WW-P South grad part of women’s team
By: Justin Feil
Sara Landau has gotten used to the bumps and bruises on her body.
The concerned looks have taken a little longer to adjust to.
"The funniest thing is I work at a grocery store," Landau said. "I’m bruised all over the place. I started coming to work with bruises and the customers stare at me. Then I tell them, I play football."
A 2005 graduate of West Windsor-Plainsboro South, Landau completed her first year of football with the Philadelphia Phoenix, one of 32 teams in the National Women’s Football Association. Landau played left guard for the Phoenix, who ended their year 1-6 in the Northern Conference, South Division after a 40-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Passion on Saturday.
"I always wanted to play," said Landau, who will be a junior at The College of New Jersey. "Rugby was the closest thing they had at my college. I did rugby for a semester. Then I came across the Philly Phoenix on line and they had tryouts so I went.
"I’ve always wanted to play. I’ve always done sports. They had rugby at TCNJ. That was the closest thing besides flag football, but that doesn’t have contact. When I found this, I was like football, all right."
Landau played freshman soccer at WW-P South and played three years of softball. The Phoenix gave her the chance to play something she had only thought about trying with the Pirates football team.
"I like contact where you get hit and get to hit people," Landau said. "I’ve always watched football and have been a big fan. I was a big gym class person. When we played flag football, I was right there doing everything.
"You have to be 18. I could only have started a year earlier. It was pretty much as early as I could have played."
At 20, Landau was the youngest Phoenix player on this year’s team. Tryouts were held last fall, and the Phoenix began holding practice in mid January. Twice per week during the season, she would drive to Philadelphia for practices and then games were held on Saturday nights.
"I hated the drive," Landau said, "but it was worth it."
Landau will have three weeks off, but already is looking forward to the offseason conditioning and lifting that will help her prepare for a second season of football.
"I’m definitely going back," Landau said. "I am hooked. I have a long way to go. I think the league has been around six or seven years. The majority of people on our team are going to retire. A couple are in their late 30s. I’m in my 20s. I have a while to go."
The Phoenix were formed in 2001, but were known as the Philadelphia Liberty Belles in their first year. They made an immediate impact by winning the NWFA Championship. They became the Phoenix in 2002, and play in a division with the Baltimore Burn. The Phoenix picked up their one win this season, 41-0, over the Central Pennsylvania Vipers.
"I was actually surprised how talented the athletes are and how well they’re able to play football," Landau said. "I knew I could play. Pittsburgh, they are amazing. Playing against those girls, it’s like going against a guys professional team. I was surprised how good at football these girls actually are. I love it a lot because how well people can play.
"These athletes are so talented at the sport. I wasn’t thinking it was going to be like that. After going against teams, I found they really can play football."
Adjusting to the level of play was a bigger transition than taking up a sport she had never formally played before. Landau didn’t find it as difficult to step into a new arena.
"I went in very knowledgeable about the game," she said. "I watched it and was always around it. Definitely there’s a group that comes in not knowing how to set up for a punt and kickoff and not knowing when you can touch the ball and things like that. There’s definitely learning that goes on with everyone, but most people have a basic knowledge of game."
Where Landau had to do most of her learning was in picking up the nuances of playing the offensive line. She also played some defensive tackle and was a member of the punt and field goal teams.
"Punt was my favorite because that’s when you got to really hit people," Landau said. "Coming into the season, I didn’t know where I was going to play. There are only a few bigger girls than me. One of my close friends was right guard. She’d been there five or six years. She taught me how to play the guard. I didn’t think I’d like it, but when you play offensive line it’s like the five of you become your own team. I became so close with the girls on the line.
"We don’t get any stats. But after a game, you know if we don’t do our job, we wouldn’t have scored anything. You have to look at it that way."
Landau is anxious to get to work to improve the offensive line for next year. She knows its improvement is crucial to the Phoenix’s own improvement. This season, they had to battle through several coaching changes, but things solidified toward the end of the season and there are high hopes for next year. The West Windsor resident begins workouts in three weeks.
"I’m happy we’re doing this," Landau said. "It’s going to help us for next season.
"Especially playing on the O-line and D-line, you’re always using arm strength or leg strength. It’s not like other positions where you’re just running routes or throwing the ball. In the beginning, my arms were so sore couldn’t move them. It got better at the end of the season. It’s something I want to improve on. It helps to have a lot of upper body strength."
Landau will have to make a bigger commitment to the weight room than she ever had to for soccer or softball. But the demands on her as an offensive lineman are a lot different.
"Football is a much more physical sport," she said. "You have to weight train in the offseason."
Landau is hoping the offseason doesn’t last long, if only because she would like to return to the football field as soon as possible. Sure, she ended up with eye-catching bruises, but it was worth it for the fun of football, something she finally got the chance to play right up to Saturday’s season finale.
"After the first couple games, I got really bruised," Landau said. "I’m not really sore at all. You get used to it."