Governing body of American football in Australia
Gridiron Australia is the governing body of American football 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 1994 and organized leagues have played since 1983.[1]
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 or American football 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
The Australia national team, known as Australian Outback Archived 1 July 2019 at the Wayback Machine, 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]
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 Samoa 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.
- ACT Gridiron - Championship is the Capital Bowl, representative team is the ACT Monarchs
- Gridiron NSW's men's Division 1 championship game is the Waratah Bowl and its representative team is the NSW Wolfpack
- Gridiron Queensland - Championship is the Sun Bowl, representative team is the Queensland Sundevils
- South Australian Gridiron Association - Championship is the Great Southern Bowl, representative team is the SA Sharks
- Gridiron Victoria (not registered under Gridiron Australia)- Championship is the Vic Bowl, representative team is the Victorian Eagles
- Gridiron West - Championship is the Gridiron West Bowl, representative team is the WA Raiders
Vincent City Ducks
- Gridiron Tasmania - Championship is the Tiger Bowl, representative team is the Tasmanian Tigers
