With the IFAF Senior World Championship just four days away now, each day we will preview a team competing in the tournament. Here is a look at Germany.
About American Football in Germany:
The American Football Verband Deutschland (AFVD) represents 270 American Football clubs in Germany and more than 31,000 individual members.
American Football has been played in Germany since the mid-1970s and the first national championship was organized in 1979, earlier than anywhere else in Europe.
Since then the nation’s top division the German Football League, consisting of 12 teams that compete to reach the German Bowl championship game, has consistently gained recognition and acceptance within the German public. This fact was recognized by Germany’s sports governing authority in 1993 when the AFVD was rewarded membership of the DOSB (German Olympic Committee).
The record attendance for the annual German Bowl is 30,400, a figure that has not been topped by any other team sports in Germany on an amateur club level. German Bowl XXX was played in September 2008 at Frankfurt’s Commerzbank Arena, a new state of the art facility that was built for the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Reigning champion the Braunschweig Lions defended its title to win a record seventh German championship.
German teams have enjoyed success at numerous international championships. The senior national team was a gold medalist at the 2005 World Games, European Champion in 2001 and bronze medalist at the 2007 IFAF Senior World Championship, finishing as the highest-placed European team.
Germany leads the way when it comes to success in the Eurobowl trophy, which features the top club teams from Europe; its clubs having won the prestigious competition six times.
The German Senior National team is currently the European Champions defeating France at the 2010 European Championship in Frankfurt Germany.
This past March, the national team also defeated Italy 26-0 in Turin, Italy.
Coaching Staff:
Marshall Happer, Sport Director
Brad Arbon, Offensive Coordinator
Dogan Özdincer, Defensive Coordinator
Gerald Olszewski, Offensive line
Vladimir Ilic, Defensive line
James Jamaledine, Linebackers
Maximillian von Garnier, Wide Receivers
Sebastian Tuch, Defense backs & Special Teams
Phil Hickey, Quarterbacks
Georg Podleska, Athletic Coach
Players to Watch:
Running Back Danny Washington
5-9, 209 Rhein-Neckar Bandits
Danny Washington showcased his speed and agility at the the 2010 European Championship helping Germany to a gold medal with a stellar performance against France recording a game high 245 yards.
Washington plays for the Rhein-Neckar Bandits having an impressive season as the team is currently in second place with a 10-2 record. He has scored a team-high 12 touchdowns and one two-point conversion. In one victory, Washington scored a season-high five touchdowns in one game.
Along with Washington, the 75-man preliminary roster includes German MVP quarterback Dennis Zimmerman, and the very talented and productive wide receivers Dominic Hanselmann and Niklas Romans. On the squad, are nine offensive starters that defeated France to claim the European Championship.
On defense, ten starters have been named to the 75-man roster including Sebastian Schonbroich, Jason Scott, Oliver Radke and Karl Michel Komplett who had six interceptions.
The roster is represented by 20 different teams throughout Germany.
Other Player Notes:
Fourteen players on Germany’s 75-man roster have played at previous IFAF Senior World Championships:
LB – Sean Averhoff – 2007
WR – Marcel Duft – 2003 & 2007
DB – Matthias Eck – 2007
DB – Leonard Greene – 2003
WR – Dominic Hanselmann – 2007
OL – Raphael Llanos-Farfan – 2003
TE – Alexej Mittendorf – 2003 & 2007
LB – Mario Nowak – 2007
DB – Sebastian Schönbroich – 2007
LB – Jasson Scott – 2007
OL – Marten Töwe – 2007
QB – Joachim Ullrich – 2003 & 2007
RB – Danny Washington – 2007
QB – Dennis Zimmermann – 2007
Game Schedule for Germany:
Friday, July 8: Germany vs Mexico Innsbruck
Sunday, July 10: USA vs Germany Innsbruck
Tuesday, July 12: Australia vs Germany Innsbruck
Placement Games July 15 & 16 in Vienna, Austria
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