NFL Electric Football

[Eltoro]

I grew up enjoying watching and attending CFL games and still do to this day. I also have a keen interest in the NFL. If I had the time, I would probably follow the College game too. About three years ago I rediscovered a game I played as a kid, Electric Football. The game was invented in 1947 and had its heyday in the 1960's, a time during which, Pete Rozelle started the NFL Product Licensing and for many of those early years, their largest revenue generator was the Official NFL Electric Football Game sets manufactured by the games inventor, Norman Sas and Tudor Games. There was literally millions of sets sold, it was on many boy's Christmas wish list to have the latest Electric Football NFL Teams and fields.

Along came the Electronic hand-held football games in the early 1970's, quickly followed by Football Video Games which eventually evolved into the Madden games we all know about. Electric Football faded away and to be truthful, it never worked that well. I remember carefully setting up formations mimicking my real life heroes and when the switch was turned on, the player figures went in all directions, sometimes even backwards or not move at all. It played more like Rugby than actual football. I eventually got tired and frustrated with it and put it away in the closet and went on to play Table Rod Hockey and had a blast with that.

I was surprised to learn the game is still around and has been vastly improved game play wise and with the equipment used, by guys who like me, played it as a kid. There are dozens of Leagues established in the States and they even have Convention/Tournaments.

Here in Canada there is only one Electric Football League established and it is located right here in Calgary. I found another outlet for my passion for all things to do with Football and specifically the NFL, in a very much interactive way. I paint up figures and even build my own fields to compete against other like minded football nuts. My Team is the Green Bay Packers.

Here is a couple of video links, showing what the Calgary Electric Football League is all about and how the game is played.

https://plus.google.com/109305586778813730115/videos
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IVrq8WllEe4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4y0EyVcZRM
http:///www.facebook.com/groups/223788561131936/

You guys have any other hobby/interest that you do to participate in following your favorite NFL Team? I suppose for most, the answer would be Fantasy Football.

[troutman]

You may also be interested in Subbuteo (table soccer).

http://cstfa.webs.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subbuteo

Subbuteo is a group of table top games simulating team sports such as association football, cricket, both codes of rugby and hockey. The name is most closely associated with the football game, which for many years was marketed as "the replica of Association Football".

[Eltoro]

Thanks for the reply Troutman.

Actually the current President of the CSTFA Shane Hoopfer, also happens to be the same guy who started the Calgary Electric Football League and is our Commissioner. All of our games take place in his garage.

Subbuteo is a great game, with a huge world wide following. If only Electric football could have even a small percentage of that following. Most football fans are not even aware of its existence.