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Belgian Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the association football (soccer) league, see Belgian First Division A.
Belgian American Football League
Current season, competition or edition:
Current sports event 2024 BAFL season
SportAmerican football
Founded1987
No. of teams11
Country Belgium
 Luxembourg
Most recent
champion(s)		Mons Knights
Related
competitions		FAFL & LFFAB
Official websitebafl.be

The Belgian American Football League (BAFL) is a sports league for American football in Belgium founded in 1987. The league currently consists of 11 teams from Belgian cities and regions. The league used to be divided into two conferences—the Flemish American Football League (FAFL) and Ligue Francophone de Football Americain de Belgique (LFFAB). The current season is the first without conferences. At the end of the regular season, four teams play in the BFL playoffs, a four-team single-elimination tournament that culminates with the championship game, known as the Belgian Bowl.[1]

Seasons

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Main articles: Overview Belgian Football League History and Belgian Bowl § History

Football rules

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The BFL uses this field layout, spanning 100yards from one endzone to the other.
Main article: American football rules

The BFL uses the American college football rules: (2013/2014 NCAA Rulebook). These differ from the popular professional league of the United States, the NFL. The officials are organised in the Belgian american football officials committee (BAFOC).

The conferences

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The BFL is divided into a Dutch-speaking conference and a French-speaking conference, based on the northern Flemish Community and the southern French Community of Belgium. These two communities intermingle in the territory of Brussels, two teams based in Brussels play in the Dutch (FAFL) and one team plays in the French (LFFAB). The LFFAB has one team from Luxembourg, the Steelers. The conferences are important for the championship game as they determine who will participate in the play-offs. Teams only play interconference games in the play-offs.

Teams

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There are 18 BFL teams. The La Louvière Wolves are on hold. New teams must be located 20 km from an existing team. This rule does not apply for Brussels.

Team City or area Founded Website
Flemish American Football League, FAFL, Flemish Community
Antwerp Spartans Antwerp, BE 2019 Antwerp Spartans
Brussels Black Angels Brussels, BE 1989 Black Angels
Brussels Bulls Brussels, BE 2005 Bulls
Ghent Gators Ghent, BE 1999 Gators
Izegem Tribes Izegem, BE 1989 Tribes
Leuven Lions Leuven, BE 1986 Lions
Limburg Shotguns Leopoldsburg, BE 2008 Shotguns
Ostend Pirates Ostend, BE 2013 Pirates
Ligue Francophone de Football Americain de Belgique, LFFAB, French Community
Andenne Bears Andenne, BE 2002 Bears
Ardenne-Gaume-Lorraine Razorback Ardenne-Gaume-Lorraine, BE 2015
Braine-le-Comte Sharks Braine-le-Comte, BE 2015
Brussels Tigers Brussels, BE 1998 Tigers
Charleroi Coal Miners Charleroi, BE 1993 CoalMiners
Louvain-la-Neuve Fighting Turtles Louvain-la-Neuve Fighting Turtles, BE 2008 Turtles
Liège Monarchs Liège, BE 1986 Monarchs
WAPI Phoenix Tournai, BE 1986 Wapi Phoenix
Waterloo Warriors Waterloo, BE 2011 Warriors
Mons Knights Mons Belgium 2012 Knights

Team locations

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class=notpageimage|
Location of the teams in the Belgian Football League

BFL records

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  • Most national championships:
    • 8 West Flanders Tribes (2000, 2001, 2006-2011)
  • Most appearances in a national championship:
    • 12 Brussels Black Angels (1996-1998, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2015-2018)
  • Most consecutive national championships:
    • 6 West Flanders Tribes (2006-2011)[2]
  • Most consecutive appearances in a national championship:
    • 6 West Flanders Tribes (2006-2011)
  • Most consecutive appearances in the playoffs:
    • 10 Brussels Black Angels (2001-2011)
  • Most consecutive wins:
    • 50 West Flanders Tribes (27 February 2007 - 4 June 2011)[2]
  • Longest streak no losses:
    • 53 West Flanders Tribes (21 May 2006 - 4 June 2011)
  • Most consecutive perfect seasons:
    • 4 West Flanders Tribes (2008-2011)
  • Most consecutive unbeaten seasons:
    • 5 West Flanders Tribes (2007-2011)[2]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Belgian Bowl 2008". Archived from the original on 2009-02-11. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  2. ^ a b c "EFAF| Tribes win Belgian Bowl XXIV". www.efaf.info.
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