com/community.


Thank you to Mr. Kraft, the Kraft family, Coach Bill Belichick and the entire New England Patriots organization for being such dedicated sponsors and allies of the Providence Gay Flag Football League.

Upcoming Events & Important Dates


Additional events, including league socials and fundraisers, are being planned...more to come! Check our events page for the latest details.

2023 Board of Directors

Chris Almonte — Commissioner

Rolfe Hubley — Assistant Commissioner, Open Division

Red McSwiggan — Assistant Commissioner, Women’s+ Division

Greg Polzer — Treasurer

Josh Klemp — Secretary


Chloe Nelson — Director of Events

Chelsea Beaudoin — Director of Travel Teams

Michael Lucerto — Director of Captains

Marc Perkel — Director of Marketing and Communications

Sean Corcoran — Co-Director of Football Operations

John Mancone — Co-Director of Football Operations

Sean Davis — Director of Recruitment and Player Development

Anthony DeRose — Director of Fundraising and Sponsorships

Jay Potter — Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Patrick Simmonds — Director of Volunteerism

Red McSwiggan — Director of Rules and Referees

Theresa Waterbury — Director of Health and Safety

2023 League Sponsors

Email  Facebook  Instagram  Twitter  Web  YouTube