Flag Football is a Non-Contact Coed/Mixed version of American Football Similar to Tag Rugby, where players wear a flag attached to their waist which must be pulled off in order to tackle them. Scoring is as American Football, although under current rules there is no kicking, and is played on a smaller field with 5 players (In the Irish Flag Football League of the 1990s there were seven players per team and kicking was allowed.
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes
The first Flag Football Leagues in Ireland were in Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s. Then in 1991 members of the Dublin Tornadoes American Football Team started a league in Dublin to grow the game. The league became the Irish Flag Football League with addition of teams in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and lasted until 2000.
From the mid-1980s to 2000, there were two separate development bodies under the IAFA/AFAI: The Northern Ireland American Football Association & Irish council of American Football (Republic of Ireland) charged with developing Flag Football, Junior Football & 8-a-side DV8 Football.
Flag Football was restarted in 2001 as a series of Challenge Games held Nationally. This grew into a National Series of Blitzes, with approximately four Bowls held annually until the formation of the second Irish Flag Football League in 2007, this time a National one. It lasted two seasons before the blitz system was re-introduced. All of these iterations of Flag Football Leagues and Tournaments were under numerous Irish Flag Football Association banners.
In 2014 the Irish American Football association took over the running of Flag Football, and the Irish Flag Football League was re-instated, with the League named the Emerald Bowl Conference. A second level, the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference is being introduced in 2019.
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Standings)
IFFL
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Bowls & Finals)
Irish Flag Football Association Logo
Irish Flag Football League | Emerald Bowls 2015-2018
Irish Flag Football Association | Bowl Finals 2009-2014
Irish Council of American Football | Irish Flag Football Association | League Finals 1992-2000
Irish International Flag Football Challenges (Finals):
Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005
Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Overviews):
The Final Standings & Playoff Results at a glance: Decade / Era Overviews:
Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Final Tables & Playoffs Overviews)
Irish Flag Football League Emerald Bowl Conference 2014-2019
Irish Flag Football Association | Irish Flag Football League 2007-2008
Picture Credit:
Irish Flag Football League (Results)
IFFL
Irish Flag Football League (Level 1)(Results)
AFI Flag Premier Division (2020-Present): 2020
IFFL Emerald Bowl Conference (2014-2019): 2019 2018 2017 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15
IFFA Irish Flag Football League (2007-2008): 2007-08 2007
Irish Flag Football League (Level 2)
As well as organising the Emerald Bowl Conference in 2014-15, the Irish Flag Football Association continued to run Blitzes and Tournaments. In 2019, these unofficial 2nd Levels became a full second division: the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference.
AFI Flag Division One (2020-Present): 2020
IAFA Glas Bowl Conference (2019): 2019
Picture Credit:
Provincial Flag Football Leagues & Blitzes
Dublin Flag Football League; Northern Ireland American Football Association; Irish Flag Football Association; Flag Football Ireland; American Football Ireland Flag
Provincial Flag Football Leagues
AFI Flag Dublin Conference (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag North Conference Premier Division (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag North Conference Division 1 (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag Central Conference (Seasons): 2020
IFFA Dublin Flag Football League (1991-2000): 1999-2000 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95
IAFA Flag Football League (1985-1990):
NIAFA Flag Football League:
Irish Flag Football Tournaments, Blitzes & Scrimmages
IFFA Flag Football Blitzes (2014-Present): 2017-18 2014-15
IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014
IAFFA Tournaments (2009-2014): 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10
IFFA Tournaments (2001-2007) 2006-07 2005-06 2001-02
Picture Credit: [3] Dublin Bay Raptors Whats App Conversation (18 August 2020) Photo Uploaded by Jimmy English at 15:46 .
Irish Flag Football Association (Box-Scores & Match Reports):
Irish Flag Football Association; Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge
Box-Scores & Match Reports for each game, arranged on a season-by-season basis:
IFFA Challenge Matches (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 2001-02
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 1997 1998 1999 2001 2004
Picture Credit: [6] FD Reporter (1996) “Photo caption: Irish Cream: the Lads from Drimnagh celebrate their Championship” First Down. April 20, 1996. Pg. 20.
Other Flag Football
A number of other Flag Football Competitions have taken place in Ireland besides the Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes, and International Competitons.
The most prominent of these would be the Junior Flag Football & Two-Touch Football (prior to Ireland getting Flags from America, teams had to rely on a system whereby the ball carrier was ‘tackled’ if he was touched with two hands.
There has also been College / University and Schools Flag Football Tournaments, and Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (the rules differ due to the walls of the Indoor Hall impinging on play).
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes
The first Flag Football Leagues in Ireland were in Northern Ireland in the mid-1980s. Then in 1991 members of the Dublin Tornadoes American Football Team started a league in Dublin to grow the game. The league became the Irish Flag Football League with addition of teams in Greystones, Co. Wicklow, and lasted until 2000.
From the mid-1980s to 2000, there were two separate development bodies under the IAFA/AFAI: The Northern Ireland American Football Association & Irish council of American Football (Republic of Ireland) charged with developing Flag Football, Junior Football & 8-a-side DV8 Football.
Flag Football was restarted in 2001 as a series of Challenge Games held Nationally. This grew into a National Series of Blitzes, with approximately four Bowls held annually until the formation of the second Irish Flag Football League in 2007, this time a National one. It lasted two seasons before the blitz system was re-introduced. All of these iterations of Flag Football Leagues and Tournaments were under numerous Irish Flag Football Association banners.
In 2014 the Irish American Football association took over the running of Flag Football, and the Irish Flag Football League was re-instated, with the League named the Emerald Bowl Conference. A second level, the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference is being introduced in 2019.
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Standings)
IFFL
Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes (Bowls & Finals)
Irish Flag Football Association Logo
Irish Flag Football League | Emerald Bowls 2015-2018
Irish Flag Football Association | Bowl Finals 2009-2014
Irish Council of American Football | Irish Flag Football Association | League Finals 1992-2000
Irish International Flag Football Challenges (Finals):
Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005
Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Overviews):
The Final Standings & Playoff Results at a glance: Decade / Era Overviews:
Irish Flag Football League (Decade / Era Final Tables & Playoffs Overviews)
Irish Flag Football League Emerald Bowl Conference 2014-2019
Irish Flag Football Association | Irish Flag Football League 2007-2008
Picture Credit:
Irish Flag Football League (Results)
IFFL
Irish Flag Football League (Level 1)(Results)
AFI Flag Premier Division (2020-Present): 2020
IFFL Emerald Bowl Conference (2014-2019): 2019 2018 2017 2016-17 2015-16 2014-15
IFFA Irish Flag Football League (2007-2008): 2007-08 2007
Irish Flag Football League (Level 2)
As well as organising the Emerald Bowl Conference in 2014-15, the Irish Flag Football Association continued to run Blitzes and Tournaments. In 2019, these unofficial 2nd Levels became a full second division: the Glas (Green) Bowl Conference.
AFI Flag Division One (2020-Present): 2020
IAFA Glas Bowl Conference (2019): 2019
Picture Credit:
Provincial Flag Football Leagues & Blitzes
Dublin Flag Football League; Northern Ireland American Football Association; Irish Flag Football Association; Flag Football Ireland; American Football Ireland Flag
Provincial Flag Football Leagues
AFI Flag Dublin Conference (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag North Conference Premier Division (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag North Conference Division 1 (Seasons): 2020
AFI Flag Central Conference (Seasons): 2020
IFFA Dublin Flag Football League (1991-2000): 1999-2000 1998-99 1997-98 1996-97 1995-96 1994-95
NIAFA Flag Football League:1986 1985
Irish Flag Football Tournaments, Blitzes & Scrimmages
IFFA Flag Football Blitzes (2014-Present): 2017-18 2014-15
IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014
IAFFA Tournaments (2009-2014): 2013-14 2012-13 2011-12 2010-11 2009-10
IFFA Tournaments (2001-2007) 2006-07 2005-06 2001-02
Picture Credit: [3] Dublin Bay Raptors Whats App Conversation (18 August 2020) Photo Uploaded by Jimmy English at 15:46 .
Irish Flag Football Association (Box-Scores & Match Reports):
Irish Flag Football Association; Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge
Box-Scores & Match Reports for each game, arranged on a season-by-season basis:
IFFA Challenge Matches (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 2001-02
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Box-Scores & Match Reports): 1997 1998 1999 2001 2004
Picture Credit: [6] FD Reporter (1996) “Photo caption: Irish Cream: the Lads from Drimnagh celebrate their Championship” First Down. April 20, 1996. Pg. 20.
Other Flag Football
A number of other Flag Football Competitions have taken place in Ireland besides the Irish Flag Football League & Blitzes, and International Competitons.
The most prominent of these would be the Junior Flag Football & Two-Touch Football (prior to Ireland getting Flags from America, teams had to rely on a system whereby the ball carrier was ‘tackled’ if he was touched with two hands.
There has also been College / University and Schools Flag Football Tournaments, and Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (the rules differ due to the walls of the Indoor Hall impinging on play).
Other Flag Football
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Indoor Flag Football (2014)
IAFA Indoor Flag Football Tournaments (2014): 2014
Irish Schools Flag Football (2011-2013)
IAFA | Schools Flag Football Tournaments:
Irish American Football Association | Schools Flag Football Finals 2011-2013
IAFA / Women in Sport Schools Flag football Tournaments: 2012
Irish Junior Flag Football (2005-2006)
IFFA Junior League: 2005-06
Flag Football Summer Bowls (1986-1997)
Irish Flag Football Summer Bowl Blitzes (Bowls & Finals):
In addition to the Northern Ireland American Football Association Flag Football League (1985 to 1986) and the Irish Flag Football League (Greater Dublin Area) which started in 1991-92, there have been a number of Summer Bowls and Summer Leagues which have been run by various regional development bodies such as the Jack Daniels Summer Bowl, held in aid of Third World charities, the Irish Collegiate American Football Association Summer Bowl (1993-1994) and the Irish Flag Football Association Summer League (1995-1997).
Irish Flag Football Association | Summer League Finals 1995-1997
Irish Collegiate American Football Association | Summer Bowl 1993-1994
Jack Daniels Summer Bowl International Flag Football Challenge 1986-1992
ICAFA Summer Bowl: 1993
Picture Credit: [10] Enda Mulcahy | Facebook (2020) Post 14 January 2020: “Just got this photo from Ciaran Columb of Marlay – A team photo of the Flag Football Champions from 1993-94 – brilliant! Thanks Ciaran!” [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2202286633412368&id=100008931583156 [Accessed 14 January 2020]
Irish International Flag Football
International Flag Football
International Flag Football
International Flag Football
Ireland has been playing International Flag Football since 1997 at least, when friendlies against England were arranged. These continued until 2007. In 2009 the European Flag Football Championships were held in Belfast, with Ireland entering a team. In 2010 Ireland’s Under 13s (a Coed team) entered the European Championships for the first time and returned in 2012, along with an Under 15s team (also Coed). in 2013 the Senior team again entered the Championships. 2016 was a significant year for Irish Flag Football, when, a year after the establishment of the Irish Flag Football League, an International Series was held in Gormanston, Co. Meath, featuring Ireland as well as European National Teams and the Ramstein Mayhem club side from Germany.
International Senior Flag Football (Overview):
European Federation of American Football | European Flag Football Championship 2009-2013
Team Ireland Flag Football Friendlies 1997-2007
International Junior Flag Football (Overviews):
Team Ireland Youth | Flag Football Internationals 2006-2007
European International Flag Football (Seasons):
Irish Flag Football Association | International Series 2016
Team Ireland Flag Football Friendly 2013
International Flag Football Team Ireland v Allstars 2013
European Federation of American Football Junior Flag Championship Under 15 Netherlands 2012
European Federation of American Football Junior Flag Championship Under 13 Netherlands 2012
Team Canada Flag Football Tour of Ireland and Scotland 2009
International Flag Football Friendly Tournament 2007
Irish International Flag Football Series 2006
European International Flag Football (Team Rosters and Game Summaries):
International Flag Football Challenge – Ireland 27 England 7 – 6 May 2000
Picture Credit: [1] American Football International (2013) EFAF Logo [Internet] Available from: http://www.americanfootballinternational.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/EFAF_logo.gif [Accessed 30 August 2017]
International Club Flag Football
International Club Flag Football
Irish teams have been playing International matches since the first charity bowl in the 1980s in aid of GOAL (an Irish International Development Agency) – the GOAL Heroes v RTE Raiders. Following on from that the Drimnagh Cycos played in the Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge for 9 years against the Leicester Europa Eagles, and then another charity event, the Irish-American Flag Football Classic, was held between two teams representing the US Ambassador’s Residence (Phoenix Park Pirates) and the American Embassy (Dublin 8s).
The Celtic Bowl was held in 2015 between 8 Irish teams and two Scottish teams to celebrate the 30th anniversary of American Football in Ireland. In 2016 Ireland hels an International Tournament featuring National Teams and also the Ramstein Mayhem from Germany. In 2017-18, the Kaiserslautern Screaming Eagles entered one of the Four IAFA Blitzes, which has been included here in the Irish International Club Flag Football section.
European Club Flag Football (Overviews):
International Federation of American Football Europe | Flag Football | Champions Bowl 2016-2018
European Club Flag Football (Seasons):
IFAFE Flag Football Champions Bowl (Seasons): 2018 2017 2016
NFL UK Jaguars Se7ens Cup (UK & Ireland): 2018
Flagging New Year (Scotland / NW Europe): 2018
Irish International Club Flag Football (Overviews):
Irish-American Flag Football Classic 2010-2014
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge 1997-2005
International Flag Football | Irish Teams v US Services 1993-1996
Goal Celebrity Flag American Football Match 1988-1989
International Flag American Football Charity Match 1985
Irish International Club Flag Football (Season Results):
Maynooth University Charity Flag Football Tournament 2020
Flag Football Ireland | Europa Cup Tournaments 2017-18
IT Tallaght International Flag Football Exhibitions 2016
Irish Flag Football Association | Celtic Bowl 2015
Irish International Club Flag Football (Box-Scores & Match Reports):
Anglo-Irish Flag Football Challenge (Game Summaries): 2004 2003 2001 1999 1998 1997
Picture Credit: [9] Gwent Gators Facebook Page (2020) Photo 24 February 2020: “This coming weekend, the Gwent Gators head over to the Emerald Isle as part of our Pre Season tour, to take part in the Maynooth Charity Blitz Tournament at Maynooth University.” [Internet] Available from:https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/87135154_1020381378361002_2983123746514010112_o.png?_nc_cat=106&_nc_sid=8024bb&_nc_ohc=C_MEaZuUnHwAX8wNudT&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=84eb43cc00abd261589b122e9ff3aedf&oe=5E97F437 [Accessed 3 March 2020]
Irish Flag Football Teams
Team Ireland Flag Football Teams
Team Ireland
American Football Ireland Flag Football Timeline 1985-2020
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Team Ireland Flag Football Men: [International Series: 2016 ][ EFAF European Flag Football Championships: 2013 ]
Picture Credit: Terence McCann [13] Irish American Football Association (2016) Flag Football National Team Gets Ready for International Friendly Event [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/team-ireland-flag-gets-ready-face-british-dutch-swedes/ [Accessed 25 February 2018]
Dublin Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland; Irish Flag Football Association
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Drimnagh Cycos 1995-2005 [ 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 ]
Dublin Bay Raptors 2017-Present [ 2018 ]
Dublin Gladiators [ 1998-99 ]
Dublin Vipers 2013-2017 [ 2015-16 ]
South Dublin Panthers [ 2014-15 ]
Picture Credit: Terence McCann [48] Joe @ Dublin Bay Raptors WhatsApp Image 2020-10-17 at 19.30.2
Leinster Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Maynooth University 2010-Present [ 2013-14 ]
Picture Credit: [11] MU Bulls Facebook (2014) Photo: May 3, 2014: “With Cathy Simms, Jake McCoy, Alex Simms, Bill Rawlings, Michael Krasnow, Chris Kane, Eoin Hayes, Thomas McCarty, Adrian Donnerfaust, James Maher, Michael Quinn, Cormac and Alison Ritchie.” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10170884_1470511343183024_8548380269428658499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=05277f&_nc_ohc=LhumXxWWnEUAX-Qh7aP&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=8bbf45ca4552f5ee2d4fb6fdcd264378&oe=5EE53AAB [Accessed 7 October 2014]
Connacht Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland;
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Picture Credit: [2] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2017) Photo October 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pcb.2083533201870491/2083532171870594/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]
Team Ireland Flag Football Teams
Team Ireland
American Football Ireland Flag Football Timeline 1985-2020
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Team Ireland Flag Football Men: [International Series: 2016 ][ EFAF European Flag Football Championships: 2013 ]
Picture Credit: Terence McCann [13] Irish American Football Association (2016) Flag Football National Team Gets Ready for International Friendly Event [Internet] Available from: https://www.americanfootball.ie/team-ireland-flag-gets-ready-face-british-dutch-swedes/ [Accessed 25 February 2018]
Dublin Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland; Irish Flag Football Association
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Drimnagh Cycos 1995-2005 [ 1995-96 1996-97 1997-98 1999-2000 2001-02 2002-03 ]
Dublin Bay Raptors 2017-Present [ 2018 ]
Dublin Gladiators [ 1998-99 ]
Dublin Vipers 2013-2017 [ 2015-16 ]
South Dublin Panthers [ 2014-15 ]
Picture Credit: Terence McCann [48] Joe @ Dublin Bay Raptors WhatsApp Image 2020-10-17 at 19.30.2
Leinster Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Maynooth University 2010-Present [ 2013-14 ]
Picture Credit: [11] MU Bulls Facebook (2014) Photo: May 3, 2014: “With Cathy Simms, Jake McCoy, Alex Simms, Bill Rawlings, Michael Krasnow, Chris Kane, Eoin Hayes, Thomas McCarty, Adrian Donnerfaust, James Maher, Michael Quinn, Cormac and Alison Ritchie.” [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/10170884_1470511343183024_8548380269428658499_n.jpg?_nc_cat=111&_nc_sid=05277f&_nc_ohc=LhumXxWWnEUAX-Qh7aP&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=8bbf45ca4552f5ee2d4fb6fdcd264378&oe=5EE53AAB [Accessed 7 October 2014]
Connacht Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland;
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Picture Credit: [2] Flag Football Ireland Facebook Page (2017) Photo October 25 2017 [Internet] Available from: https://www.facebook.com/FlagFootballIreland/photos/pcb.2083533201870491/2083532171870594/?type=3&theater [Accessed 28 October 2017]
Ulster Flag Football Teams
Flag Football Ireland; Northern Ireland American Football Association
Overview & [Season Roster & Match Reports]:
Coleraine Chieftains 1985-1986; 2001-2002
Craigavon Cowboys [ 2019 ]
Picture Credit: [5] Belfast Blitzers | Facebook Page (2013) Post November 3, 2013: “Belfast Blitzers V Coleraine Chieftains, Flag Football Game, circa 1985. These photos were taken at Coleraine. “ [Internet] Available from: https://scontent-dub4-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/740003_455904087854085_1401328382_o.jpg?_nc_cat=104&_nc_sid=e007fa&_nc_ohc=EYpPyTbRGdkAX_i51Us&_nc_ht=scontent-dub4-1.xx&oh=003874a874ca954051ea6afa5d74b29c&oe=5F0150E8 [Accessed 2 April 2019]
E-Football Ireland
E-Football Ireland
Madden NFL Console Game, Fantasy Football and Prediction Leagues are popular forms of E-Football.
Madden NFL Console Games
Madden NFL
Madden NFL is a Computer Console American Football game for one or more players, played on a Playstation or Xbox. There is an American Football Ireland Madden Championship (started in 2020) as well as Irish Leagues, and teams playing as the Dublin teams players can relocate an NFL team to in Madden NFL (see the Relocation Football League).
American Football Ireland Madden Championship Series (Seasons):
Madden NFL Computer Console Games (Decade Overview):
Relocation Football League (Madden NFL) 2016-Present
Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos
Fantasy Football
NFL Fantasy Football;
Fantasy Football is a Computer Game whereby players score points based on how real NFL players have performed in NFL games. Players join Leagues and then draft NFL players before the season begins. Leagues are NFL-managed, or managed by individual players, the latter often based on a theme, such as an Irish League or World League, the results of which have been recorded below. There also non-NFL Leagues (eg. Irish Fantasy League of American Football – Pre-NFL Fantasy Football League)
NFL Fantasy Football (Decade Overviews):
NFL Fantasy Football AFL Ireland (Seasons): 2020
NFL Fantasy Football | NFL-Ireland 2015-2018
Irish Fantasy Football Leagues (Independent)
Irish Fantasy League of American Football 1994-1996
Irish Fantasy League of American Football 1997-2005
Irish Fantasy League of American Football 2006-2015
First Down Ireland Fantasy Gridiron (Newspaper):
First Down Fantasy Gridiron Ireland 1994-1996
Picture Credit: Pexels Free Photos