Polish American Football League

Polish American Football LeagueMost recent season or competition:
2019 PLFA season

Sport| American football
Founded| October 2004
Founder| PZFA
First season| 2004
Ceased| 2019
Replaced by| Polish Football League
CEO| Przemysław Kazaniecki
No. of teams| 13
Country|  Poland
Official website| plfa.pl

The Polish American Football League or shortly PLFA (Polish: Polska Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego) was a structured system for the American football competitions in Poland founded in 2004 by the Polish federation PZFA. In 2012, the Topliga was created as a major league with a bid (invitation) rule. The remaining teams are divided into two leagues (PLFA I and PLFA II) between which there was promotion and relegation. There were two eight-man football competitions: PLFA 8 for reserve teams and smaller clubs, and PLFA J for under-17 players.

The top four teams from the Topliga regular season entered the playoffs and the winners met in the championship game called the SuperFinał (more commonly known as the Polish Bowl). The PLFA I championship game was called the PLFA Cup Game.

In the 2013 season there were 74 teams in 5 leagues. 57 teams played 11-man football (8 teams in the Topliga, 8 teams in the PLFA I and 21 teams in the PLFA II) and other 37 teams played 8-man football competitions: 20 senior teams and 17 junior teams). The TopLiga and PLFA I are divided into two divisions, PLFA II into three divisions, and PLFA 8 and PLFAJ into five divisions based on geographical reasons.

After the 2017 season, there was a split in Polish American football, 20 clubs left the PLFA and founded a new league, the Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego or shortly LFA.

## History

[edit]

2012 SuperFinal in National Stadium in front of 23,000 viewers.

American football is arguably the fastest growing sport in Poland, which appeared in Poland in 1999, when a pioneer initiative was established in Warsaw. The Polish American Football Association (Polish: Polski Związek Futbolu Amerykańskiego or PZFA) was created in November 2004, initiated by the first two American football teams: Warsaw Eagles and 1. KFA Wielkopolska. Its founding was a response to the dynamic growth of the American football movement in Poland.

The first game between Polish teams (still without professional equipment) was played in December 2005 in Poznań. The first international game, officiated by professionals, was played in March 2006 – The Warsaw Eagles took on Czech team Pardubice Stallions in a game played in Warsaw. From that moment on, teams began to be established in different parts of the country.

The Polish American Football League started in October 2006 with just 4 teams. There were 9 teams competing for the second championship in 2007. In 2008, the league split into two divisions - PLFA I (8 teams) and PLFA II (9 teams). There were 22 teams competing for the 2009 season and 21 for the 2010 season. 2011- 34 teams, 2012- 42 teams, and 2013- 74 teams.

## Season structure

[edit]

The regular season in the Topliga starts in March/April and ends in June/July. Each team plays nine games competing against every other team in the division (4 or 5 home games and 5 or 4 away games). A team is awarded two points for a win, one point for a tie, and zero points for a loss (a tie only occurs if the overtime can not be played).

After a regular season, the top four teams qualify for the play-offs (1st place against 4th place and 2nd against 3rd) and the Semi-Final winners meet in the championship game called SuperFinal; there is no 3rd place game.

The 2012 Super-Final championship game drew 23,000 fans.

## Game rules

[edit]

Main article: College football

Playing rules are based on those of the NCAA College football with minor modifications, e.g.:

* 12-minute quarters
* minimal field markings
* unsportsmanlike conduct for excessive celebration after plays, similar to the NFL rules
* no Instant replay

Rules are adopted with a one-year delay. For example, 2011 NCAA game rule changes was adopted for 2012 PLFA season.

Before 2012, coaches, players and officials used the English-language NCAA Rulebook. In February 2012, the Rulebook was translated into Polish by the Officiating Department chairman.[1]

## Teams in 2019 Season[2]

[edit]

Top Liga

* Bydgoszcz Archers
* Kraków Tigers
* Warsaw Eagles
* Kaunas Dukes
* Vilnius Iron Wolves
* Ząbki Dukes

|  | EESL

* Minsk Litvins
* Moscow Spartans
* St. Petersburg Griffins
* St. Petersburg North Legion

|
|

## Champions

[edit]

Season | PLFA I | PLFA II | — | PLFA 8
(8v8) | —

|
|
|
|
|

2006 | Warsaw Eagles | — | — | — | —
2007 | The Crew Wrocław | — | — | — | —
2008 | Warsaw Eagles | Lowlanders Białystok | — | — | —
2009 | Silesia Miners | Zagłębie Steelers | — | — | —
2010 | Devils Wrocław | Bielawa Owls | — | — | —
2011 | The Crew Wrocław | Warsaw Spartans | — | Warsaw Eagles B | —
Season | Topliga | PLFA I | PLFA II | PLFA 8
(8v8) | PLFA J
(under-17, 8v8)
2012 | Seahawks Gdynia | Warsaw Spartans | Tychy Falcons | Seahawks Gdynia | Warsaw Eagles
2013 | Giants Wrocław | Husaria Szczecin | Królewscy Warszawa | Zagłębie Steelers | Bielawa Owls
2014 | Seahawks Gdynia | Husaria Szczecin | Silesia Rebels | Warsaw Eagles C | Panthers Wrocław
2015 | Seahawks Gdynia | Kraków Kings | Outlaws Wrocław | OldBoys Warszawa | Panthers Wrocław
2016 | Panthers Wrocław | Tychy Falcons | Panthers Wrocław B | OldBoys Warszawa | Bielawa Owls
2017 | Panthers Wrocław | Warsaw Sharks |  |  |
2018 | Warsaw Eagles |  |  |  |

## See also

[edit]

* Sport in Poland

## References

[edit]

[3] [4]

1. ^ "Przepisy futbolu amerykańskiego ... po polsku!" (in Polish). pzfa.pl. 11 Feb 2012. Archived from the original on 20 September 2012. Retrieved 17 Nov 2012.
2. ^ "PLFA". plfa.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 2020-07-10.
3. ^ "PLFA".
4. ^ "PLFA". plfa.pl.

## External links

[edit]

* Polish American Football League

* v
* t
* e

Polish American Football League 2015

Topliga|

* Husaria Szczecin
* Kozły Poznań
* Lowlanders Białystok
* Panthers Wrocław
* Seahawks Gdynia
* Warsaw Eagles
* Warsaw Sharks
* Zagłębie Steelers

PLFAI|

* Angels Toruń
* Cougars Szczecin
* Gliwice Lions
* Kraków Kings
* Saints Częstochowa
* Seahawks Sopot
* Silesia Rebels
* Tychy Falcons
* Tytani Lublin
* Wilki Łódzkie

PLFAII|

* Bielawa Owls
* Broncos Sucha Beskidzka
* Bydgoszcz Archers
* Crusaders Warszawa
* Dragons Zielona Góra
* Green Ducks Radom
* Griffons Słupsk
* Mustangs Płock
* Olsztyn Lakers
* Panthers B Wrocław
* Patrioci Poznań
* Pretorians Skoczów
* Ravens Rzeszów
* Rybnik Thunders
* Silvers Olkusz
* Warsaw Beagles
* Warsaw Sharks B
* Warsaw Werewolves
* Wolverines Opole
* Wrocław Outlaws

PLFA8|

* Aviators Mielec
* Crusaders Warszawa B
* Gorzów Grizzlies
* Kozły Poznań B
* Koźmiński Leons
* Kurpie Ostrołęka
* Leszno Hunters
* Olsztyn Lakers B
* Przemyśl Bears
* Seahawks Trójmiasto
* Silesia Rebels B
* Warsaw Eagles C
* Zagłębie Steelers B

PLFAJ|

* Angels Toruń J
* Bielawa Owls J
* Bydgoszcz Archers J
* Gorzów Grizzlies J
* Griffons Słupsk J
* Gryfici Szczecin
* Patrioci Poznań J
* Panthers Wrocław J
* Kozły Poznań J
* Kraków Kings J
* Mustangs Płock J
* Olsztyn Lakers J
* Seahawks Gdynia J
* Silesia Rebels J
* Tychy Falcons J
* Tytani Lublin J
* Warsaw Eagles J
* Warsaw Sharks J
* Zagłębie Steelers J

Seasons|

* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015

Championship|

* Polish Bowl
* PLFA Cup Game
* other: Poland national team

* v
* t
* e

Top sport leagues in Poland

Leagues|

| Men's|

* American football
* Basketball
* Floorball
* Football
* Futsal
* Handball
* Ice hockey
* Rugby Union
* Speedway
* Volleyball
* Water polo

|

Women's|

* Basketball
* Football
* Futsal
* Handball
* Ice hockey
* Rugby Union
* Volleyball
* Water polo

Others|

| Individual|

* Athletics
* Outdoor
* Indoor
* Badminton
* Chess
* Cycling
* road race
* time trial
* Figure Skating
* Gymnastics
* Artistic
* Rhythmic

|

* v
* t
* e

Top-level American football leagues of Europe

International|

| Active|

* CEFL
* ELF
* EESL

|

Defunct|

* BIG6
* EFL
* EFAF Cup
* EFAF Challenge Cup
* Football League of Europe
* IFAF Europe Champions League

National|

* Austria
* Belgium
* Croatia
* Czech Republic
* Denmark
* Finland
* France
* Germany
* Hungary
* Italy
* Ireland
* Netherlands
* Poland
* Portugal
* Romania
* Russia
* Serbia
* Slovakia
* Slovenia
* Spain
* Sweden
* Switzerland
* Turkey
* United Kingdom

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