North American Football League
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- The North American Soccer League is sometimes mistakenly called the North American Football League
| North American Football League | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Sport | American football |
| Founded | 1996 |
| No. of teams | |
| Country |  United States  Canada |
| Current champions | Dallas Diesel |
| Official website | Official Site |
The North American Football League (NAFL) is owned by Greens Worldwide Incorporated and is an adult amateur American football league that was designed to be a self-sustaining level of minor league football where players can develop their skills and simply play for the love of the game.
Contents |
[edit] History
 |
Please see the discussion on the talk page. |
The North American Football League was established to create the highest caliber of football for its players, coaches, trainers, cheerleaders and referees. Based in New York City with several regional offices located throughout the country, it was established in 1996 and incorporated in 1999. The NAFL enables participants to build skills and talents on a platform that is not provided outside of college or professional sports. The mission of the NAFL is to provide a self sustaining level of football that allows players to develop skills or simply participate for the love of the game. League President, Robert F. Licopoli, began this endeavor when he realized that there are tens of thousands of great people involved with this level of football throughout the United States. Each group was operating independently of each other. Mistakes were being repeated year in and year out. One of the goals of President Licopoli was to educate team owners regarding their mistakes and organize a league where each team operates equally. In less than years the NAFL proved itself and is quickly becoming recognized as a viable feeder system for professional football leagues. Licopoli's leadership has also proven to be invaluable to executives and coaches who are currently members of the MLFN Hall of Fame.
The NAFL maintains over 100 teams in 24 divisions and communication is maintained with its almost 6,000+ members on a regular basis. The post season playoff bracket contains a 32 team format. It is a system unlike any other and operates in the same manner as any other large business. The NAFL's goal is to be the McDonald's of minor league football. In its first year, the NAFL accomplished the primary goal of creating a national playoff structure. This is remarkable due to the fact that it expected to take 5 years to accomplish this task! The next step is to raise the capital necessary to pay for all playoff travel for teams that make post season play. The NAFL also gives back to local communities. Local communities benefit from fund-raisers, donations and youth clinics for children at risk.
[edit] Teams
[edit] NAFL1
| Eastern Conference | Northern Conference | ||||||
| Region | Division | Teams | Region | Division | Teams | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Region | Capitol Division | Baltimore Bay Sharks | DC Explosion | Great Lakes Region | Eastern Lakes Division | Detroit Down River Diesels | Genesee County Patriots |
| Maryland Marauders | London Silverbacks | Michigan Admirals | |||||
| Pennsylvania Division | Central Penn Piranha | Cumberland Valley Cardinals | Grass Roots Division | Columbus Fire | New Castle Thunder | ||
| Lancaster Lightning | Philadelphia Scorpions | Ohio Cardinals | Ohio Invaders | ||||
| South Central Yard Dogs | Pittsburgh Colts | Western PA Warhawks | |||||
| Virginia Division | Virginia Crimson Cardinals | Virginia Destroyers | Great Lakes Division | Hoosier Hurricanes | Kane County Eagles | ||
| Virginia Fury Wolfpack | Virginia Hurricanes | McHenry County Pirates | Milwaukee Marauders | ||||
| Virginia Kings | Racine Raiders | ||||||
| North Atlantic Region | Empire Division | Crystal City Dragons | Glens Falls Green Jackets | Midwest Region | Mid-America North Division | Central MN Thunderbirds | Midwest Pioneers |
| Hudson Valley Saints | Western Mass Blitzin' Bears | Minneapolis Lumberjacks | Minnesota Maulers | ||||
| Metro North Division | Empire State Wolfpack | Hudson Valley Cowboys | Superior Stampede | ||||
| New York Panthers | Mid-America South Division | Cedar Valley Vikings | Iowa Threshers | ||||
| Metro South Division | Brooklyn Blue Devils | Long Island Eagles | Minnesota Valley Warriors | Twin Cities Titans | |||
| New York City Falcons | New York Predators | Winona/Lacrosse Rough Riders | |||||
| New Jersey Division | Hudson County Stars | New Jersey Longhorns | North Central Division | Cass County Renegades | Dakota Lawdawgs | ||
| New Jersey Terminators | South Jersey Lynx | Iowa Bruisers | Kansas City Panthers | ||||
| Norfolk Thunderbirds | |||||||
| Southern Conference | Western Conference | ||||||
| Region | Division | Teams | Region | Division | Teams | ||
| Southeast Region | Deep South Division | Charleston Firecats | Jacksonville Bobcats | Pacific Northwest Region | NWFL Division | King County Jaguars | West Sound Saints |
| Savannah Warriors | Southwest Region | Lonestar Division | Austin Gamebreakers | Bastrop County Bulldogs | |||
| Panhandle Division | Central Alabama Renegades | Emerald Coast Jaguars | Dallas Diesel | Houston Sharks | |||
| Southeast Division | Asheville Grizzles | Carolina Timberwolves | Longhorn Division | Bay Area Gamblers | Mongtomery County Bulls | ||
| Southern Region | Mississippi Valley Division | Louisiana Eagles | Texarkana Warriors | South East Texas Mutiny | West Texas Outlaws | ||
| Southern Coast Division | Alabama Lightning | Kenner City Power | Missouri Division | Kansas City Jazz | Kansas City Shockers | ||
| Port City Monarchs | Kansas Kaos | Missouri Outlaws | |||||
| Tennessee Valley Division | Arkansas Rhinos | Memphis Panthers | St. Louis Bulldogs | ||||
| Nashville Storm | |||||||
[edit] NAFL2
| Southern Conference | |||||||
| Region | Division | Teams | Region | Division | Teams | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Region | Bayou Division | Bayou Vipers | Gulf Coast Pirates | South Atlantic Region | Carolina Division | Conway Bulldogs | Georgetown Chiefs |
| Kenner Roadrunners | South Atlantic Division | Beaufort Broncos | Georgia Ragin Bulls | ||||
| Gulf Coast Division | Fort Walton Beach Falcons | Northwest Florida Wolfpac | Southern Division | Alachua Saints | Panhandle Tigers | ||
| Louisiana Division | Lafayette Hurricanes | Louisiana Swamp Gators | |||||
| New Orleans Blazin Bulldogs | |||||||
[edit] Teams Not Listed with NAFL
as of November 30, 2006[1]
- Hamilton Screaming Eagles
- New York Panthers
- Tri-City Titans (new franchise for 2007 season)
[edit] External links
- North American Football League official site
- Semi-pro Football Headquarters
- Racine Raiders Official Site
