IFAF: News from France, Spain, UK, USA, Germany, Australia and more…(video)

France…

The EFAF Senior Flag Championship will be held from September 16-18 in Thonon-les-Baines, France. This is the second time the French Federation will host a flag football championship having also hosted the IFAF Flag Football World Championship in 2004.

The development of Flag Football proceeds steadily and this year there will be the largest field of participants on European level. In the men’s competition there will be the record of 11 teams and in the women’s competition there will be the record of 7 teams trying to end up with gold in their hands.

In the men’s division, Denmark, Italy, Austria, Germany, Great Britain and France will be among the favorites, joined by Israel, Sweden and Switzerland. Spain will return having missed the last event and the Netherlands is new to the seniors competition, but well known for their victories at the junior level. There are expected very exciting games on the highest level.

In the women’s division, there will be the favorites Austria, Israel and France. Germany and Sweden will be the teams tracking the favorites, while Denmark and Italy will make their first appearance.

For more information visit the official website at [url]www.efaf-senior-flag2011.org.

Spain…

The 2011 European Junior Championship kicks off from August 26 to September 4 in Sevilla, Spain as six countries compete for the gold medal and a place at the 2012 IFAF Junior World Championship.

The EJC is tournament that features the best Under-19 national teams from around Europe. It was established in 2000 and is held every two years. This year the European Junior Championship will feature junior national teams from Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Spain and Sweden.

The reigning 2008 champion, Germany defeated Sweden in the Gold-Medal game in a close 9-6 victory and France claimed the bronze medal beating Denmark 28-14.

“EFAF is delighted to return to Sevilla, the city which hosted the 2008 European Junior Championships,” said EFAF President Robert Huber. “We are confident that Sevilla will again offer a great experience for the best players in Europe and also the spectators.

“The championship gives fans the opportunity to see the future stars of European football. Many of the players, who participated in the 2008 championship, did a great job at the European Championships held in Germany last summer. Football is a sport rapidly growing in Europe and the future stars are at the junior level.”

For more information about the 2011 EFAF European Junior Championship visit the official website at [url]http://www.ejc2011sevilla.org.

Australia…

The 25th Anniversary Gridiron Queensland Charity Bowl raised just over $8000, to be split equally between Spinal Research (Newro Foundation) and The Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund.

Three games, a Past Player Reunion Function and Charity Auction were all held last Saturday, August 6 at Spencer Park Newmarket, the home of Brisbane City Football club.

In the junior curtain raiser, Cougars defeated Spartans 38-22. The Most Valuable Player (MVP) was Jake Jacquin of the Cougars.

In the Over 35’s “Ghosts of Gridiron” Exhibition Game, Blue Steel defeated the Wardogs 27-13, with joint MVP awards to Shawn Kristopher from the Wardogs and wheelchair athlete Sean Burke from Blue Steel.

The 2011 Charity Bowl was taken by the Ravens 19-14 over the Stingrays, with Jason Leeon of the Ravens picking up the MVP award.

Each MVP was presented with a 3-month membership from major sponsor, Fitness First, and Ghosts game MVP’s also each received a perpetual trophy donated by major sponsor, First Response Community Protection.

The Charity Bowl is an annual event kicking off the start of the Gridiron Queensland season.

For more information on Gridiron in Queensland, head over to [url]www.gridironqld.asn.au.

United States…

For the third consecutive year, the NFL and each of the league’s 32 teams endorse USA Football and its mission of youth and amateur football development across the country this August through USA Football Month. The national campaign takes place throughout the NFL preseason and incorporates youth football scrimmages in NFL venues, USA Football messages during network preseason telecasts and in-stadium banners and field stencils.

USA Football is the official youth football development partner of the NFL, the NFL Players Association and the league’s 32 teams. USA Football is the only organization in the NFL’s 91-year history to be recognized as the league’s official youth football development partner.

USA Football Month includes the following throughout August:

· NFL team-donated preseason game tickets will be distributed to youth football players across the league.

· USA Football commemorative coins will be used during preseason game coin flips.

· Youth football scrimmages in NFL stadiums on preseason game days.

· USA Football messages promoting the sport’s fundamentals will be read on-air during national game telecasts.

· On-field promotions through USA Football field stencils and end zone banners.
· In-stadium USA Football Month scoreboard video messages.

Learn more at [url]www.usafootball.com

Ireland…

The Dublin Rebels won Shamrock Bowl XXV with a nail biting 14-13 victory over the UL Vikings. The decisive touchdown was scored by RB Sam Hodgins in the 4th quarter.

The game was played in front of a large crowd at Morton Stadium, Santry.

Rebels Safety Marcus Naylor won the MVP Award.

The Shamrock Bowl comes just once a year. The culmination of a season’s workload, it is the pinnacle of the sport in Ireland. It’s an amateur, minority sport after all, and as such, it casts the reason for playing the game into light. The motivations may vary, but all were on display in Morton Stadium on Sunday.

As with any sport, the pursuit of a set goal is often reason enough, but the satisfaction is no doubt amplified in overcoming adversity along the way. For the Dublin Rebels and UL Vikings, adversity has become a given in recent years, irremovable from the goal. This year’s Bowl was no different. In fact, it highlighted the ferocity and competitiveness more than any other final. Just one point separated the teams at the final whistle, the Rebels stealing the title with a 14-13 win. And Limerick’s challenge came from every angle.

It’s the beauty of the sport, and the beauty of the Shamrock Bowl. For this year, the Rebels remain champions. The Vikings will return stronger than ever, as will the rejuvenated teams in the North and the improving teams elsewhere in Dublin. For them, there is added motivation in knowing that the Rebels had a far from perfect season. The gap seemed to be closing, but until the teams go back to test that theory, the Rebels will celebrate their 7th Shamrock Bowl victory – their favorite reason to play this game.

UK…

BAFA

Tickets have gone on sale for BritBowl XXV (25) – the official championship weekend for the BAFA (British American Football Association) National Leagues – at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre in September.

The action-packed weekend sees eight national finals take place on Saturday September 24 and Sunday September 25. Single day tickets cost £15 for adults, £10 for 14 to 18-year-olds and £6.00 for under 14s. Weekend packages for both days of gridiron action cost £25 for adults, £15 for 14 to 18-year-olds and £8.50 for under 14s.

Tickets can be bought in advance via Ticketmaster at [url]http://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/Britbowl-tickets/artist/5003180 Tickets can also be bought on the day at the stadium.

You can follow the build-up to BritBowl XXV via Twitter @BritBowlXXV or by going to Facebook and searching for BritBowlXXV.

Switzerland…

The Calanda Broncos completed the first-ever threepeat in the history of the swiss national club team championship history winning the Swiss Bowl 65-33 against the Basel Gladiators.
Landquart Broncos 2002 Defense (c) Landquart Broncos
Landquart Broncos 2002 Defense
(c)Landquart Broncos

The Calanda team nearly repeated the last years perfect season, which ended with the second national title in row and the EFAF Cup victory against the Carlstad Crusaders.

In 2011 they dominated the national league in Switzerland. In EFL 2011 they also dominated their group and went unbeaten in the quarterfinals.

Only the Eurobowl Record Champion Vienna Vikings could beat the Broncos at home in Austria by 15-12.

Germany / Finland…

The first women’s international game in Germany will be held on August, 28 as Germany host Finland in the AFVD International Ladies Bowl at the Munich Stadium.

In 2010, the German and Finland national women’s team competed in the first-ever IFAF Women’s World Championship in Stockholm, Sweden as Finland defeated Germany in the Bronze-Medal Game.

Finland won the game 26-18.

The game will kick off at 2pm on Sunday, August 28 in Munich, Germany. Tickets cost 12.00 EUR and are available at the box office.

[url]www.afvd.de