American football in Israel

American football in Israel is a sport that has a limited fan base made up of mostly American immigrants. Currently there are 4 leagues playing Flag Football men's, women's - The WAFI which has 13 teams, highschool's - The Yosef Goodman High School League which has 12 teams, and a youth's, all under the association of The AFI.[1] There are also 3 leagues playing tackle-football, A Junior-High Football League (which has donated equipment), An HighSchool league - IHFL[2] and an adults league - IFL[3] (Israeli Football League).

AFI

American Football in Israel or simply AFI is a non-profit association formed in 1998. In 2004 it was officially recognized by Ministry of Education's Sports Authority in Israel. Since this recognition, it is the sport’s official governing body for all American Football activities within Israel.[4]

AFI is a member of the International Federation of American Football.[5]

Israeli Football League

The Israeli Football League was founded in the summer of 2005 by a group of Israelis, led by Ofri Becker, who wanted to play tackle American football. The first season, played without pads or an official governing body. In 2007, the league began fully equipped play under the umbrella of the AFI, and the first Israel Bowl I was held in 2008.

Israel national American football team

The Israel national American football team is the official American football senior national team of Israel. The team formed in 2012 mainly of Israeli Football League players and coaching staff. The first international American football game played by Israel was played May 17, 2012 in Baptist village near Petah Tikva, when the Israeli national team met Maranatha Baptist Bible College.[6]

Kraft Family

Robert Kraft owner of the New England Patriots is the largest donor to Israeli American Football initiatives.

Kraft has donated millions of dollars to the Israeli Football League. Additionally due to his generosity the American Football stadium in Jerusalem is called the Kraft Family Stadium,[7] the only American Football stadium in Israel.[8] Kraft's wife Myra Kraft has donated millions of dollars to women’s Flag Football in Israel.[9]

In 2014, during Operation Protective Edge, a soldier from the Boston area, Max Steinberg, was killed in action. Upon hearing that Steinberg was a Patriot’s fan, Robert Kraft wrote a letter to the family offering his condolences.[10] In November 2015, Ezra Schwartz, from Sharon, Massachusetts, was killing in a terror attack in Gush Etzion, and was honored with a moment of silence prior to the Monday Night Football game against the Buffalo Bills on November 23rd.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ AFI - Israel Flag Football
  2. ↑ IHFL - Israeli Highschool Football League
  3. ↑ IFL - Kraf Family Israel Football League
  4. ↑ http://afi.dosportseasy.com/
  5. ↑ http://ifaf.org/countries/federation_list
  6. ↑ http://www.timesofisrael.com/forward-progress-israels-first-national-tackle-football-team-to-take-the-field
  7. ↑ http://ifaf.org/articles/view/1430/L2FydGljbGVzL2ZlYXR1cmVk
  8. ↑ Israeli tackle football: A journey from dream to reality
  9. ↑ http://www.jewishjournal.com/sports/article/bob_kraft_new_england_patriots_jewish_owner_20120123/
  10. ↑ http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/2014/08/04/patriots-owner-robert-kraft-pens-letter-fallen-soldier-family/FKVUEzjs2dJsm4YtaWbVbI/story.html
  11. ↑ Patriots to memorialize Ezra Schwartz with minute of silence
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