Virginia Coed Beach Flag Football History

In 1988 Jay Del Vecchio decided to have a fun get together of friends and workers from his fitness business on Thanksgiving Day. Jay loves the beach, so he had the first annual Turkey Bowl at 48th Street in the soft sand. The 6 on 6 with 2 women per team was a big hit. The next week calls came in to keep it going. That same year he started the league with a shortened schedule. It led to a Super Bowl Championship game the last weekend in January. The tradition was set. The 3 team league was off and running.

The first ten years we had teams with a bye refereeing. This was a free league and no team had to pay for balls, flags etc. The Delvecchio's wanted everyone to play and have fun, so they picked up the equipment costs. The teams only cost would be how fancy you wanted your own team jerseys.

The problematic self-refereeing never worked real well. In 1996 referees associations were contracted from the local univeristy recreation deptartments. The games all took place at 76th Street. Contact blocking and chucking were eliminated. Some teams did not want referees and non-contact as the key component of the game. Fifty percent of the teams broke off to form a now defunct league.

In 1998 the Tidewater Co-ed Flag Football League officially recognized and put into place the National Intramural Recreation and Sports Association rules. All colleges use NIRSA rules nationwide for flag. It is all about team play and competitive fun. We took those key rules and added very BEACH specific rules and everything took off. Growing so large the City of Va. Beach asked us to be in the main stream of the boardwalk every Sunday at 25th Street. The formula has been a success. As the years went on many teams came and went with business's sending sponsored teams into the league. Numbered shirts and referees were added officially in 1998.

The consistent growing popularity led to a spring league in 2001. Each year the TCFFL has a 13-week fall season with playoffs ending in the last week in January. It now has an 8-week spring season ending the last week prior to Memorial Day. Some terrific teams have been involved over the years in the championship games from the Sand Spurs [sponsored by Aldo’s Restaurant] the Pirates, Blitzburg and Sonotrol Security Systems. The most consistent finalist and champion 8 times have been the Sand Sharks. The fun rivalries are getting better every year with teams like Footers and the Hurricanes. This league is really just taking off with the City of Va. Beach assuming control in a transition from the Delvecchio's to the athletic Deptarmtnet.

The DelVecchio's, Lauren and Jay, have taken on a new project to offer the unique competition up and down the East & West Coasts with tournaments for Men, Women and the staple program of Coed! The United States BEACH Flag Football Association is officially launched. The first one is full already for June 11/12, 2005. The East Coast Championships will eventually have qualifying tourney's from other coast towns. The first East Coast Campionships will be Sept 10/11, 2005 for Men's, Women's and the Coed. Teams needing info can contact Jay Del Vecchio at this site.

Sponsors are welcome in this very visible market in front of thousands of locals and tourist. What a great fun environment to be associated with.

Host sites wanting to franchise the program can contact us and we will be glad to help you get involved.

Our history “Wall of Football” with pictures and past standings is housed at
Rock Bottom Bar & Grill @ 2312 Atlantic Avenue
Virginia Beach, VA