8v8 & Junior Kitted Football

DV8 (8 v 8 American Football) was first developed in the USA for smaller High schools & Colleges so they could play American Football. In Ireland it is primarily used for Junior Kitted American Football League (15-19 Year-Olds), Smaller Towns (DV8 Development League) or 2nds Teams of full 11-v-11 American Football teams (DV8 Development League also).

Junior / Youth Kitted American Football

The first Junior / Youth Kitted American Football League was created in 1991, when the Northern Ireland Junior American League made the step up from Two-Touch to Kitted. It lasted two seasons, and from then the Ballymena Wolfhounds played international exhibition games against British opposition as they had no opposition in Ireland.

In the 2000s there were a number of exhibition games played among Junior Kitted teams, and in 2013 the first IAFA Junior Kitted Programme was officially launched, with a 7-team League, playing 7v7, 8v8, 9v9 Kitted Football (depending on the numbers on the day) in 2019.

There has also been 6v6 Junior Kitted American Football.

football players in the field — Photo by Cos Marc on Pexels.com

Junior / Youth Kitted Football

American Football Ireland Youth Kitted League 2013-Present; NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League Two-Touch 1991-1994; Youth Challenge Games 1995-2012

There has also been 6v6 Junior Kitted American Football.

Junior / Youth Kitted Finals

American Football Ireland Youth Kitted Finals 2013-Present

Junior / Youth Kitted Standings

Irish American Football Association Youth Kitted League 2013-2019

Northern Ireland Junior American League 1991-1992

Junior / Youth Kitted Results

AFI Youth League (Seasons): 2020

IAFA Youth Kitted League (Seasons):

2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

IAFA Youth Cups, Leagues and Tournaments (Seasons):

2009 2008 2007 2006

AFAI Junior Kitted Challenge (Seasons): 1994

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League (Kitted – Seasons):

1994 1992 1991

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League (Kitted – Preseasons):

1991

Junior / Youth Kitted Box-Scores

Youth Internationals (Club):

UK & Ireland Youth Kitted Football | Exhibition 1998 Box Score

football player on field — Photo by football wife on Pexels.com

From 1986 to 1991, before Flags were brought in, there were a number of Junior Two-Touch Leagues organised by regional development bodies, such as the East Coast Junior Football Association (Greater Dublin Area) from 1986 to 1987, and the Northern Ireland Junior American League which ran from 1988 to 1990, when it became fully kitted. In 1991, a Junior Two-Touch American Football Blitz took place in Tymon Park, Tallaght. These Leagues were Two-Touch, although it was only the ball carrier who had to be touched twice, all other ;positions were full contact (i.e. Blocking etc.) [References: Andrew Wilson’s reply to Eirball’s post, March 27, 2020 [Internet] Available at : https://www.facebook.com/eirballenda/posts/2433567573622264?comment_id=2696161900696162&notif_id=1612882525056885&notif_t=feed_comment&ref=notif [Accessed 11 February 2021]

Junior Two Touch American Football

NIAFA Northern Ireland Junior American League Two-Touch 1986-1990; ICAF Youth Blitz 1991; East Coast Junior Football Association 1985-1986

Junior Two Touch Results

ICAF Junior Touch American Football Blitz (Seasons): 1991

Northern Ireland Junior American League (Seasons): 1990 1988 1987 1986

East Coast Junior Football Association (Seasons): 1987 1986

Northern Ireland Junior American League (Preseasons): 1990

8v8 Development Leagues (Adult)

American Football Ireland has employed the 8v8 format to promote American Football not only among Youth players, but also as a way for teams in small towns to play American Football. it has also been employed to enable American Football Ireland teams to field 2nds teams.

helmet on the ground — Photo by Lucas Andrade on Pexels.com

The first DV8 Development Mini-League was created in 1993, for smaller teams like the Ardee Falcons (Co. Louth), and Dublin Tornadoes Vets (2nds team). Blitzes were played over the following 10 years, with another Mini-League (IAFL Division 2) created in 2003. Again Blitzes were employed up until the creation of the DV8 Development League in 2008, which lasted until 2012, when the League became the full 11v11 IAFL 1 Conference. The DV8 format was then used for the Junior Kitted League.

DV8 Development League / Blitzes

IAFA DV8 Development League 2008-2012; IAFA Mini-League 1993; IAFA Blitzes and Challenge Games 1994-2012.

DV8 Development League / Challenge Standings

DV8 Development League – 1st and 2nds Teams Standings 2008-2012

Irish American Football League | DV8 Development League 2008-2012

Irish American Football Association DV8 Challenge 1998-2003

DV8 International Blitz Results

DV8 International Blitz (Seasons): 1995

DV8 Development League / Challenges and Blitzes Results

IAFA DV8 Development League (Seasons):

2012 2011 2010 2009 2008

IAFA DV8 Blitzes:

2012 2012 2011 2010 2008 2007

Spring & Autumn League Era Division 2 Leagues, Blitzes and Challenges:

2004 2003 2002 20011998

AFAI Development Mini-League:

1993

Beginning with a match in Banbridge between two teams of specially trained Rugby players for American Indendence Day in 1983 through to the first Irish American Football League season in 1986, non-kitted contact Football was played between Irish teams due to the huge cost involved in getting helmets and padding imported into the country from USA. By 1987 all teams were now fully kittted and the League played its first full season. The non-kitted version of American Football would have been very like the early days of the NFL or Ohio League from 1900 to 1930s, or more modern day pick-up games in parks throughout the United States. These non-pad, non-helmet pick-up games have recently been codified by the American 7s Football League, which has similar rules to 8v8 Football such as Arena / Indoor Football.