 | |
| League | Israel Football League |
|---|---|
| Location | Jerusalem |
| Stadium | Kraft Family Sports Campus |
| Colors | Blue and Gold |
| Head coach | Gane Medad |
The Jerusalem Lions, commonly known as the Jerusalem "Big Blue" Lions, are a semiprofessional American football team based in Jerusalem. The Lions were a founding member of and currently compete in the Israel Football League.
The Lions began as a flag football team in American Football in Israel, [1] which was the precursor to and is now the governing body of the Israel Football League (IFL). In 2005, the Lions were one of the four founding teams of the IFL [2] and in 2007 played in the inaugural IFL season. [3]
They have appeared in seven Israel Bowls and won IsraBowl I, IsraBowl X, IsraBowl XI [4] and, most recently, IsraBowl XII against the Petah Tikva Troopers. [5]
| Season | W | L | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2008 | 8 | 1 | Won IsraBowl I |
| 2008–2009 | 5 | 3 | Lost IsraBowl II |
| 2009–2010 | 6 | 4 | Lost IsraBowl III |
| 2010–2011 | 9 | 1 | Lost Semifinals |
| 2011–2012 | 10 | 0 | Lost Semifinals |
| 2012–2013 | 6 | 4 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 2013–2014 | 7 | 2 | Lost IsraBowl VII |
| 2014–2015 | 5 | 5 | Lost Quarterfinals |
| 2015–2016 | 8 | 2 | Lost Semifinals |
| 2016–2017 | 9 | 1 | Won IsraBowl X |
| 2017–2018 | 10 | 0 | Won IsraBowl XI |
| 2018–2019 | 9 | 0 | Won IsraBowl XII |
The Lions are sponsored by Big Blue Travel, a travel agency based in New York, which has led to their nickname "Big Blue." [1]
The Lions play their home games at the Kraft Family Sports Campus in Jerusalem.
Eight-man football is a form of gridiron football, generally played by high schools with smaller enrollments. Eight-man football differs from the traditional 11-man game with the reduction of three players on each side of the ball and a field width that can be reduced to 40 yards, 13 1/3 yards narrower than the 53 1/3-yard 11-man field. Most states continue to play on a field 100 yards long, whereas a few states opt for 80-yard lengths. Reduced-player football, which consists of eight-man, six-man, and nine-man football has gained popularity across the United States. As of 2015, 1,561 schools in 30 states sponsor reduced-player football, with 1,161 of those teams participating in eight-man leagues, whereas 284 teams play six-man football and 116 teams play nine-man football.
American Football in Israel (AFI) is the governing body of all American football activities in Israel, including the Israel Football League and various flag football leagues, and is a member of the International Federation of American Football.
The Israel Football League, also known as the Kraft Family Israel Football League for sponsorship reasons with the Kraft Family, is an amateur American football league consisting of eight teams. The IFL is the highest level of American football in Israel and each season culminates in the Israel Bowl. The Tel Aviv Pioneers are the reigning Israel Bowl champions, having defeated the Ramat HaSharon Hammers in Israel Bowl XVI, a rematch from the previous year.
The Underdogs are a semiprofessional American football team based in the north of Israel, playing in the Israeli Football League (IFL).
The Indoor Football League (IFL) is a professional indoor American football league created in 2008 out of the merger between the Intense Football League and United Indoor Football. It has one of the largest number of currently active teams among indoor football leagues. As of the 2024 season, the league consists of 16 teams in two conferences with each team playing 16 games over 19 weeks.
The 2011–2012 Israel Football League was the fifth season of the Israel Football League (IFL). The league expanded to ten teams with two expansion teams; the Petah-Tikva Troopers and the Nahariya Northern Stars. The season concluded with the Tel Aviv Sabres defeating the Tel Aviv Pioneers in Israel Bowl V.
The Tel Aviv Pioneers are a semiprofessional American football team based in Tel Aviv, Israel, playing in the Israel Football League (IFL).
The 2012–2013 Israel Football League was the sixth season of the Israel Football League (IFL). The league expanded to 11 teams as the Rehovot Silverbacks became the newest expansion franchise. The Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sabres became the first team in IFL history to go undefeated throughout the regular season and postseason and the season concluded with the Sabres defeating the Judean Rebels in Israel Bowl VI.
American football is a sport played at the amateur and international competition levels in Israel. The Israel Football League (IFL) is the highest level of competition in Israel, although there are multiple flag football leagues, a high school league and a youth league. All forms of American football in Israel are governed by American Football in Israel (IFL). As of February 2017, there are 1,350 active football players living in Israel.
The 2016–2017 Israel Football League season was the tenth season of the Israel Football League (IFL). The fields were enlarged to 80 yards and the games were now played with nine player teams. The season concluded with the Jerusalem Lions defeating the Tel Aviv Pioneers in Israel Bowl X.
The 2007–2008 Israel Football League season was the inaugural season of the Israel Football League. The season concluded with the Jerusalem Lions defeating the Haifa Underdogs, 24–18 in overtime, in Israel Bowl I.
The 2008–2009 Israel Football League season was the second season of the Israel Football League (IFL). This was the first season under the IFL's new sponsorship agreement with the Kraft Family, which re-branded itself as the Kraft Family Israel Football League. This was also the inaugural season for both the Jerusalem Kings expansion team and the Pioneers' in their new home of Modi'in after relocating from HaSharon in the off-season. The season concluded with the Modi'in Pioneers defeating the Jerusalem Lions, 32-26 in double overtime, in Israel Bowl II.
The 2017–2018 Israel Football League season was the 11th season of the Israel Football League. Only seven teams competed this season, with the Ramat HaSharon Hammers going on hiatus. The season concluded with the Jerusalem Lions defeating the Petah Tikva Troopers, 28-20, in Israel Bowl XI.
The 2009–2010 Israel Football League season was the third season of the Israel Football League (IFL). This season featured two expansion teams and concluded with the Tel Aviv-Jaffa Sabres defeating the Jerusalem Lions, 26–22, in Israel Bowl III.
The 2013–2014 Israel Football League season was the seventh season of the Israel Football League (IFL) and concluded with the Tel Aviv Pioneers defeating the Jerusalem Lions, 80–28, in Israel Bowl VII.
The 2015–2016 Israel Football League season was the ninth season of the Israel Football League (IFL) and concluded with the Judean Rebels defeating the Tel Aviv Pioneers, 32-14, in Israel Bowl IX.
The 2018–2019 Israel Football League season was the 12th season of the Israel Football League. The season began on November 15, 2018 and concluded on February 28, 2019 with IsraBowl XII. This season was the first to feature full eleven-man games after previously playing nine-man football. The season also marked the return of the Ramat HaSharon Hammers, who were on hiatus during the 2017–2018 season.
The Beit Shemesh Judean Rebels are a semiprofessional American football team in the Israel Football League. The Rebels represent the city of Beit Shemesh and Gush Etzion settlements and they play their home games at the Beit Shemesh Stadium.
The Petah Tikva Troopers are a semiprofessional American football team based in Petah Tikva, Israel. The Troopers compete in the Israel Football League.
The Mazkeret Batya Silverbacks are a semiprofessional American football team based in Mazkeret Batya, Israel. The Silverbacks compete in the Israel Football League (IFL).