International Federation of American Football
Encyclopedia
International Federation of American Football (IFAF) is the international governing body
of American football
associations. Its headquarters are in La Courneuve
, France
, and its current president is Tommy Wiking. The IFAF oversees the IFAF World Championship of American Football, which is held every four years.
. Japan was also an early adopter of American football, establishing its national federation in 1936. The first European federation was formed in 1976. Since then, the sport has experienced a significant expansion, especially in Europe, culminating in the founding of the European Federation of American Football
in 1996. Two years later (1998), the International Federation of American Football was officially formed. The IFAF became a provisionary member of the General Association of International Sports Federations in 2003, and became a full GAISF member in 2005.
Currently, the IFAF is composed of 62 member nations on six continents (North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania), all of which possess national federations dedicated solely to American football,http://www.usafootball.com/articles/displayArticle/7039 except for Canada, whose federation is primarily devoted to the similar Canadian football
. The IFAF includes Canadian football in its definition of the term American football, despite differences between the two; in international competitions, the Canadian teams play by American rules.
The IFAF also governs the Women's World Cup
and the Junior World Cup
for players under the age of 19.
Sport governing body
A sport governing body is a sports organization that has a regulatory or sanctioning function. Sport governing bodies come in various forms, and have a variety of regulatory functions. Examples of this can include disciplinary action for rule infractions and deciding on rule changes in the sport...
of American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
associations. Its headquarters are in La Courneuve
La Courneuve
La Courneuve is a commune in the northeastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.-History:The history of La Courneuve begins as the rest of the region with the invasion of European tribes and the eventual conquering of the area by the Romans. During the Middle Ages,...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, and its current president is Tommy Wiking. The IFAF oversees the IFAF World Championship of American Football, which is held every four years.
History
The first national American Football federation outside of the United States was founded in Canada in 1896, as Canada already had a long history with Canadian footballCanadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
. Japan was also an early adopter of American football, establishing its national federation in 1936. The first European federation was formed in 1976. Since then, the sport has experienced a significant expansion, especially in Europe, culminating in the founding of the European Federation of American Football
European Federation of American Football
The European Federation of American Football is the governing body of American football in Europe. It is recognized by the International Federation of American Football ....
in 1996. Two years later (1998), the International Federation of American Football was officially formed. The IFAF became a provisionary member of the General Association of International Sports Federations in 2003, and became a full GAISF member in 2005.
Currently, the IFAF is composed of 62 member nations on six continents (North and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania), all of which possess national federations dedicated solely to American football,http://www.usafootball.com/articles/displayArticle/7039 except for Canada, whose federation is primarily devoted to the similar Canadian football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
. The IFAF includes Canadian football in its definition of the term American football, despite differences between the two; in international competitions, the Canadian teams play by American rules.
The IFAF also governs the Women's World Cup
IFAF Women's World Championship
The IFAF Women's World Championship is the international championship for women in American football. The first event was held in 2010, in Stockholm, Sweden, and was won by the United States.-Results:...
and the Junior World Cup
IFAF Junior World Cup
The IFAF Junior World Cup is the world championship of American football for players under the age of 19 organized by the International Federation of American Football. It was announced on June 2008 and the first competition started on Saturday, June 27, 2009 at Canton, Ohio...
for players under the age of 19.
Goals
The goals of the organization are:- To be part of the international sporting community
- Admission into the General Association of International Sports Federation
- Acceptance by the IOC
- Participation in the World GamesWorld GamesThe World Games, first held in 1981, are an international multi-sport event, meant for sports, or disciplines or events within a sport, that are not contested in the Olympic Games...
and Olympic GamesOlympic GamesThe Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
Structure
- European Federation of American FootballEuropean Federation of American FootballThe European Federation of American Football is the governing body of American football in Europe. It is recognized by the International Federation of American Football ....
(EFAF) - Pan American Federation of American FootballPan American Federation of American FootballThe Pan American Federation of American Football is the American Football federation that qualifies teams from North America, Central America, the Caribbean and South America in the IFAF World Cup....
(PAFAF) - Asian Federation of American FootballAsian Federation of American FootballThe Asian Federation of American Football is the governing body of American football in Asia. It is a member of the International Federation of American Football....
(AFAF) - Oceania Federation of American FootballOceania Federation of American FootballThe Oceania Federation of American Football is the governing body of American football in Oceania. It is a member of the International Federation of American Football.- Competitions :...
(OFAF)