Elaine Ticzon: 2015 USFTL National Hall of Fame Inductee

Elaine Ticzon: 2015 USFTL National Hall of Fame Inductee

ELAINE TICZON of Toronto displaying her USFTL Hall of Fame plaque and ring.

By Mila Astorga-Garcia

Elaine Ticzon, with her trim build at 5 feet-four inches and 120 pounds, her unassuming demeanor and calm countenance, does not look at all like a celebrated athlete in one of the most daunting and grueling professional sports.

However, Ticzon, has just recently earned the title as the first Canadian player to be inducted into the prestigious USFTL (United States Flag and Touch Football League) National Hall of Fame in the award’s 15-year history.

Last January 16, 2016, out of 10 inductees, Ticzon also stood out as the only woman inducted to the 2015 USFTL National Hall of Fame during the 45th Annual USFTL National Flag Football Championships held at the Otis M. Andrews Sports Complex in Tampa, Florida.

Kevin Dawkins, the only other Canadian inducted to the USFTFL in 2012, but as a coach not a player, had this to say of Ticzon whom he nominated as a player: “As a League MVP and Tournament All-Star, she is the first player male or female from Canada to be inducted into the USFTL Hall of Fame. This is something that nobody can ever take away from her and others can only duplicate.”

In his presentation speech at the induction ceremonies, Dawkins described Ticzon as a player who “has always shown a strong desire for victory and never gives up in any moment of defeat…. Her versatility as a player has demonstrated that she is truly a star on both sides of the ball and almost anywhere on the field. Elaine is someone who always strives for perfection, has an enormous capacity for detail and demonstrates the characteristics of a strong leader. She has been instrumental in leading her team to countless Provincial, Regional and National Championships. This includes (2) USFTL National Championships.”

At one point in his speech, Dawkins proudly referred to Ticzon as “our very own Ray Lewis,” referring to Raymond Lewis, Jr, the former American football linebacker who played the game his entire 17 year career for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Fooltball League and went on to win the Super Bowl Most Valuable Player Award.

Ticzon with coach Kevin Dawkins

“As a team captain, (Elaine’s) motivational speeches before and after games will have you laughing, crying and gives you the extra fight to want to win it all,” added Dawkins.

Ticzon, who has played football nonstop for 21 years, credits her success to her sports-supportive family, her team mates and her coaches, notably Dawkins, whom she describes as a coach who connects with his players “on both a sports and a personal level” such that “there is a mutual respect and trust far beyond the game of football.”

Ticzon plans to continue playing football, and mentoring aspiring athletes in the sport she has always loved all her life.

Ticzon is a second generation Filipino-Canadian residing in Toronto, and the daughter of Fernando Ticzon and Glenda Datoc.

This writer caught up with Ticzon for an interview the day she returned to Toronto from Tampa. The following are highlights of the interview:

The Philippine Reporter: What is the significance of this great honour—in your own words, and from your perspective as a Canadian woman athlete.

Elaine Ticzon: For me this honour signifies so many things. I have played football for just over 20 years because I love it and everything it has brought me. I work on and off the field to put myself and my Team in the best position to be successful. But to be recognized by an organization in another country where I have only played 1-2 tournaments a year is pretty cool. I love Canada and all of the opportunities I have here but we can definitely take a few notes from the Americans when it comes to growth of our sports and treatment of our athletes.

‘Fierce E.T.’ in action

TPR: You’ve mentioned that you’re the only Canadian woman, and there have been other women of different nationalities who were inducted in the past? However, you were the only woman for this particular year, right?

ET: Yes, I was the only woman this year out of 10 inductees.

TPR: In what recent years were other women inducted and what nationalities were they?)

ET: There really isn’t much emphasis on the nationalities of the inductees. They are all American. I think the last time was in 2012 when two women were inducted. That was also the year that my coach Kevin Dawkins got inducted.

TPR: How long have you been playing in this sport; in tournaments?

ET: I started playing football and in tournaments around Canada in 1995. In 2001 I started going to the States to play in USFTL tournaments as well.

THE DAWKSPORTS Team with Elaine Ticzon (5th from left, front) with Head Coach Kevin Dawkins (on the right, back) and Assistant Coach Delroy George (on the left).

TPR: How were the inductees nominated?

ET: All nominees MUST have 10 years participation at the National

Championship Tournament as a Player, Coach, Sponsor, Referee, Director or Supporter.

Individuals must respect the games of Flag & Touch Football on & off the field, positively promoting the game of flag football, & their careers must be of the highest caliber.

Minimum of (5) 1st Team All American selections at “SUPER” Division, “A” Division, and/or “35 & OVER MASTERS” Division

My coach and a teammate put in the nomination for me. And then I think a committee voted on it.

TPR: Please describe this kind of sport – how different is it from other kinds of professional football?

ET: This sport is very similar to the professional American tackle football that you see on TV. But there obviously are also many differences. My main style is 7-on-7 touch football. There are 7 players a side and instead of tackling we use 1-hand touch.

I also play 7-on-7 flag and the main difference is that we wear flags on our waist that get pulled instead of the tackling.

The 8-on-8 contact flag style that we play in the States is the most like tackle football. We wear flags on our waist but you are allowed to open-hand block. There is a significant amount of contact and more physical play in this style.
I enjoy playing all 3 because each requires different strategies as well as different types of players to be successful. But at the same time, a lot of the football fundamentals are the same.

Elaine Ticzon’s National Hall of Fame ring viewed from three angles.

TPR: Please describe the training you have undergone to quality to be a player. How long have you been in this sport?

ET: Around April/May my team will have an indoor training camp where we prepare for the upcoming summer season. The Touch Football season usually starts at the beginning of May with the first tournament. We will play around 7 tournaments from May-Oct, which include a Provincials and Nationals. During that time we will also play in a summer league once a week. And along with tournaments and league games, we usually practice 1 day a week.
Along with that, sometimes I play in a Flag Football league at the same time in the summer. Once those seasons are done, I will usually play in an indoor Fall/Winter league. Around that time, we also started practicing for the Contact tournaments.

TPR: Your career spans various other sports, like basketball, etc. Please give a brief description of the extent of your professional involvements.

ET: I played basketball from 1997-2000 at George Brown College before coming back in 2004 to work with my mentor and Head Coach Sharon as her assistant with the women’s team for the next 10 years. The knowledge and experiences I gained in that role had a huge impact on my own athletic career. It helped me to learn and develop different ways to deal with people, athletes and especially female athletes. As a coach, mentor and captain there are so many different roles that you need to play in order for your Team to be successful. Sometimes, it’s being the dictator, sometimes it’s being the shoulder to cry on, sometimes it’s being a cheerleader and sometimes it’s just listening. Most importantly I feel that it’s about setting an example in the way you carry yourself on and off the field or court and showing the effort you put in. You can’t fake that.

TPR: Please give me a bit of your educational background. Was it a perfect fit to what you are currently involved in professionally?

ET: I currently work at Upper Canada College as the Coordinator for the Horizons Program. I graduated in 2000 from the Fitness and Lifestyle Management Program at George Brown College. It wasn’t an exact fit, to what I do now, but it did lead me down the path to working with younger athletes/students. A large part of my work and sports life is about organization and attention to details so the skills and experiences have all contributed to where I am now.

TPR: Who/what influenced your career choice during your growing up years? How was your interest in sports manifested in your early years? Who were your most significant mentors; role models?

ET: Growing up, I didn’t really have a specific goal in terms of career. But what I did know is that I wanted to help people. And somehow I’ve been lucky enough to end up in a position to do that.

As a child I used to tag along with my dad and older brother as they would work out and run around the track. I used to play ball hockey with my dad in the driveway and softball was a regular thing in the summer with our family. And then obviously as a Filipina basketball was a given especially once I was introduced to PhilCan.

As a child, I spoke very little. It wasn’t until high school when I joined the basketball and then volleyball and softball teams that I started to become a little more comfortable socially. I have had so many influential people in my life and am the type of person that likes to take advice and the positive from everyone even if it’s the smallest thing. However, in my athletic career I think probably my dad (he’ll love reading this) for introducing me to sports, Sharon Butler (my head coach at George Brown College) for showing me what a strong, confident woman in sports looks and acts like first hand and lastly right now my football coach Kevin Dawkins. He is a great mentor and football mind but most importantly has a great heart and is not afraid to show it.

TPR: What next after this? What are the goals you may share with us?

ET: I will continue to play as much as my body allows me to. And the biggest thing is to continue giving back to the game by helping to mentor newer players, participating in clinics and maybe coaching one day.

TPR: Any advice you would like to give to young women in sports?

ET: Keep playing, and if you aren’t playing, then start. Don’t be comfortable with being comfortable. Challenge yourself in your sport and in life and you will be amazed at the doors that it will open for you.

TPR: And a message to parents/family of young women.

ET: Encourage them to be active. It is a life skill that is so important even if they don’t go on to play sports as adults. One of the biggest things that I know helped me to where I am today in sport and life is the never ending support from my family. I never once felt weird about wanting to play sports. As adults we can be so influential in both a negative and positive way for young people that look up to us. As women, we face some different challenges and in all my years coaching and playing, lack of confidence has been at the top. So be encouraging, supportive and great things will happen.