BRIEF HISTORY OF AMERICAN FOOTBALL IN FINLAND American football came to Finland in the late 70’s through high school students returning back from their exchange student in United States. And the first game was played between two high schools in 1976. After few years of irregular high school games and friendy against team made out of US Embassy Marine Corps the first unofficial National Championship was played in 1979. And later that year American Football Association of Finland was founded and the game started to become club sport activity instead of a school sport. Football grew fast in late 80’s and early 90’s. Lisenced player numbers grew to 2500 and top games attracted 5000 spectators or more. The Association had its own weekly TV-show during the season and general interest towards the sport was big. The early 90’s economic recession however took its toll to football as well and the numbers decreased to some 800 licensed players in 1998. After that the sport has again been on a steady rise increasing player participation by 100 percent, team numbers by 100% and number of active clubs by 75%. Since the early days the association has added national team, youth tackle and flag programs as well as women’s tackle and flag leagues to its competitions and is currently focusing heavily on increasing the youth (boys and girls) participation numbers to promote the game in Finland.

NATIONAL TEAMS First national team Finland was fielded in 1983 when men´s national team participated in the first ever European Championships of American football in Italy. Ever since that Finland has participated in all 10 final tournaments and has been crowned European Champion 5 times (1985, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999). Finland has been the runner-up 4 times (1991,2001) and two times the team has finished 3 rd (1987, 2005).

National Team has also participated in World level. In IFAF World Championship Finland finished 6 th with a club team participating in final tournament of 1999. In 2003 and 2007 did not make the 4 and 6 team final tournaments as it lost to France in European qualification final both times. National Team has also played various friendly games with other national teams, European club teams as well as US colleges.

In late 80’s Finland formed its first youth national team that played friendly games to Swedish club teams, but in 1992 the youth (19 and under) National team participated in first Junior European Championships in France. Finland was crowned European Junior Champion the first 3 times (1992, 1994, 1996). 2008 in Sevilla, Spain Finland participated again in the final tournament and finished 7th with 2-2 record. Junior National Team has also participated in the bi-annual Nordic junior championships since 1997. Finland has won the tournament four times (1997, 1999, 2003, 2005). In 2008 Finland added 17 and under national team which opened its play with a win over Sweden.

In 2008 Finland played Sweden in the worlds first ever womens tackle international national team game.

In Flag football Finland has had youth flag national teams since early 90’s. Also the Finnish school champions have played in European School Finals since late 90’s. SAJL has also  women’s flag national team that has played for the EFAF European championships in Finland and Italy. For the IFAF world championships women's team has played in France and Korea.

MENS LEAGUES First senior league was played in 1980 and the equipment came mandatory at that point as well. The National Champion is determined in Maple Bowl and the highest league is called the Maple League. Powerhouse has been the Helsinki Roosters with 13 National Championships. Current National Champions are the Turku Trojans. The Finnish senior leagues have grown from the start to include 25 teams playing in three levels. Teams can move both up or down through promotion and relegation games. Currently 8 teams play in the Maple League, 6 teams in 1-division and 9 teams in 2-division. Games are played with IFAF rules that are almost the same than NCAA rules with few exceptions. Quarter length however is 12 minutes. The player ages vary from 16 all the way to over 40 and the teams play inside their respective clubs. Final and play-off games are televised but the general interest towards football, though currently growing, remain moderate as top games attract little over one thousand spectators. The leagues clubs are non-profit organizations and participating players are not professional players. Club teams also participate in European Football League with top clubs teams across Europe. Top players are also playing other European domestic leagues (Italy, Spain, Sweden and Germany especially) and some have departed from youth teams to US universities for example offensive line players Seppo Evwaraye (University of Nebraska) later with Minnesota Vikings and defensive tackle Michael Quarshie (University of Columbia) later with Oakland Raiders. From senior teams top players have played in former NFL-Europe league, where tight ends Klaus Alinen bounced to Atlanta Falcons organization and Iiro Luoto to New York Jets.

YOUTH PROGRAM Associations youth program covers both tackle and flag football and both to clubs and schools. As the association and its quality of running a sport in Finland is rated on its club participation the main focus has been the club level activities. However school flag program was added few years ago to support the interest towards football in whole of Finland. The objective is to educate the basics to as many people as possible to support the growth of member clubs. Since the different age groups are hoped to form more opportunities for participation, the youth teams are mandatory for the clubs. Teams having their senior team in Maple League are required to run minimum of 4 youth teams since 2004. In 2005 division l teams will also have a mandatory requirement of youth teams.

YOUTH LEAGUES (TACKLE) Youth leagues started to develop in late 80’s starting with one category of 18 and under. Since then the structure has added more age levels so that currently there are leagues for 21 and under, 19 and under, 17 and under, 15 and under and 13 and under. In near future the structure is planned to start separate 13 and under as well as 11 and under leagues. The categories are named after letters from A to F from the oldest to the youngest age category. The 21 and under league is played in early spring and has been played since late 80’s. The 19 and under league is played during summer months and also originates from late 80’s. The 17 and under league, played in fall, was started in 2000. The 15 and under league was introduced in 2002 and will separate the younger kids to their own league in near future. In a fairly large country with only 5,2 million people the main problems are the long travel distances and low availability of equipment. It is not uncommon for a team to travel 600 miles for a league game and the players purchase the equipment either through internet or from the few local importers. The leagues are ran in continuation from March to October so the weather is sometimes challenging.

YOUTH LEAGUES (FLAG) Flag leagues were first created in late 80’s. Back then the format was that 15 and under played with 9vs9 semi contact rules and 13 and under played 7vs7 semi contact rules. As the sport grew the number of players grew until 94, but after that the flag club program almost died totally. Game format is 5vs5 non-contact and the teams are boys, girls and mixed. The plan is to grow the groups to include 15 and under, 13 and under and 11 and under categories for both boys and girls inside next 5 years.

SCHOOL ACTIVITIES (YOUTH) As sport in Finland as well as in most parts of Europe is generally ran in sports clubs the school activities are very different from US school sports. The main focus is currently in school flag (also 5vs5 non contact) but high school games have been played lately again. School flag program is run by the association and its member clubs but supported by the NFL. In 2003 it reached little over 10,000 boys and girls in almost 90 schools, which led to almost 40 schools playing in area tournaments and National Championship final tournament. School flag is focusing on kids between 9 and 15 years, but also to high schools. The re-introduction of club flag program is intended to attract more kids to clubs as they have the chance to try the game first at their own school. Clubs teams have started also to organize high school tackle leagues.

WOMENS LEAGUE SAJL has both women’s flag and american football national championship leagues. The sport has generated lots of interest is rapidly growing and 2003 saw already 12 teams in competitions. The women’s program started back in the 80’s but the league format was only introduced in late 90’s. Tackle league started in 2008 and 6 teams participated in 2009 season.

RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES As one of the main goals is to get people familiar with football in Finland, there have been some adult 5vs5 flag tournaments and activities will continue grow as own recreational flag football department was founded to the association.

American Football Association of Finland - SAJL
Pasilan Puistotie 8
00240 Helsinki
tel. +358(0)9-4368 3211
fax. +358(0)9-4368 3210
e-mail office(at)sajl.fi
homepage: http://www.sajl.fi/