The Super 8 Football League was established in November of 2010 when the San Diego Thundercats and the Astros Mexicali participated in the first California vs. Baja California arena style football game in Mexicali, BC, Mexico. Since then the Astros and Thundercats have played each other 5 times with each team winning two times with 1 tie and having played in Mexicali, San Diego, and Ensenada.

Since then the Thundercats have played Arena games against teams from Arizona and Nevada as well as the first Arena football game in Rosarito in an exhibition against the Cuervos Tijuana.

The first season of the Super 8 was a 4 team single round tournament which saw the Diablos Ensenada win the Super 8 Bowl I Championship.

2013 Super 8 Baja Bowl II: Duo Sports Thundercats 32- Galgos Tijuana 7

2014 Super 8 Baja Bowl III: Duo Sports Thundercats 57- Diablos Ensenada 54

2014 Super 8 Invierno Bowl I: Duo Sports Thundercats 8-0 (Winter Champions/Campeones Invierno) Bufalos Mexicali 7-1 (Vice Champion/Sub-Campeon)

2015 Super 8 Baja Bowl IV: Bufalos Mexicali 42- Duo Sports Thundercats 18

2015 Super 8 Invierno Bowl II: Duo Sports Thundercats 43- Diablos Ensenada 36

2016 Super 8 Baja Bowl V: Diablos Ensenada 40- Duo Sports Thundercats 28

2017 Super 8 Baja Bowl VI: Transformers Ensenada 24 – Diablos Ensenada 22

2017 Super 8 Invierno Bowl III: Duo Sports Thundercats 50 – All Blacks Tijuana 7

2018 Super 8 Baja Bowl VII: Diablos Ensenada 19- Transformers Ensenada 0

2019 Super 8 Baja Bowl VIII: Transformers Ensenada 28- Duo Sports Thundercats 18

2021 Super 8 Baja Bowl IX: Diablos Ensenada 36- Duo Sports Thundercats 33

2022 Super 8 Baja Bowl X: Transformers Ensenada 38- Diablos Ensenada 18

West Coast

2016 Super 8 Fall Bowl I: Duo Sports Thundercats 12- Bakersfield Broncos 7

2017 Super 8 Spring Bowl 1: Desert Sentinels 28- San Diego Bulldogs 6

2017 Super 8 Fall Bowl II: Duo Sports Thundercats 82- Las Vegas Blue Devils 6

2018 Super 8 Fall Bowl III: Duo Sports Thundercats 28- California Rhinos 20

2019 Suer 8 Fall Bowl IV: Duo Sports Thundercats 32- Mecca Town Bulldogs 13

2020 Tri-City Cup 8 Man: Vegas Black 18- Duo Sports Thundercats 8

2020 Super 8 Fall Bowl V: Duo Sports Thundercats 43- Moreno Valley Mercury 41

2022 Super 8 Fall Bowl VI: Sin City Govenors 33- South Bay Inferno 25

Tournaments

2011 West Coast Invitational Tournament: Duo Sports Thundercats 29- Moreno Valley Mercury 0

2016 Super 8 Arena Championship Winter Series: Desert Sentinels 45- Duo Sports Thundercats 34

2017 Super 8 Battle 4 San Diego Tournament: West Valley Cardinals 38- Duo Sports Thundercats 34

2019 Super 8 West Coast Spring Tournament: Duo Sports Thundercats 12- Las Vegas Kings 7

2019 Super 8 Battle 4 San Diego Tournament 2: Duo Sports Thundercats 21- Mecca Town Bulldogs 14

2020 Super 8 West Coast Summer Tournament: Las Vegas Kings 20- Duo Sports Thundercats 14

2021 Super 8 West Coast Spring Tournament: Duo Sports Thundercats 8- Desert Sentinels 6

2022 Super 8 West Coast Summer Tournament: Duo Sports Thundercats 24- Moreno Valley Spartans 12

2022 Christmas Bowl Tournament: Diablos Ensenada 33- Duo Sports Thundercats 20

International Tournaments

2021 Sugar Cane Bowl (Colombia): Duo Sports Thundercats 30- Alcranes Pasto 0

2022 Revolution Bowl (LEXFA): Duo Sports Thundercats 30- Regios Monterrey 26

Bowl Games

2010 Super 8 Founders Bowl: Duo Sports Thundercats 36- Astros Mexicali 24

2019 Super 8 Nor Cal Bowl: Sacramento Underdogs 24- East Valley Bandits 18

Feminil Campeones/Ladies Championship

2016 Ladies Summer Champion: Aguilas Marinas Ensenada 34- Killer Bees Mexicali 0

2016 Ladies Fall Champion: Ladies Thundercats 45- Espartanas 19

2017 Ladies Summer Champion: Ladies Thundercats 13- Aguilas Marinas Ensenada 12

RULES/REGLAS- BAJA

Roster Size: 25 players active on game day (30 players total 5 reserves)
Field and Referee Costs: The home team is responsible for the cost of the field and referees for home games.
Referees: We will use 3 man referee crews for all games.

In game rules
Timing: 4 quarters 12 minutes each with a 10 minute break for half time.
Ties/Overtime: There will be no overtime during the regular season if a game end after 4 quarters with the scored tied, the game results in a tie. In the Play-offs the teams will play a 10 minute overtime period. Each team is given 3 time outs per half. In play-off games teams are given 2 timeouts in overtime.
Advancing the ball: You have 4 downs to gain 10 yards to achieve a first down. If you do not cross midfield field on 4th down you have the option to go for it or to give up the ball and give it to the other team on their own 5 yard line, if you go for it and fail the opposing team gets the ball at the spot. For a turnover in the endzone a touchback places the ball on the 5 yard line. Player must be down by contact otherwise he can get up and continue to run. A player can only go out of bounds if he is contacted into the wall by a defensive player if a players momentum carries him into the wall but no one touches him he can continue to run. Any pass that hits the wall or fence is incomplete, we do not use the ricochet rule except on kick offs when the ball bounces off the back wall of the endzone.
Formations and Motion: on offense you must have 4 players on the line of scrimmage 3 offensive lineman and either 1 WR or a TE. 2 players may go in motion in any direction before the snap of the ball. Defensively there must always be 3 defensive linemen, the defensive ends must line up head up to the tackles, and only the middle linebacker can blitz. In order to blitz the linebacker must raise his hand to notify the referee that he is going to blitz. The Middle linebacker can only blitz in the A gaps on either side of the center. Once a QB hands off the ball the linebackers and DB’s are permitted to come across the line of scrimmage and not be considered blitzers.
Scoring: Touchdowns are worth 6 points. Extra point from the 1 yard line. 2 point conversion from the 5 yard line. 3 point conversion from the 10 yard line. 4 point conversion from midfield. Safety if the defense stops the opposing offense in their own end zone the defense is awarded 2 points and gain possession for their offense. Single, if the defense intercepts a pass or recovers a fumble in the endzone the and does not return it out of the endzone the defense is awarded a point. A Rouge occurs when a kick off reaches the endzone and is not returned out of the endzone the kicking team is awarded a point and the ball is placed on the 5 yardline.
Kicking game: The only aspect of special teams in our game is the kick off. Kick offs will take place from the goaline, there are no touchbacks unless the ball is kicked off the field of play if that occurs the ball is placed at the 5 yardline. If the ball reaches the endzone it must be returned out of if not the return team concedes a 1 point called a rougue to the kicking team. An onside kick can occur if the ball goes beyond 10 yards from the point of the kick off as the ball is live after 10 yards. If there is an off side penalty on the kick off the ball will be re kicked and the receiving team will be given 5 yards from the end of the ensuing return.

Penalties: 5 yard penalties (off sides and false starts), 10 yard penalties (Holding, block in the back, clipping), 10 yards and an automatic first down (Facemask, horse collar, personal foul, unsportsmanlike conduct), Pass interference is a spot foul and automatic first down. Holding in your own endzone is a safety. Intentional grounding can only be called if the ball does not cross the line of scrimmage and the QB is between the tackles, it is a 10 yard penalty and a loss of down. Illegal hands to the face by lineman is a 5 yard penalty and automatic first down. Calling a timeout when a team does not have a time out results in a 5 yard penalty, loss of down and 10 seconds run off the clock. The half or game cannot end on a defensive penalty. Jamming receivers beyond 5 yards is a 5 yard penalty and automatic first down.
Any rules not specified are subject to NFL rules.
Uniform Rules
Due to us working on establishing tv and promotional deals we look to have all teams uniform as much as possible, meaning helmets the same color when possible, matching jerseys and pants the same color. If a new players is added to a roster he will be given 2 weeks to have his uniform in code with the rest of the team, meaning helmet painted and a team uniform.

Nómina: 25 jugadores activos el día del juego (30 jugadores en total y 5 reservas)

Costo de árbitro y campo: El equipo local es responsable  por el costo del campo y árbitros en los juegos en casa. Cuando los equipos son de la misma ciudad, como 3 equipos de Tijuana o 2 de Mexicali, los costos se dividirán entre los dos que juegan porque ambos están usando el campo como locales.

Árbirtros: Usaremos 3 equipos de árbitros hombres para todos los juegos de 2014.

Asistencia de jugadores: 10 minutos antes de cada partido los árbitros revisarán las identificaciones de los jugadores para verificar que coincidan con la nómina, si un jugador llega tarde podrán revisarlo en el medio tiempo.

Reglas de Juego

Tiempo: 4 cuartos de 12 minutos cada uno,  10 minutos de descanso en el medio tiempo.

Empate/Tiempo extra: No habrá tiempo extra durante la temporada  regular, si después de los 4 cuartos el partido termina con resultado igual, el partido quedará como empate. En postemporada Play-offs los equipos jugarán periodos de 10 minutos de tiempo extra. A cada equipo se le dará 3 tiempos fuera. En Play-offs a los equipos se les dará 2 tiempos fuera en el tiempo extra.

Balón en movimiento (Advancing the ball): El partido empiezan con un kickoff del goaline de equipo pateando. Se tienen 4 oportunidades o downs para ganar 10 yardas. Si no se cruza el mediocampo en la 4ª oportunidad, se tiene la opción de intentar cruzar o dar el balón al otro equipo en su propia yarda 5, si lo intentan y fallan, el equipo opuesto tendrá el balón en ese lugar del campo. En un cambio de posesión en la zona de anotación, un touchback  (tacleo en propia zona de anotación), coloca el balón en la yarda 5. El jugador debe ser derribado por contacto, de cualquier otra manera puede continuar corriendo. Un jugador puede salirse del campo de juego solo si es contactado hacia la pared por un jugador defensivo, si impulso lo lleva a la pared, pero nadie lo toca, puede continuar corriendo. Cualquier pase que toque la pared o reja es incompleto, no usamos la regla del rebote.Formaciones y movimientos:  A la ofensiva, se deben tener 4 jugadores en la línea de golpeo; 3 jugadores en la línea ofensiva y ya sea 1 receptor o wide receiver (WR), o un ala cerrada o tight end (TE). 2 Jugadores pueden estar en movimiento la cualquier dirección antes del snap. A la defensiva siempre debe haber 3 jugadores en la línea defensiva, el ala defensiva se debe alinear con los tackles ofensivos, y solo el apoyador medio middle linebacker (MLB) puede penetrar  blitz.
Para poder penetrar  el apoyador debe levantar su mano para notificar al árbitro que va a penetrar. El apoyador medio solo puede penetrar  en las aberturas “A” en cualquier lado del centro. Una vez que el mariscal de campo quarterback (QB), otorga el balón, se permite que los apoyadores y demás defensivos crucen la línea de golpeo y no sean considerados penetradores.

Puntaje  (Scoring): Anotaciones  o touchdowns valen  6 puntos.  Un punto  extra desde  la yarda 2. Conversión de 2 puntos  desde  la yarda 5. Conversion de 3 puntos desde la yarda 10. Conversion de 4 puntos desde medio campo. Safety si la defensiva detiene a la ofensiva opuesta  en su propia zona de anotación,  se le otorgan  2 puntos  a la defensiva y obtienen la posesión del balón. Single, cuando el defensivo interceptan o recuperan la bola en su propia endzone y no regresan afuera el endzon ganan 1 punto.  Rouge, el equipo pateando la bola marcan 1 punto si el kick returner no pueden regresar la bola afuera su propia zona de anotacion.

Intercambio de video (Video Exchange): Actualmente todos los juegos son programados los sábados, así que nos gustaría que todos los videos de los juegos se entreguen  a la liga para antes del martes siguiente, para ser utilizados en los programas de la liga en la red y para rastreo de estadísticas. El programa de la red y estadísticas será publicado cada jueves siempre y cuando el equipo entregue su video a la liga. Cada equipo tendrá acceso al nuevo canal de Súper 8 en YouTube para poder subir su video, la liga calculará las estadísticas y editara el video para el programa en la red. Los equipos de casa son los responsables de grabar los juegos y de subirlos a la red.

Post temporada: Los 4 mejores equipos van a la postemporada Play offs, 1ro recibe en casa al
4to, y el 2do recibe en casa al 3ero; los equipos locales serán responsables  por los costos del partido local como en la temporada  regular. Para el partido de campeonato  la liga es responsable por los costos del campo, árbitros y trofeo.

Sanciones: 5 Yardas (fuera de lugar y movimiento en falso), 10 yardas (sujetando, bloqueo por la espalda, golpe bajo de la cintura), 10 yardas y primera oportunidad automática (sujetar de la máscara, sujetar el cuello, falta personal, conducta antideportiva), interferencia de pase se marca en el sitio de la falta y con primera oportunidad automática. Sujetando en la zona de anotación propia es un safety. El lanzamiento deliberado solo puede marcarse si la bola no cruza la línea de golpeo y el mariscal de campo está entre los tackles, es una sanción de 10 yardas y una pérdida de oportunidad. El contacto ilegal a la cara por una línea defensiva es una sanción de 5 yardas y primera oportunidad automática. Pedir tiempo fuera cuando ya no hay disponibles, resulta en una sanción de 5 yardas, pérdida de oportunidad y se restan 10 segundos al reloj. El medio tiempo o final de un juego no pueden terminar en una falta defensiva. Detener a un receptor después de 5 yardas es una sanción de 5 yardas y primera oportunidad automática.

Cualquier regla no especificada será sujeta a las reglas de la NFL.

Reglas sobre uniformes: Ya que trabajamos en establecer promocionales y de tv, queremos que todos los equipos tengan uniformes, es decir, cascos del mismo color cuando sea posible, jerseys y pantalones del mismo color. Si un nuevo jugador se adhiere a la nómina, tendrá 2 semanas para tener su propio uniforme como el resto del equipo, o sea, casco pintado y uniforme del equipo.

Super 8 Pro-Am Showcase Tournaments

Frequently Asked Questions and General Information

What is the Super 8?

A developmental, scouting, and pro-am arena football showcase and international arena football summer league.

Where does the Super 8 play?

The Pro-Am Showcases play in San Diego, Los Angeles, Inland Empire, San Francisco, Las Vegas, and El Paso. There are two Pro-Am Showcase tournaments Summer Showcase in June and Fall Showcase in November.

The Baja Summer League plays in Rosarito, Tijuana, and Ensenada (Some years we also have a team enter from Mexicali). The Baja Summer League runs in July and August.

June Pro-Am Showcase

Week 1- June 8, 2019 @ Perris, CA, Week 2- June 15, 2019 (Los Angeles or San Francisco, CA), Week 3- June 22, 2019 @ San Diego, CA

November Pro-Am Showcase

Dates: November 2, 2019, November 9, 2019, November 16, 2019, November 23, 2019 @ San Diego, CA (Locations for 2, 9, and 16 of November 2019 are to be announced)

Baja Summer League

Week 1- July 13 @ Rosarito Beach, Baja California , Mexico

Week 2- July 20 @ Tijuana, Baja California and Ensenada, Baja California Mexico

Week 3- July 27 @ Tijuana, Baja California and Ensenada, Baja California Mexico

Week 4- August 3 @ Tijuana, Baja California and Ensenada, Baja California Mexico

Week 5- August 10 @ Tijuana, Baja California and Ensenada, Baja California Mexico

Semi Finals- August 17 @ To be determined by seeding.

Super 8 Baja Championship – August 24 To be determined by seeding.

How many teams are in the Super 8?

In the Summer Showcase we currently have 4 teams and may possibly expand the tournament to 6 teams. The Fall Showcase will have between 4-8 teams.

Super 8 Baja Summer League has 6 teams.

Will the games be televised?

Like the professional league the IFL (Indoor Football League) we will post all of our games on the league YouTube channel.

What are the rules?

The Pro-Am Showcases in the United States follow a modified version of the NIFL (National Indoor Football League) Rules. The most notable changes are no field goals or PAT’s , Kick offs are the only special teams. We have 1 point, 2 point, 3 point, and 4 point conversions, and 3 players are allowed in motion before the snap of the ball.

The Baja Summer League uses Super 8 Rules which are modified 8 man football rules. The most notable changes are we allow Tight Ends, and 3 back formations as well as 2 players in motion.We also have the 1,2,3, and 4 point conversions no field goals and kick offs are the only special teams Additionally the defense can also score a single for creating a turnover in the endzone if they don’t attempt to leave the endzone.

Flim- Will be provided to various indoor professional leagues and overseas teams as well.

Player Registration- For the Pro-Am Showcases each player must register with the league and that money is put into a pot and prize money given to the winning team of each showcase.

Are there other leagues or tournaments like this? The answer is yes and no, let me clarify.

The football showcase/developmental league which model we are following is that of The Spring League.

The Spring League was founded in 2017 with the goal to serve as an instructional league and showcase for professional football talent. The Spring league season itself runs from late March to mid- April and also has summer and fall showcase events held in June and November.

We follow the same schedule in regards to our Pro-Am/Showcase tournaments in June and November but our Baja league plays in the summer months of July and August. Also like the Spring league we are a testing groung for rules, the Pro-Am/Showcase events are held under modified NIFL Rules and the Summer League in Baja under Super 8 Rules.

As I stated before about there being leagues like our as a yes and no answer , yes a developmental showcase like the the Spring League exists, and there are several Pro-Am events and tournaments however none exist for the sport of football, until now. A Pro-Amateur event is where professional or professional level and amateur athletes compete in the same event and in most cases for a cash prize. The prize money comes from the player registration and sponsorship for the event.

The Super 8 Football League has operated as an idependent entity running seasons and tournaments year round in the United States and Mexico since 2010 and has had participation from teams from California, Nevada, Arizona, and Baja California, Mexico. We believe the next step for us as a league is now become a developmental league for players wishing to play for the various professional indoor leagues.

Justin, a native of San Diego, has enjoyed a successful 17 year career in professional football as a player, coach, and league administrator. Justin has played professionally on 5 continents, racking up over 200 wins as a starting QB as well as amassing 703 total tds (535 TD passes, 167 Rushing TDs, and 1 receiving TD). In addition to his individual statistics and awards Justin has won 19 league and/or tournament championships and reached 25 championship games. As a coach he as installed his version of the spread offense with teams in Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the US on the men’s/seniors/arena level and in his first season as a high school varsity head coach led the San Diego Jewish Academy to the CIF Finals in 2018. During this period in addition to playing, being a player/coach, and coaching high school football Justin has also run a very successful sports performance training program which includes top youth, high school, and college athletes from all over San Diego County in a number of sports including; Football, Baseball, Basketball, Soccer, Softball, and Track and Field to name a few. I each of the aforementioned sports Justin has trained CIF Champions, CIF Finalists, and All-League athletes in both men’s and women’s sports. Internationally as a coach,he has coached/trained athletes that have participated in the IFAF (International Federation of American Football) 2009 Junior World Cup (Team New Zealand 4 players and Team Germany 1 player), 2010 Women’s World Cup (QB Team USA), 2011 Men’s World Cup (1 RB Team Austria, 2 players Team Mexico).

Before founding the Super 8 Football League in 2010, Justin had quite an exceptional run in the 8 man/Arena version of football, to date he is the only person to play in and coach in the CIF 8 Man Championship game in San Diego County History, winning the 1994 CIF Championship as a member of Midway Baptist High School’s Varsity team and of course finishing as the CIF Runner up in 2018 with the San Diego Jewish Academy as their head coach. In November 2002 Justin was signed to play for the 2003 Wyoming Calvary of the National Indoor Football League (NIFL), 2004 the San Diego Riptide of the af2 (Arena Football League 2), 2005 Big Sky Thunder NIFL, and 2007 San Diego Shockwave also of the NIFL. In 2009 he played in the inaugural 8man/Arena television series Steeledome Gladiators in Auckland, New Zealand a Pro-Am event in which Justin led his team the Surge to the finals where they lost the game but claimed the second place prize money of $3,000 dollars. In November of 2010 the Super 8 played it’s first game in Mexicali, Baja California, Mexico as Justin’s Duo Sports Thundercats played the Astros of Mexicali led by former NFL Linebacker Manuel Padilla. The Thundercats won that first game and set in motion a chain of events which has led the Super 8 to hold seasons and tournaments in the USA year round; and in Mexico to run Men’s, Women’s, and Junior leagues.

With leadership that understands professional indoor football we believe this will be the best opportunity for young aspiring players to showcase their talents while learning how to play inside the walls of the arena; as many players and coaches will tell you there is no way to prepare for the walls other than playing inside the walls! Our Pro-Am tournament style will also draw out a higher class of athlete as there will be money at stake and an opportunity to have their film seen by coaches around the west coast, southwest, and Mexico

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