This is the Index Page to the All-Time Archive of 8v8 American Football (Contact) in Ireland. This version of American Football is designed to facilitate the playing of American Football in 3 areas of competition: (1) Junior Kitted Teams. (2) Small Towns; and (3) 11v11 Teams to field 2nds Teams. depending on the numbers that turn up on gthe day it could be 6v6; 7v7; 8v8 or 9v9. Includes Early Pre-Pads American Football 1983-1991. The Junior Contact Football is covred in a separate page: Junior Contact Football )
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):
IAFA DV8 Blitzes:
Spring & Autumn League Era Division 2 Leagues, Blitzes and Challenges:
AFAI Development Mini-League:
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.