United States Australian Football League
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The United States Australian Football League (also known informally as the USAFL or US Footy) is the governing body for Australian rules football (or "footy") in the United States. It was conceived in 1996 and organized in 1997.
Since co-ordinating the very first National Championships, the organisation also functions as a national amateur Australian rules football representative league. By 2006, the league has grown to 40 affiliated clubs, making up 60 teams and 2,000 players[1], of which 1,048 were registered USAFL players and 340 USAFL sanctioned matches were played. Of the 709 players who competed at the USAFL National Championships, 77.4% were non-Australian, and over 60% were American.
The USAFL has Junior Development, Coaching Development and Umpire Development programs.
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[edit] History
The first match between two local US clubs was played in 1996 between Cincinnati and Louisville.[2] 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, AFANA 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.
[edit] Ambassadors
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. More recently, Robert DiPierdomenico, Colin Carter, Ian Dicker, Wayne Clarke, Leigh Matthews and Michael Voss have become official USAFL ambassadors.
[edit] Metro Footy
The USAFL has embraced Metro Footy – a scaled down version of footy (as the sport is sometimes called) for American-sized fields with fewer players. Many US Footy clubs are fed by several Metro Footy sides and selected players represent at the Nationals. Metro Footy has also enabled the USAFL to stage exhibition matches at Arena Football League games.
[edit] National side
US Footy is responsible for the co-ordination of the National Team, the Revolution. The team plays in international tournaments and exhibition matches against other countries. Revolution players are selected from the best US-born players from the club teams across the country.
With close proximity to Canada, the Revolution participate in the annual 49th Parallel Cup against Canada.
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.
[edit] Domestic Tournaments & Competitions
[edit] Funding and revenue
The Australian Football League provides around A$90,000 annually in funding for US Footy, primarily for junior development. The USAFL also generates revenue through club and player membership and merchandising activities. USFooty recently launched USFootyTravel.com to combine their travel with fundraising.
[edit] US Footy Kids
US Footy Kids is US Footy's equivalent of the successful AFL Auskick program and part of the USAFL's junior development program.
[edit] US Clubs and representative sides
| Club | City | Colours | Metro League | Founded | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona Hawks | Phoenix, Arizona | Arizona Australian Football League | 1999 | Official Site | |
| Atlanta Kookaburras | Atlanta, Georgia |  |
Atlanta Metro Footy League | 1998 | Official Site |
| Austin Crows | Austin, Texas | 2002 | Official Site | ||
| Baltimore Washington Eagles | Baltimore, Maryland, Fairfax, Virginia & Washington, D.C. | Baltimore Washington Eagles Metro Competition | 1998 | Official Site | |
| Baton Rouge Tigers | Baton Rouge, Louisiana |  |
2004 | Official Site | |
| Boston Demons | Boston, Massachusetts |  |
New England Metropolitan Australian Rules Football League | 1997 | Official Site |
| Cincinnati Dockers | Cincinnati, Ohio |  |
1996 | Official Site | |
| Chicago United | Chicago, Illinois | Chicago Australian Football Association | 1998 | Official Site | |
| Dallas Magpies | Dallas, Texas | 1998 | Official Site | ||
| Denver Bulldogs | Denver, Colorado | 1998 | Official Site | ||
| Florida Redbacks | Tampa Bay, Florida | Florida Metro Footy League | 2003 | Official Site | |
| Fort Lauderdale Fighting Squids | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | 2005 | Official Site | ||
| Golden Gate Roos | San Francisco, California | 1998 | Official Site | ||
| Houston Lonestars | Houston, Texas | 2005 | Official Site | ||
| Kansas City Power | Kansas City, Missouri | Kansas City Metro Footy League | 1998 | Official Site | |
| Las Vegas Gamblers | Las Vegas, Nevada | 2005 | Official Site | ||
| Louisville Kings | Louisville, Kentucky | 1996 | Official Site | ||
| Milwaukee Bombers | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | 1998 | |||
| Minnesota Freeze | Minneapolis, Minnesota |  |
2005 | Official Site | |
| Nashville Kangaroos | Nashville, Tennessee | 1997 | Offfical Site | ||
| New York Magpies | New York City | New York Metro Footy League | 1998 | Official Site | |
| North Carolina Tigers | Raleigh, North Carolina | North Carolina Metro Footy League | 1997 | Official Site | |
| Orange County Bombers | Orange County, California | Southern California Australian Football League | 1998 | Official Site | |
| Philadelphia Hawks | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | 1998 | Official Site | ||
| Portland Power | Portland, Oregon | Portland Metro Footy League | 1998 | Official Site | |
| San Diego Lions | San Diego, California | San Diego Metro Footy League | 1997 | Official Site | |
| Seattle Grizzlies | Seattle, Washington | Seattle Metro Footy League | 1998 | Official Site | |
| St. Louis Blues | St. Louis, Missouri | 1998 | Official Site |
[edit] Former Clubs
| Club | City | Founded | Official website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Detroit Overdrive | Detroit, Michigan | ||
| Illinois Ironmen | Naperville, Illinois | ||
| Inland Empire Eagles/Fire | Riverside, California | ||
| Lehigh Valley Crocs | Bethlehem, Pennsylvania | ||
| Los Angeles Crows | Pasadena, California | ||
| Mojave Greens | Fort Irwin, California | ||
| Phoenix Scorpions | Phoenix, Arizona | ||
| Pittsburgh Wallabies | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | ||
| South Carolina Hawks | Charleston, South Carolina | ||
| Tri-Cities Saints | Bristol, Tennessee | ||
| Tucson Javelinas | Tucson, Arizona |
[edit] Affiliated Leagues
- Mid American Australian Football League
- Eastern Australian Football League
- North West Pacific Australian Football League
- Californian Australian Football League
[edit] See also
- Australian rules football
- Australian rules football in the United States
- Metro Footy
- Women's Australian Football Association
[edit] References
[edit] External links
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