Unicycle Football League

The Unicycle Football League is a Texas-based league for the sport of unicycle football. Unicycle football is similar to American football except that it is played on unicycles.

History

The Unicycle Football League was first organized by Marcus Garland in San Marcos, Texas, in 2008. During a juggling class, Marcus approached other members AbOUT starting the league. Two teams were created for the first season: the Hot Dogs and Unicychos. New teams were then gradually added. Now there are eight established teams. Those teams are Gnarwhals, Harvey Street Herons, Hell on Wheel, Hot Dogs, Ill Eagles, Los Bierdos, Rolling Blackouts and Unicychos. The Sports Blog SBNation recommended it as superior to American football. Fox San Antonio has covered the sport.

Rules

Unicycle football is played in a similar way to regular professional American football with some changes to compensate for the difficulty of riding a unicycle.

  1. Unicycle football is a "Flackle" game. This means that in order to tackle a player, you can either pull their flag, tackle or push them off their unicycle. The tackle should use the least amount of force needed to remove the player from the unicycle, which is on a sliding scale depending on the abilities of the offensive player. There is an option to play full tackle without flags. Newer leagues are encouraged to play flag first and then move to flackle.
  2. A rider must be mounted on the unicycle in order to be in play. A rider that is not mounted on their unicycle is not allowed to interfere with the regular play of the game. If a rider loses their mount, they must remount or stand stationary for the duration of the play. If a rider interferes with play while off their mount, it will result in a penalty. Currently there is a cap of a twenty six-inch wheel height due to safety concerns.
  3. A rider CANNOT PLAY without a helmet. This rule can never be changed, nor exemptions be made. A legitimate helmet should be a skateboarding, motorcycle or bicycle helmet. The helmet can not be metal or have a sharp edge.
  4. It is recommended, but not required, that players wear any of the following items: shin guards, knee pads, elbow pads, compression pad shirts and gloves.
  5. Typical shoulder pads are not allowed in Unicycle football but compression shirts with pads are allowed, or soft pads can be put in the shoulder area.
  6. The game is played in units instead of yards, because most unicycle football fields have an asphalt surface and are irregular in shape. A unit can represent any amount of distance, as long as it is consistent, throughout the field. There will be ten units for each first down and each team will have the opportunity to gain a first down in four plays. A team has the option to punt the ball on the fourth down.
  7. A team should have a minimum of five players. There is a six player option if both teams agree.
  8. There is no coin toss to determine initial possession in Unicycle football. Possession is determined by a joust. The jousting sticks are typically two inch wide or wider bamboo poles with padded boxing gloves on the end. If players do not have jousting sticks, they can choose either Sumo or Last Man Standing. Sumo takes place in a set area where two players either push each other out or knock each other off their unicycle. This is typically a six foot wide circle. Last man standing consists of the number of players playing in each down, typically five or six. These players stay in a predetermined area and try to knock each other off. The last team with a player on the unicycle wins.
  9. A touchdown scores 6 points.
  10. Each team can attempt a one point conversion by running or throwing the ball into the end zone after a touchdown, an additional point can be awarded for a kick. Field goal posts can be actual poles or created by three people touching hands and The Two outside people lifting their outside arms to make poles.
  11. Field goals can be kicked on any play. For it to be a valid, the kicker must have made at least one 180 degree revolution on their unicycle wheel before kicking.
  12. Kick-offs are done at the 35 unit marker. Since it is a dead ball kick, the kicker is only required to make a 90 degree revolution on his wheel before kicking.
  13. On a team with the minimum five players, one of those players must be a center, who hikes the ball to the quarterback. The center must mount at the same time that they hike the ball. There are no fake hikes. In addition, the defense must assign a nose guard to the center. The nose guard can not be any further away from the center than one wheel length of the center's wheel which May Be a twenty or twenty four inch wheel. The center is never considered an eligible receiver.
  14. The wide receiver is the only player whom the defense cannot make contact with unless the wide receiver initiates contact first. The defense should allow the wide receiver to make their route without physical interference. The five unit bump rule does not apply in Unicycle football.
  15. All other offensive players other than the wide receiver such as linemen, fullbacks, halfbacks, tight ends and quarterbacks can be physically encumbered by the defense at any time after the snap unless they have left the line of scrimmage and are down field attempting to receive a pass. All players are eligible for receptions except the center.
  16. Only one player on the offense can be in motion at a time. If the offense goes into motion, at least one defensive player can also go into motion. The quarterback can mount before getting the snap but they can not take more than one revolution before receiving the snap.

Unibrawdz

There are no cheerleaders in Unicycle football. Instead, there are "jeerleaders" called the UniBrawdz. Brawdz antagonize the crowd and players, organize fundraising and weekly raffle prizes, provide occasional halftime show entertainment, and assist GeneRally with all the various tasks necessary to maintain the league. They have the responsibility of holding the goal posts for extra points and field goals. If field goal posts are not available, they create field goal posts with their bodies. A rule was created by the Unibrawdz themselves that if one of them is hit in the head by a field goal attempt, it is counted as good even if it does not make it through the posts. A male Unibrawd is called a Unibro. The first UniBrawdz began arriving at games as volunteers, set out specifically to cheer on the players and have a great time. Ginger Root of All Evil (UniBrawd originator), La Beso Bandita, Green Goddess, and Blue Angel were the first UniBrawdz to ever grace a game. Over the years there have been more than thirty UniBrawdz who have come and gone. However, once a Brawd- always a Brawd.

Playoffs

After the end of the regular season, the four teams with the best records participate in the playoffs. The number one seed plays the number four seed, and the number two team plays the number three. The two winning teams face off in the Stuporbowl.

Stuporbowl

At the end of the playoffs, there is a Stuporbowl where the two winning teams from the playoffs compete. The winning players receive the Unicycle football belt buckle.