Have you ever had that feeling that something was missing the weekend after the Super Bowl ended and knew you were craving football?
Well, say hello to the Trenton Steel.
The Steel is a brand new indoor football team that will begin playing its inaugural season in the Southern Indoor Football League (SIFL) this March at the Sun National Bank Arena in Trenton, NJ.
Indoor football isn’t exactly the National Football League, but it allows fans to gaze in awe at spirals and tackles instead of watching baseball during the spring.
All the rules aren’t the same as the NFL, but the game still contains all the strategy, physicality and excitement that the outdoor game provides.
There are only eight players allowed on the field at one time during an indoor game as opposed to the 11 that are on the field at once in an outdoor game.
The field spans 50 yards from goal line to goal line and the end zones are about eight yards deep.
Each team has four downs to gain 10 yards, just like the NFL, but touchdowns are easier to come by since the field is shorter.
The SIFL has been around since 2009, but just recently merged with the American Indoor Football Association to bring their league to the north.
The Steel were able to enter as an expansion team after being bought by Fanteractive LLC in November 2010.
Team president and Fanteractive founder Andrew Bondarowicz followed the purchase by bringing in a strong staff to introduce riveting football to the city of Trenton.
Head coach Jeff Hoffman comes to the Steel after time as the defensive coordinator of the Utah Blaze.
Another addition was general manager Richard Lisk who came to the Steel after many stops, including a successful stint as the general manger of the Philadelphia Soul.
Open tryouts were held back on Dec. 11, and there will also be tryouts held on Jan. 29 at the Sun National Bank Arena.
The Steel will hold its first home game against the Erie Explosion at 7:05 p.m. on March 26.
Season tickets are still available at all levels through the team’s website, www.trentonsteel.com.
