DODDS European Championships are a series of sports competitions taking place in Europe and are organized by the DODDS (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) system. [1] The term "Europeans" is a nickname that collectively refers to the three seasonal championships (autumn, winter and spring respectively) that take place every school year. [2] Both DODDS and other international schools around Europe are invited to compete.
DODDS opened its first school on October 14, 1946. It is designed for military children who live overseas on military bases. There are 81 schools in the DODDS system in 9 different countries overseas. The majority of the schools are in Europe. Europeans bring together hundreds of students from these schools all over Europe. Typically, they meet at a main base in Germany such as: Ramstein, Wiesbaden, Baumholder, or Kaiserslautern. [3]
The women's volleyball teams in Italy are new to Europeans. Before it became part of Europeans it had its own league formerly known as the ISL championships (Italy School Leagues). As of 2005 it was decided that the women's volleyball teams would also compete against the teams in Germany also. Men's volleyball is still in its own ISL league due to the lack of men volleyball teams in Germany. Italy is one of the only countries that DODDS schooling has men volleyball.
Fall Season
Men's and Women's Golf
Winter Season
Spring Season [2]
Swimming is the only sport that is practiced and competed all year round. It has not yet been officially deemed as part of the DODDS European Competition.
Division 1:
Division 2:
Division 3
Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity. It can be performed to motivate sports teams, to entertain the audience, or for competition. Cheerleading routines typically range anywhere from one to three minutes, and contain components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting. Cheerleading originated in the United States, where it has become a tradition. It is less prevalent in the rest of the world, except via its association with American sports or organized cheerleading contests.
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force installation located in Rhineland-Palatinate, southwestern Germany. It serves as the headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) and NATO Allied Air Command (AIRCOM). The base plays a key role in supporting forward military operations, particularly those deploying to Eastern Europe and Africa.
The Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) are a network of schools, both primary and secondary, that serve the dependents of United States military and civilian United States Department of Defense (DoD) personnel in three areas of the world; Europe, Pacific, and Eastern United States and Caribbean areas. United States Contractor personnel supporting the Department of Defense overseas are eligible to send their dependents for a fee. The schools themselves are operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). This school system is the tenth-largest American school system.
The American Overseas School of Rome ('AOSR) is a private international school in Rome, Italy, accredited by the United States–based Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. It has three divisions: Elementary School, Middle School and High School. It primarily caters to the international community in Rome, Italy. Students graduating receive the American high-school diploma or the International Baccalaureate. It has been an IB World School since April 1989. The Head of the School is Dr. Kristen DiMatteo along with Mr. Jerome Duggan as the secondary school principal and Ms. Joanne Mallary as the elementary school principal.
The United States European Command (EUCOM) is one of the eleven unified combatant commands of the United States military, headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany. Its area of focus covers 21,000,000 square miles (54,000,000 km2) and 51 countries and territories, including Europe, The Caucasus, Russia and Greenland. The Commander of the United States EUCOM simultaneously serves as the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR) within NATO, a military alliance. During the Gulf War and Operation Northern Watch, EUCOM controlled the forces flying from Incirlik Air Base.
Bethel University is a private Christian university in Mishawaka, Indiana. It was established in 1947 and is affiliated with the evangelical Christian Missionary Church.
The Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) is an American military community in and around Kaiserslautern, Germany, supporting United States Armed Forces and NATO installations, such as the Ramstein Air Base, Landstuhl Regional Medical Center, Kapaun Air Station, Vogelweh Housing Area, Pulaski Barracks, Kleber Kaserne, Daenner Kaserne, Sembach Kaserne, Miesau Army Depot, and Rhine Ordnance Barracks. With around 54,000 people, including military service members, Department of Defense civilians and contractors as well as their families, the KMC is the largest U.S. military community outside of the United States.
St. John's International School is an international school located in Waterloo, Belgium. The school has a student body from a very international background with 55 different nationalities represented. St. John's International School runs from day-care to 12th grade, the final year of high school. It offers the International Baccalaureate Diploma program, AP programs are also offered by the school.
Kaiserslautern High School (KHS), formerly known as Rhine High School as well as Kaiserslautern American High School, is part of the Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) system for Military dependents. KHS, along with Ramstein High School, are two DoDDS schools that serves the Kaiserslautern Military Community (KMC) in Kaiserslautern, Germany. The KMC is home to the largest American population overseas. The school, which serves approximately 800 students with 68 full-time educators (11:1), is located on the Vogelweh Military Complex.
Foluke Atinuke Gunderson is an indoor volleyball player who plays as a middle blocker for Japanese club Hisamitsu Springs. Born in Canada, she represents the United States internationally. Gunderson won gold with the national team at the 2010 FIVB World Grand Prix, 2014 World Championship, the Rimini Volleyball Nations League, and the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics, silver at the 2012 London Summer Olympics, and bronze at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Her 2020 Olympics win allowed her to complete the trifecta of winning an Olympic bronze, silver, and gold medal.
The Western Illinois Leathernecks are the teams and athletes that represent Western Illinois University, located in Macomb, Illinois, in NCAA Division I sports. The school's primary conference affiliation is with the Ohio Valley Conference; its football team is a member of the Division I FCS Missouri Valley Football Conference (MVFC) and its men's soccer team plays in the Summit League, in which the school had been a member since that conference's formation in 1982. Western Illinois announced on May 12, 2023 its departure from the Summit League to become a full member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in most sports beginning seven weeks subsequent on July 1. Two Leathernecks teams will play outside the OVC in the fall 2023 season before joining the rest of the school's teams in the OVC in 2024—the football team in the MVFC, and the men's soccer team in the Summit League.
Ramstein American High School is a Department of Defense Dependents Schools (DoDDS) high school in the Kaiserslautern district, Germany. RHS is a part of the Ramstein Community Schools in the Eastern Europe district that is run by the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA). Their mascot is the Royal, a lion with a crown.
Naples Middle/High School (NMHS), formerly known as Naples American High School, is a high school within the Department of Defense Education Activity system. It is located in Gricignano di Aversa, Campania, Italy.
The Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm are the athletic teams that represent Southern Nazarene University, located in Bethany, Oklahoma, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Great American Conference (GAC) since the 2012–13 academic year. The Crimson Storm previously competed in the Sooner Athletic Conference (SAC) of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) from 1978–79 to 2011–12; and in the Texoma Athletic Conference from 1972–73 to 1977–78.
The McKendree Bearcats are the intercollegiate athletic programs that represent McKendree University, located in Lebanon, Illinois, United States, in intercollegiate sports as a member of the NCAA Division II ranks, primarily competing in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) as a provisional member since the 2012–13 academic year.
David Glasgow Farragut High School is a secondary school for students in grades 6 through 12 located on Naval Station Rota Spain. DGF High School is a member of the Mediterranean District of the Department of Defense Dependent Schools (DoDDS) operated by the Department of Defense Education Activity.
Bonn American High School (BAHS) was an American international school located in Bonn, Germany.
Haleigh Meridian Washington is an American volleyball player of the United States women's national volleyball team. Washington was an All-American middle blocker for the Penn State women's volleyball team, where she helped lead the team to the 2014 NCAA national championship. Washington won gold with the national team at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics.