United States Australian Football League

United States Australian Football League
Sport Australian rules football
Founded 1996
Inaugural season 1997[1][2]
No. of teams 37 (men's) and 13 (women's)[1]
Country USA
Most recent champion(s) Austin Crows
(2nd premiership)
Most titles Denver Bulldogs
(8 premierships)
Official website www.usafl.com

The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) is a governing body for Australian rules football in the United States. It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997. It is based in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.

In 2011, there were 10,000 registered players.[2] There are 37 men's clubs and 13 club's teams.[1] Most of the football clubs in the U.S.A. have a traditional 18-a-side team for representative purposes and multiple 9-a-side teams running in a local league.

History

CRBR Park Stadium is the largest purpose built cricket/Australian football ground in the United States. It has a capacity of 20,000.

The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 between Cincinnati and Louisville.[3] In the first year the Mid American Australian Football League was formed. Many of the local players had found out about the game in the 1980s on television and ESPN. Although the local game grew, ESPN no longer broadcast AFL matches, and in response the lobby group, Australian Football Association of North America was formed.

In 1997, the first club national championships were held in Cincinnati. Nashville hosted the first Australian Grand Final Festival in the same year. The United States Australian Football League (USAFL) was formed in 1997 to govern the code in the country.

The involvement of many well-known Australians has helped boost the relations between the USAFL and AFL. In the early days, Paul Roos was a key figure.

Robert DiPierdomenico, Leigh Matthews and Michael Voss are official USAFL ambassadors.

National teams

USAFL is responsible for the co-ordination of the National Teams, the USA Revolution men's team and the USA Freedom women's team. The team plays in international tournaments and exhibition matches against other countries. National team players are selected from the best US-born players from the club teams across the country.

With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution & Freedom participate in the annual 49th Parallel Cup against Canada each year except for years of the International Cup in Australia.

The Revolution competed in the 2002 Australian Football International Cup, finishing 5th out of 11 countries and in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup finishing 3rd out of 10 countries. They competed in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup where the Revolution finished 7th out of 16 countries. At the 2011 Australian Football International Cup, the Revolution finished 4th in an increased field of 18 countries. The Revolution finished 8th at the 2014 Australian Football International Cup, again with 18 countries participating.

Domestic tournaments and competitions

USAFL clubs and representative sides

Football Map

USAFL Teams

Club City State League Est. Titles (M) Titles (F) Website
Arizona Hawks Phoenix Arizona USAFL Western Regionals 1999 Link
Atlanta Kookaburras Atlanta Georgia Mid American AFL 1998 1 Link
Austin Crows Austin Texas Mid American AFL 2002 2 Link
Baltimore Washington Eagles Washington District of Columbia Eastern AFL 1998 Link
Baton Rouge Tigers Baton Rouge Louisiana Mid American AFL 2004 Link
Boston Demons Boston Massachusetts Eastern AFL 1997 2 Link
Calgary Kangaroos Calgary Alberta Calgary Metro Championship 2002 3 Link
Chicago Swans Chicago Illinois Mid American AFL 1998 Link
Cincinnati Dockers Cincinnati Ohio Mid American AFL 1996 1 Link
Cleveland Cannons Cleveland Ohio Mid America AFL 2014 Link
Columbus Jackaroos Columbus Ohio Mid American AFL 2008 Link
Dallas Magpies Dallas Texas Mid American AFL 1998 Link
Denver Bulldogs Denver Colorado USAFL Western Regionals 1998 8 6 Link
Des Moines Roosters Des Moines Iowa Mid American AFL 2010 Link
Edmonton Wombats Edmonton Alberta Calgary Metro Championship 2008 Link
Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids Fort Lauderdale Florida Eastern AFL 2005 Link
Golden Gate Roos San Francisco California USAFL Western Regionals 1998 Link
Houston Lonestars Houston Texas Mid American AFL 2005 Link
Indianapolis Giants Indianapolis Indiana Mid American AFL 2013 Link
Kansas City Power Kansas City Missouri Mid American AFL 1998 Link
Las Vegas Gamblers Las Vegas Nevada USAFL Western Regionals 2005 Link
Los Angeles Dragons Los Angeles California USAFL Western Regionals 2010 Link
Louisville Kings Louisville Kentucky Mid American AFL 1996 Link
Milwaukee Bombers Milwaukee Wisconsin Mid American AFL 1998 1 Link
Minnesota Freeze Minneapolis Minnesota Mid American AFL 2005 Link
Nashville Kangaroos Nashville Tennessee Mid American AFL 1997 Link
New York Magpies New York New York Eastern AFL 1998 2 Link
North Carolina Tigers Raleigh North Carolina Eastern AFL 1997 Link
Orange County Bombers Orange County California USAFL Western Regionals 1998 Link
Philadelphia Hawks Philadelphia Pennsylvania Eastern AFL 1998 Link
Oklahoma City Flyers Oklahoma City Oklahoma Mid American AFL 2016
Portland Steelheads Portland Oregon North West Pacific 1998 Link
Quebec Saints Quebec Oregon AFL Quebec 2008 Link
Sacramento Suns Sacramento California

USAFL Western Regionals

 2009 Link
San Diego Lions San Diego CaliforniaUSAFL Western Regionals 1997 2 Link
Seattle Grizzlies Seattle Washington North West Pacific 1998 Link
Saint Louis Blues St. Louis Missouri Mid American AFL 1997 Link
     Tampa Bay Starfish St Petersburg Florida Eastern AFL 2015 Link
Tulsa Buffaloes Tulsa Oklahoma Mid American AFL 2010 Link

Previous clubs

Club Colours Years in competition Premierships
Charleston Saints 2011 - 2013
Detroit Overdrive
Florida Redbacks 1999 - 2013
Illnosis Ironmen
Inland Empire/Fire 1997-2002
Lehigh Valley Crocs 1999 - 2003
Los Angeles Crows 1996 - 2003
Mojave Greens 2004 - 2005
Pittsburgh Wallabies 2004 - 2006
South Carolina Hawks 1999 - 2001
Tri Cities Saints 1999 - 2004
Tuscan Javlines
Vancouver Cougars 2006 - 2009 2008

Affiliated leagues

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Australian football makes inroads in Baltimore one bounce, kick and bump at a time". The Baltimore Sun. 26 July 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Aussie rules tackling the USA". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 September 2011.
  3. ↑ MAAFL League History

External links

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