Gridiron Australia

Gridiron Australia is the governing body of American football (gridiron) in Australia. It is an approved sporting association under federal government regulations and is a member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF). The organisation was formed in 1996.[1]

Gridiron Australia
SportGridiron
JurisdictionAustralia
AbbreviationGA
Founded1996
AffiliationInternational Federation of American Football
Regional affiliationOceania Federation of American Football

Gridiron Australia oversees the country's national team, which has competed in the IFAF World Cup. It is a governing body of the state-level leagues and does not manage a national-level league itself. Seven out of the eight Australian states and territories run leagues; a total of 70 teams consisting of approximately 3000 players.[2] Only six of the eight state leagues are currently registered under Gridiron Australia. Leagues also provide state-level teams to the Gridiron Australia National Championships.[3] In 2012, the Australian Gridiron League was established by Gridiron Australia.

Organised gridiron has been played in Australia since 1983 and is always referred to as gridiron rather than football to distinguish it from the other football codes such as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football or soccer. There is no uniform gridiron season in Australia, with the leagues playing at different times of the year.

Australian Outback National Team
Main article: Australia national American football team

The Australia national team, known as Australian Outback, consists of 92 players chosen from all seven participating states, as well as international players interested in playing overseas. These players represent Australia in international competitions such as the IFAF World Cup, the Oceania Bowl,[4] a recent Tahiti Football Festival and other national level events.

IFAF World Cup

The 2015 IFAF World Cup was held between 9–18 July and consisted of seven countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Japan, Mexico, South Korea and the USA) playing twelve games at the Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, Ohio.

Australia finished fifth after defeating South Korea 42-14.[5]

The gold medal was awarded to the USA, silver to Japan and bronze to Mexico.[6]

Tahiti Football Festival

The men's Australian Outback National Team travelled to Tahiti to participate in the very first Tahitian Football Festival hosted by Federation Tahitienne Football American (FTFA). The purpose of this trip was to assist Tahiti with developing their own national team. American Somoa were invited to participate in the festival which had the intention of encouraging the growth of gridiron in the Oceania Region.[7]

Australia played two games during the twelve day stay with winning results.

The first game was held on 27 July 2016, against American Samoa, which the Australian Outbacks won 40-14.

The second game was played on 30 July 2016, against Tahiti who the Outbacks defeated 82-6.

Member leagues and teams

There are 70 clubs that compete in full contact junior, senior and women's competitions in seven leagues nationwide. Representative teams are formed by players from across the league, not solely from the league's championship team. Gridiron Australia also includes non-contact touch football and flag football competitions and tournaments.

NOTE: (W)= Women's team registered under the same name as Seniors. (J)= Junior's team registered under the same name as Seniors.

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See also
  • Gridiron in Australia
  • List of leagues of American football

References
  1. "IFAF - OFAF - Australia". 3 August 2009. Archived from the original on 3 August 2009. Retrieved 2016-10-25.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  2. "Gridiron Australia | Governing body of American Football in Australia". gridironaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  3. ABC Sport Online (7 February 2005). "Aussie Super Bowl coming to Adelaide". ABC Sport. Archived from the original on 4 December 2007. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  4. Worrad, Sam (14 July 2005). "Give 'em a hand: Australia rules". The Glebe. Retrieved 4 December 2007.
  5. "Australia Earns Fifth Place With South Korea Win". www.outbackgridiron.com. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  6. "IFAF Senior Mens World Championship | IFAF". ifafworldchampionship.org. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
  7. "Outback National Team | Gridiron Australia". gridironaustralia.org.au. Retrieved 25 October 2016.
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