FIFTEENTH RECIPIENT

PORTER WILSON AWARD 2013

TAMALAN WALKER

ATLANTA, GA., UNITED STATES

 

TAMALAN WAKER

"Ever since Tamalan got involved in the women's flag football through the IWFFA, she has been a force in the promotion and advancement of the sport for females all around the world. " - Diane Beruldsen President of the IWFFA

 

Born in New York, 1966 and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina. Tamalan was not involved with organized sports as a child. Instead, she was involved with the theater and music. Trained in classical piano. She loved fishing, outdoors activities, camping , boating. She played in the playground, but not organized sports

                       

 

Tamalan 2nd from right - front row - after her first ever flag football game playing with the Loose Women

"Once a Loose Woman.... Always a Loose Woman"

Ain't it True

 

 

 


Tamalan - Far left gets ready for "Loose Competition"

 

Tamalan - Center -Blocks Puerto Rico

 

Tamalan - Top Row - Center

Tamalan also became involved with tackle and had played one season in Atlanta for the: Atlanta Explosion. She now is a trainer and conditioning coach for the tackle team: Savannah Savers

 


Tam discovered women's flag football for the first time, in Key West, Florida - September 2010,
when she signed up for the "Loose Women's Team".
"First time ever playing flag football .... was the best fun ever!
It was all female, organized and a challenge" - says Tamalan.

Tamalan playing her first flag football game at the 2010 Key West Women's Week / IWFFA Loose Women's Game

Photo Left: Tamalan on Right / Photo Right: (Tamalan 2nd from right)

 

After High School, she entered the military in January 1985 - the Navy
(back on the water). She served for 6 years active, 2 reserved. This was the best experience in the world (besides being born) And after the military, she began working as a counselor for middle school, and also coached soccer for 9 years.

 

Porter Wilson Award

The Inventor of the Sonic Boom Belts & Flags and Founder of Flag A Tag
 
 
 
Porter Wilson
The Inventor of the Sonic Boom Belts & Flags and Founder of Flag A Tag
Passed Away in September of 2000
.
Porter was our biggest supporter for girls and women's flag football
.
In Memory and to Honor
We Bestow the Porter Wilson Award
 
 

Tamalan # 20 in red pinnie - rushes on defense for Fairvilla Loose Women in the 20th annual Kelly McGillis Classic


After playing on her first Loose Women's team, Tamalan was committed to becoming a great flag football player and to be in top shape. Since 2010, Tamalan has expanded her flag football career playing each year on the "Loose Women' s Team in a variety of tournaments such as: Key West, Orlando and Provincetown.

 

Tamalan - In Action Off the Field! - Selling Raffle Tickets  

 
 
 
Tamalan (Left) Playing & Assisting - In Provinctown, MA
for Kate Clinton Classic with Shawna Southern  

As a supporter and promoter for female flag football, Tamalan is part of the core of volunteers it takes to produce the IWFFA tournaments and also is a regular commentator and radio host for the monthly "On the Air with the IWFFA" web broadcast, where she brightens and colors every topic the radio show panel talks about. Her optimism and enthusiasm is addictive and her support is ever lasting. She has been a true devotee of the IWFFA ever since she caught the IWFFA fever.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Since 2011, Tam has been the woman "behind the mike" commentating on the women's and girls flag football games in the Kelly McGillis Classic.

Tam loves supporting the young girls. You can hear her enthusiasm behind the mike as she calls the game. Asked what was one of her favorite moments in girls flag football and Tamalan describes 7 yr. old - Becca Maun who quarterbacked for the Montessori City View Trolley Girls. Becca would take the ball, look one way, then run the other way with a full defensive team following her trail in an effort to grab her flags. "Everyone had such a hard time grabbing Ms. Maun's flags and it was so amazing how this little 7 yr. old could take the ball and run.... a true leader at age of 7! "
"Every female flag football player should Adopt a Girls Team"

"The girls are our seed, and it is clear that the IWFFA has planted that seed for the future of women's flag football", says Tamalan when she talks about the girls and the IWFFA organization. " Every woman in the IWFFA should adopt a girls team and be coaching her own girls team! It is for the girls and it is for the privilege and opportunity a woman has to give back to the organization that has given so much to us.

 

"I have never been part of such an organization which makes it possible to play flag football anywhere around the world, and it does not matter how old you are, or how good you play, cause everyone is welcome to play! Whether you are so good and play in the highly competitive division, where I have seen some of the best female athletes in this world, or players just learning the sport who play in the beginner division..... or even if you don't have a team - in the IWFFA you can play on the "Loose Women's Team. Everyone can play and I am so blessed to be a part of it all" .



 

Porter Wilson Award

The Inventor of the Sonic Boom Belts & Flags and Founder of Flag A Tag

 

Tamalan Walker is one of the most dedicated women to the sport and to the IWFFA organization. She is humble, grounded, energetic and such a young spirited soul


 

Tamalan also plans on traveling to Scandinavia in 2015 to compete in the Denmark, Norway and Sweden tournaments. "oh man.... I just can't wait"!

Asked where she wants the future of female flag football directed towards: "I want to see the IWFFA continue to grow overseas, bringing in new women and girls to join our family. Not only to grow the IWFFA, but to offer those females all around the world the best support for flag football they could possibly have. With the IWFFA you have the best: rules, officiating and player clinics, and great support and respect for our female athletes, no matter what. "

" I love the IWFFA because it is an organization run by women for women... and that in itself makes us so very special!"

 
 
Porter Wilson
The Inventor of the Sonic Boom Belts & Flags and Founder of Flag A Tag
Passed Away in September of 2000
.
Porter was our biggest supporter for girls and women's flag football
.
In Memory and to Honor
We Bestow the Porter Wilson Award