American Football Israel

American Football in Israel (AFI) is a non-profit association, which in spring 2004 was granted official recognition as the sport's governing body in Israel by the Ministry of Education's Sports Authority. The AFI is a member of the International Federation of American Football.

Founded in 1988, the AFI leagues have grown to include some 70 teams and over 900 players. In each league, teams play in colored jerseys displaying the team sponsor. The Moshiko AFI men's contact league is six-on-six and played according to AFI rules. Winners of the Flag Football Championship in 2008 was Stevie's Boyz upsetting Big Blue 22-21, coming back from 21-0.

The first men's nine-on-nine contact league played in spring 2005. In the fall of 2005, the co-ed non-contact league and boys' non-contact high school league used for the first time EFAF/NFL Flag Football Rules, which is five-on-five.

The American Football in Israel (AFI) organization hosted an international flag football tournament at Kraft Family Stadium in Jerusalem, February 2006. Known as "Flag in Jerusalem", the event marked the first time the State of Israel has hosted a sanctioned international flag football competition.

Six teams participated in the event including the Italian national team, Germany's Waldorf Wanderers, two American and two Israeli teams composed of some of the best talent the AFI has to offer.

AFI also has a very successful women's league - WAFI. The Israeli Women's National team is regarded as one of the top teams in the world.Fact|date=June 2007

This year, the AFI has joined with the IFL and established the Israeli Football League.

External links

* [http://www.israelfootball.net/ AFI website]
* [http://www.IFL.co.il/ IFL website]