INTERNATIONAL

International Federation of American Football (IFAF)
NFL Global Junior Championships
NFL Flag Football World Championships

Football in Canada can trace its roots to the early 1860s. The first documented football game was played at the University of Toronto on the present site of University College (400 yards west of Queen's Park) on November 9, 1861.

Football Canada was initially established February 7, 1884 and the first national football federation.  It was known as the Canadian Rugby Football Union (CRFU) with the specific purpose of organizing play-off games between various union champions.

Canada can legitimately claim to be a founder of the game of football which is currently played in North America and now around the world.

This great game has now expanded to over 50 countries on 6 continents.  The first national Football federation outside of North America was in Japan, 1936 and then followed by Europe in 1976. Since then the sport has experienced a significant expansion with the founding of the European Federation of American Football (1996) followed by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF).

International Federation of American Football (IFAF)

The goals of IFAF, currently with 45 associations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, are to be part of the international sporting community (acceptance by the IOC and participation in the World Games as well as the Olympic Games) and membership development.

Football Canada became a full member of the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) in 2004, which is a full member with the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF).

IFAF currently oversees various competitions (e.g. World Cup) and participates in multi-sport events such as the World Games. It has also sanctioned competitions from partner organizations (e.g. NFL Flag World Championships and NFL Global Junior Championship).

The 1st IFAF World Championship was held in 1999 in Italy and continental competitions have been held the last 20 years. The second World Cup was in 2003 in Frankfurt (Germany). The third appearance of American Football as an international sport was at the World Games 2005 where with Germany was the gold medal winner. Football drew the highest attendance of all sports in the World Games 2005.

The major event of the upcoming year will be the 3rd IFAF World Championships 2007 at the Kawasaki (Japan), a major Japanese city next to Tokyo, July 7-15, 2007. Twenty one countries participated in the qualification rounds with six countries making the final tournament: Japan, Sweden, France, Germany, Korea and USA.

Football Canada currently submits teams to both the NFL Flag World Championships and the NFL Global Junior Championships. We are proud to partner with and support the various programs that participate in these events.

For more information, please visit: www.ifaf.info

More News:
March 9, 2007 - IFAF Youth Coach of the Year Award 
February 12, 2006 - PAFAF Founded
October 16, 2006 - World Cup Qualifier
August 9, 2006 - World Cup Qualifier

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NFL Global Junior Championships

The NFL Global Junior Championship has evolved from a single game first played to showcase the talents of young American football players from Europe and Mexico in 1997 to become the exciting multi-team tournament that is today an integral part of the Super Bowl celebrations. In Detroit in 2006 the NFL GJC proudly celebrated its tenth anniversary at Super Bowl XL as teams from three continents converged on the famous Pontiac Silverdome.

The tournament has provided a platform on which future NFL, CFL, College Football and NFL Europe players have excelled. More than 40 Canadians have progressed to both college football and the CFL, including wide receiver WR Kevin Challenger (Boston College), OL David Bouchard (Syracuse), DB Etienne Boulay (UNH/Montreal Alouettes), and Jean-Philippe Abraham (Edmonton Eskimos).

 
Team Canada - 2007 Global Junior Champions

The adventure began at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans in 1997 when a quick and well-disciplined team of college freshmen and high school seniors representing Mexico proved too strong for a young Europe team and triumphed 30-6. In San Diego in 1998 in front of 9,000 fans, a 50-yard Europe field goal attempt fell short and Mexico was again victorious by a 13-12 margin.

Team Europe won the championship at the third attempt at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale prior to Super Bowl XXXIII in 1999. Europe eliminated Mexico’s ability to make the big play and roared to a 29-8 win.

In Atlanta in 2000 an expanded four-team tournament saw Europe sweep Panama 20-0 in the semi finals, while Canada edged hosts USA 9-3. In a Championship Game played in below freezing temperatures fans lit fires on the sidelines to fend off the cold as Canada secured a slim 7-6 victory. In the bronze medal game USA romped to a 38-0 win.

Tampa Bay, Florida, was the setting for the 2001 NFL Global Junior Championship V. In the final and trailing 21-19, the Canadians tried to snatch victory at the death. Only a sack and finally an interception with 24 seconds remaining kept the USA defense on top to ensure a host nation triumphed for the first time.

In New Orleans in 2002, Europe claimed the bronze medal, winning 27-16 against Japan, while the Championship Game was again a close contest. With defenses on top the USA led 16-8 until Canada’s Mike Faulds threw a Hail Mary touchdown as time expired to pull within two points. The deuce conversion attempt sailed agonizingly through the hands of a wide receiver and USA held on for victory.

In San Diego in 2003 a record five teams competed as Mexico made a welcome return and outlasted Europe and beat Japan to finish third overall. The Championship Game proved to be another thrilling encounter between USA and Canada. USA recovered from a 21-7 deficit in a dramatic fourth quarter to force overtime. Arizona-bound quarterback Richard Kovalcheck underlined his credentials and broke Canadian hearts with a second touchdown pass to Johnny Principato, who had also caught the game-tying score.

Although the Houston-Harris County all stars lost to Canada in the first round stages in Houston in 2004, they recovered to retain the NFL GJC crown with a 31-point shutout of their rivals from north of the border in the Championship Game.

The 2005 tournament in Jacksonville, FL, saw Canada finally overcome USA in a thrilling championship game, outlasting the home team 38-35 at a packed Bolles School Stadium. Canada had also triumphed over the USA in the round robin stage and celebrated head coach Danny Maciocia’s appointment as the new head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos of the CFL.

The 2006 tournament was played indoors for the first time in the event’s ten-year history at the Pontiac Silverdome in Michigan. Canada was in no mood to relinquish its title and swept convincingly through the first round without conceding a point. In the Championship Game Canada’s defense again held firm to shut out USA 10-0 and Samuel Fournier’s dominant ground attack earned him the MVP award.

Source: www.nfl-gjc.com/Page88.aspx

Complete information on Team Canada: www.teamcanadafootball.com/

More News: 2007 NFL Global Junior Championship XI
February 5, 2007 - All-Tournament Team
February 5, 2007 - Canada Beats USA in the Finals – Again!
February 2, 2007 - Canada looks for three peat against U.S.
February 1, 2007 - Team Canada Football advances to the championship final
January 29, 2007 - Team Canada faces France and Japan on Wednesday
January 19, 2007 - Team Canada ready to defend its title
December 25, 2006 - Team Canada 2007 Full Roster
December 20, 2006 - Glen Constantin announces 31 Team Canada players
December 16, 2006 - (Media Invitation ) Football – NFL Global Junior Championships
December 14, 2006 - Team Canada head coach Glen Constantin names assistants
October 26, 2006 - Glen Constantin to lead Team Canada at the NFL Global Junior Championship XI in January

Past Results  

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NFL Flag Football World Championships

The FFWC is about more than playing flag football. More than 350 youngsters have enjoyed the sights and different cultures of some of the world’s most exciting cities, visiting attractions such as the Great Wall of China, Niagara Falls and the Berlin Wall. The participants also learn to communicate and make friends despite language barriers and the tournament promotes sporting excellence among boys and girls. Four of the past six championship games have featured co-ed teams, including reigning champion Thailand.
 

Team Canada - 2006 World Flag Silver medallists

The Flag Football World Championships (FFWC) first kicked off in Toronto, Canada in 2000, within the grounds of the famous Canadian National Exhibition. The Roo Boys of Australia overturned a 20-point halftime deficit in a thrilling final to defeat Japan and win the inaugural championship game.

Ten ten-team format that has featured throughout the event’s history continued in Berlin, Germany, in 2001. An all-North American final saw the USA’s Runnymeade Eagles from New Jersey defeat Canada 33-21. Mexico claimed third place, edging out Australia by two points.

Mexico City staged the third tournament in 2002, which was won by the Imperial Valley Chargers of San Diego, ensuring the USA kept its grip on the world title. Tomken Road School from Ontario, Canada was beaten in the final for a second straight year.

Beaten semi finalists the previous year, Los Diablitos from Mexico won the 2003 title in Tokyo when Asia became the third continent to host the FFWC. The Mexicans beat Wa-Ryong Middle School from Korea to take gold. Thailand claimed third place and Australia came in fourth.

The USA returned to top spot in Vancouver, Canada in 2004 when the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center from Miami had too much firepower for Mexico’s Las Aguilas in a 48-17 victory in the city’s picturesque Stanley Park. Canada took bronze with a hard-fought win over Japan in a tournament that marked the participation of China for the first time.

Beijing, China, welcomed the prestigious grassroots tournament in August 2005. Thailand’s Bangmod Wittaya Middle School defeated defending champion the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center team from the United States 25-19 in the tournament final and were crowned world champions. Las Aguilas from Monterrey, Mexico claimed third place with victory over Canada’s Tomken Road School.

The 2006 FFWC was held at the Leichtathletik Stadion in the historic cathedral city of Cologne, Germany, from August 22 to 26, featuring the national champions of ten nations spanning three continents: Canada, China, Germany, Japan, Korea, Netherlands, Mexico, Spain, Thailand and USA.

Source: http://www.nfl-flag.com

Football Canada is proud to partner with NFL Canada Flag Football to promote this prestigious co-ed tournament, which motivates boys and girls to participate in a fun and safe sport.

More News: NFL Flag Football World Championships 2007
August 27, 2006 - Team Canada Takes the Silver Medal 
August 27, 2006 - Team Canada Players Named Championship Tournament MVPs

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