W.O.N. (Women Officiating Now) and 300 female fans of “A Bucs Life” made the call, made the flag and performed the Zebra Dance at the Bucs Style Lounge and women’s tailgate party on Sunday, October 26, 2014.
“Are there female refs?” “How many?” “When will we see one?” “This is awesome!” “It’s about time!” “How can I sign up?” These were some of the comments from women of a Bucs life who made their own penalty flags and engaged with NFL representative Vanessa Siverls‐Streater and NFL scout and first female NCAA official Annice Canady. “W.O.N. is excited to be a part of the Tampa Bay’s women’s tailgate experience,” says Siverls‐ Streater of NFL Football Operations. “Awareness and education are vital to the growth and diversity of the NFL officiating pipeline.”
Bucs fans also got a chance to step into the shoes of an official and Make the Call with NFL representative Terell Canton. “You Make the Call” is an instant replay experience where fans can view plays from different angles and break down the call. NFL Rep Terell Canton knows exactly how to interact with fans from his 16+ yrs. experience of working in the NFL Officiating Department. “The fans who have the ‘I‐can‐do‐this’ approach are always interesting to engage with. Once they see the entire process, they walk away with a more humbled perspective,” says Canton. “The comments range from ‘This is not as easy as it looks’ to ‘How long does it take to become an official?’” Twenty‐eight fans, 14 of whom are female, signed up to learn how to get started in officiating in their areas.
From the tailgate stage, two head Bucs cheerleaders hollered, “All right, ladies! It’s time to do the Zebra Dance!” The lead dance instructor led participants and cheerleaders through three rounds of the Zebra Dance as several officials’ signals were made to the beat of Britney Spears. “The goal of the Zebra Dance is to encourage an interactive and fun educational environment. The Zebra Dance teaches officials’ calls and hand signals and it’s a great way to stay in shape!” says Siverls‐Streater.
The women’s tailgate party is a prelude to the “Women of a Bucs Life,” an initiative designed to engage female Bucs fans to keep them close to the game they love. This initiative is set to launch in the upcoming season. As part of the NFL’s Style Lounge Program, the Buccaneers were selected as one of a limited number of NFL cities to be visited by the team‐themed pop‐up boutique this season.
The NFL is committed to diversity. With women making up a significant part of its fan base (47%), initiatives like W.O.N., NFL Style Lounge, and the Buccaneers’ women’s tailgate Event showcase the action behind the commitment.