AFA In Search Of Potential Semi-Pro Football Hall Of Fame "Class Of 2007" Candidates

(PRWEB) June 5, 2007 -- The American Semi-Pro Football Association (AFA) recently defined 3 ways Semi-Pro'ers can have their names placed on the AFA Hall of Fame nominating ballot - in consideration for induction as a member of the "Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame" - Class of 2007.

Each year, for the past 27 years, the American Football Association has selected a number of deserving individuals who have dedicated a good portion of their football careers to the semi-pro level of the game. Over the past two and a half decades the AFA has enshrined exactly 527 semi-pro football legends into 11 different categories - players (285), coaches (90), executives (69), officials (21), pioneers (19), media/historians (18), equip/trainers (9), youth football (6), international (5), women's football (4) and even one (1) super fan.

Here are the 3 ways former semi-pro footballers can have their names placed on the "Class of 2007" ballot for enshrinement consideration:

1. AFA/HOF LEGENDS RECOMMENDATION:
Each year the American Football Association mails out annual Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame "prospect applications". That application is mailed to every active member (in good standing) of the AFA Hall of Fame Legends Alumni. Once the prospect applications are returned to the AFA national office those prospects are contacted by mail and they're requested to fill out a Hall of Fame nomination profile form. Upon return of those profiles, the AFA directs the information to the individual nominating director from the 8 respective AFA regional areas for nomination ballot consideration. That process normally guarantees that at least one prospective candidate from each regional area will be placed on the upcoming annual ballot and forwarded to the selection committee.

2. AFA ALUMNI CLUB RECOMMENDATION:
AFA registered state and local team semi-pro football alumni club chapters with 25 members or more are allowed to place at least one of their members on the current years nominating ballot. Applications for state and team alumni club charters can be made by contacting the National AFA Alumni Club chairperson via e-mail at usafoot@aol.com

3. INDIVIDUAL AFA MEMBER TEAM RECOMMENDATION:
As part of the AFA's membership "Game Plan 2007", the national association is searching for qualified Hall of Fame prospects among "AFA member teams". To be considered for inclusion on the 2007 AFA/HOF ballot candidates must meet the AFA's criteria for induction. If you know someone who you are sure meets the criteria for induction (see below) and would like us to send them a 'profile application' - please send your request to usafoot@aol.com. We'll need your candidate's current home mailing address and a brief explanation on why you are recommending them. Be sure to identify yourself and the semi-pro football team you represent.

Candidates for AFA/HOF nomination consideration MUST
fall into the following qualifying criteria:

PIONEER - more than 10 years removed as someone associated with starting a league or team.
EXECUTIVE - 10 or more years of service as an owner, general manager or commissioner.
COACH - 10 or more years as a semi-pro football coach or had been the head coach for an AFA National Championship Team.
PLAYER - must have been retired as an active player for 5 years or more. Exceptions; someone who started out in semi-pro ball then was elevated to a professional football league and/or someone approved by the selection committee on a first round ballot.
HISTORIAN - open to anyone who is dedicated to the collection of semi-pro football facts and records and who was involved with a team or league for 10 or more years.
OFFICIAL - 10 or more years officiating on the semi-pro football level.
TRAINER - 10 or more years of service to a semi-pro team.
EQUIPMENT MANAGER - 10 years or more of service to a semi-pro team.
MEDIA PERSONALITY - radio, TV, newsprint sports personality who has actively promoted a semi-pro team or league for a period of 10 years or more.
INTERNATIONAL - American or foreign-born American Football Rules activist promoting our sport outside the continental USA.
WOMENS CATEGORY - any woman who has excelled over the years in an all female type football league as a player, coach, executive, etc. No playing time constraints required.
SUPER FAN - anyone who has been involved with a semi-pro team or league and has proven to have been an active/dedicated promoter of a local team/league for 10 or more years.

The 2007 AFA Semi-Pro Football Hall of Fame Induction Dinner will be held at the Helmsley Sandcastle Resort Hotel on the sandy shores of the Gulf of Mexico on beautiful Lido Beach in Sarasota, Florida - December 6-7-8.

About the American Football Association:
The AFA is dedicated to the advancement of semi-pro/minor league football throughout the United States and serves as the National Organization for non-professional leagues and teams from
coast-to-coast. For more information about the AFA, please visit their Web site: www.americanfootballassn.com

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