Lead photo by Eoghan Connelly
Ireland will host the 2023 IFAF European Flag Football Championships from 18-20 August at the University of Limerick.
The tournament will see more than a dozen European national teams compete in Senior Men’s and Senior Women’s games to compete for the title of European Flag Football Champions. This will be the first time Ireland will host the tournament.
American Football Ireland (AFI) stated their excitement for the opportunity to host and hope that the tournament will help strengthen the public opinion of flag football and American football in Ireland, as well as further develop participation in the sports.
Both Limerick's men and women's Irish Wolfhounds teams have qualified for the tournament in August.
Fantastic to be able to support the IFAF European Flag Football Championships to be held at the stunning facilities of @UL this summer. Proud to work in partnership with @Shannon_Region, @limerickcouncil and @eventsul @Failte_Ireland pic.twitter.com/LULr8dEWnO
— Meet in Ireland (@MeetInIreland) April 21, 2022
Flag Football is a version of American Football with almost the same rules, except for the characteristic contact element between players. No tackling is allowed in flag football - instead flags are attached to the ball carrier’s belt, one on each side of the waist. When a player manages to pull one flag from an opponent, the game stops and another play begins (down) the same as a player being tackled in American Football. The rules are almost the same, the only difference is that the physical contact is almost non-existent.
Many of the flag football teams in Ireland also have mixed teams, that have slowly been seeing more female beginners join. South Dublin Panthers captain Jenny Kavanagh shared her positive experience of flag football after joining a mixed team: "It's very much a team sport and you have that team camaraderie but at the same time, you have individual components that you have to execute."
"And its just really fun - it has a nice mix of being really competitive and is incredibly social and inclusive - no matter who wants to come down and play, they'll be welcomed. The coaches have no problem going back to basics every session if they have a new person at every session."
Kavanagh also explained that because of the way the sport is structured, it's easy to pick up on. "Whether you've played basketball, rugby, hockey or tag rugby, the skills transfer is very similar."
"I haven't met someone who joined and hasn't fell in love with it."
Happy #StPatricksDay2023 to the hosts of the 2023 IFAF European and African Flag Football Championships @a_f_ireland and @ul
☘️ pic.twitter.com/AMhKPzdod9— Int’l Fed of American Football (@IFAFMedia) March 17, 2023
This past weekend saw the AFI’s second 6v6 Strict-Mixed Tournament take place, where numerous teams participated: South Dublin Panthers Gold, South Dublin Panthers Navy, Globo Gym Purple Cobras (Donegal Derry Vipers/Cork Outlaws), Belfast City Lions, Quetzals, Dublin City Wolves, Craigavon Cowboys and North Down Dragons. The Belfast City Lions club made history by fielding Ireland’s first all-female offence against North Down Dragons. The event also saw more than 30 women take the field, the most women playing at a game day in Ireland ever.
While it may not be widely known, American Football Ireland is recognised by Sport Ireland and the Federation of Irish Sports and is in the process of becoming an associate member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).
American Football Ireland hopes to continue to promote and teach all aspects of American Football in a fun and positive environment while promoting respect, inclusivity and teamwork.
