HAngtime – that’s the name given to American football jargon when the leather sails through the air after a kickoff or punt. Where does the ball land, where does the first turn begin, what is the right tactic? The German Football League (GFL) is currently experiencing something like the longest hangtime in its league history. Everything is in the balance, the course of events is uncertain, the next move can hardly be predicted.
The kickoff for the preparations for the coming season, says GFL spokesman Carsten Dalkowski, should have been the Federal Assembly of the American Football Association Germany on March 8th. “There was still a lot of hype to be felt after the successful German Bowl final in Frankfurt.” A few days later, all the planning was void due to the corona pandemic. Since then, the league has been on hold.
The GFL plans to start the season in September with a shorter season. But it is uncertain how many teams will line up, what the conditions will be in the stadiums, how many or whether spectators are allowed in the stands – and whether the teams can start regular training in full contact conditions in good time before the season. The GFL club Frankfurt Universe is still miles away from such a season preparation. There is athletic training in small groups twice a week, says Universe managing director Alexander Korosek.
At the second Hessian club, the Marburg Mercenaries, whose president is league spokesman Dalkowski, the city health office has given permission for full contact training. However, this also only takes place in groups five against five. “Certainly not every trainer finds this useful,” admits Dalkowski. At Universe, you stay cautious. In another relationship too. “Definitely” they will do without so-called “import players” in Frankfurt, says Korosek. In these troubled times, this is too expensive and too risky.
“Positive signals from politics”
Originally, the clubs in the first and second leagues were supposed to opt for or against participating in a game by mid-June. The period has now been extended until July 26th. Provisionally. Because it can also be later. Because questions have been asked. Practical, such as the number of spectators or the hygiene regulations in the stadiums. In this regard, the regulations in the individual federal states are very different. “But there are positive signals from politics,” says Dalkowski.
The state of Hesse has recently reduced the minimum distance between spectators in stadiums from five to three meters. “So you can get 1000 fans into the stadium,” says Dalkowski. Korosek sees it a little differently – from “Fansicht”, as he says. “What kind of atmosphere is it when I’m sitting on the rank and the next fan is a few meters away from me?”
There are also numerous political and legal issues, such as the so-called clubs’ release from the league. The reverse case is still formally unresolved if the league wants to make claims against a club. Universe boss Korosek not only annoys that. As long as the GLF has not yet expressed his demand to have the security deposit of EUR 35,000 already paid and the license fees of EUR 15,000 refunded, he will not decide to participate in a league operation . “It won’t return the license fees,” says Dalkowski, who earns his living as a lawyer. “When I buy a license for a software program, I don’t get anything back if I don’t use the program for half a year.”
In the case of bail, says the league spokesman, it looks a little different. “It could give back a bit of money here.” Korosek says he misses the GFL’s willingness to talk about the repayment of the deposit. “That is unsatisfactory.” The uncertainty in the league is great. In both the first and second leagues, only half of the clubs would take part in a shortened season starting in September, Dalkowski estimates.
Universe has taken a small step further when it comes to renting the stadium. The operator FSV Frankfurt has offered a “per capita flat rate” if a 2020 season can be played, says Korosek. The Universe managing director would also like to agree on such a flat rate for a possible season in 2021. Further negotiations are likely to take place here. The hanging game continues. And whether this football will ever land is very uncertain.
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