Turkish Gridiron Football First League Explained

Türkiye Korumalı Futbol 1. Ligi
Last Season:2023
Sport:American football
Organizer:Turkish Rugby Federation
Teams:8
Relegation:Second League
Levels:1
Champion:Koç Rams (5th title)
Most Successful Club:Boğaziçi Sultans (6 titles)
Tv:TRT Spor Yıldız
Website:tkfl.org

The Turkish Gridiron Football First League (Turkish: Türkiye Korumalı Futbol 1. Ligi) is a professional American football league in Turkey.[1]

History

The development of American football in Turkey can be traced to the beginning of 1987, when American Navy men played a pickup game against Turkish students at Bogazici University in Istanbul.[2] Boğaziçi Filler (later renamed Sultans) was founded in 1987, and the Bullets were founded in 1993 in Hacettepe (later named Red Deers after the university logo). Istanbul Technical (Hornets) and Marmara University (Sharks) teams were added during 1995-1996. However, the Marmara Sharks folded in 1998. In 2010, the number of club teams exceeded 13 and the number of universities over 24.

The first official match between two Turkish teams was played between the Boğaziçi Elephants and Istanbul Pistof in 1993. The Elephants won this match 28-0. The name "Elephants" was later changed to "Sultans". After the 1995-1996 season, in line with the increase in the number of teams, the American Football League began to be organized according to the qualifying league fixture among universities. In the following years, the Hacettepe Red Deers, ITU Hornets, Marmara Sharks, METU Falcons, Ankara Cats, Gazi Warriors, Ege Dolphins, and Yeditepe Eagles university teams were also established. However, during these years, matches were played lacking the basic requirements of American football. The teams started buying proper equipment in 2001, and American football in Turkey took on a more professional structure. After Bilkent Judges, Boğaziçi Sultans became the second team to have specialized equipment. The first match with this equipment was played in Ankara in 2001, with the Sultans winning 34-0. The Turkey American Football League was launched on 26 November 2005. Since the 2007-2008 season, American football competition has happened in two categories, the Professional League and the University League.[3]

Seasons

SeasonWinning teamScoreLosing teamVenueCityRef.
2006 Amateur LeagueHacettepe Red Deers19–12Başkent KnightsBeytepe CampusÇankaya, Ankara[4] [5]
2006Boğaziçi Sultans30–8Ege Dolphinsİnönü StadiumBeşiktaş, Istanbul[6] [7]
2007Hacettepe Red Deers15–12(OT)Gazi WarriorsBeytepe CampusÇankaya, Ankara
2008Hacettepe Red Deers20–14(2 OTs)Gazi WarriorsBeytepe CampusÇankaya, Ankara
2009Boğaziçi Sultans22–20Istanbul CavaliersVefa StadiumFatih, Istanbul
2010Istanbul Cavaliers18–13Gazi WarriorsBulvarspor StadiumKartal, Istanbul
2011Gazi Warriors41–38(6 OTs)Boğaziçi SultansSakarya Atatürk StadiumAdapazarı, Sakarya
2012Gazi Warriors47–12Hacettepe Red DeersCebeci StadiumÇankaya, Ankara
2013Boğaziçi Sultans39–23METU FalconsAli Durmaz StadiumNilüfer, Bursa[8]
2014Boğaziçi Sultans30–23Koç RamsMaltepe Hasan Polat StadiumMaltepe, Istanbul[9]
2015Boğaziçi Sultans10–7Koç RamsMarmara BESYO StadiumBeykoz, Istanbul[10]
2016Koç Rams21–14Boğaziçi SultansITÜ StadiumSarıyer, Istanbul[11]
2017Koç Rams56–14Sakarya TatankalarıYusuf Ziya Öniş StadiumSarıyer, Istanbul[12]
2018Koç Rams52–41Boğaziçi SultansMETU FieldÇankaya, Ankara[13]
2019Koç Rams29–19METU FalconsKoç Üniversity FieldSarıyer, Istanbul[14]
2020Yeditepe EaglesSeason was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[15]
2022Boğaziçi Sultans17–14Koç RamsMaltepe Hasan Polat StadyumuMaltepe, Istanbul[16]

Teams

Türkiye Korumalı Futbol Ligi Teams (Pro League)

ClubFoundedCity
Koç Rams2004Istanbul
Boğaziçi Sultans1987Istanbul
ITU Hornets1993Istanbul
Hacettepe Red Deers1993Ankara
Gazi Warriors1996Ankara
METU Falcons1996Ankara
Sakarya Tatankaları2002Adapazarı
Anadolu Rangers1993Eskişehir
[17]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 12 February 2020. Turkish League of American Football kicks off 2020 season.
  2. Web site: Hartsell. Jeff. 5 August 2019. American football in Turkey? It's a thing, a former Citadel standout learned. 14 June 2022. PostAndCourier.com.
  3. Web site: 9 July 2009. Türkiye'de Amerikan Futbolunun Detaylı Tarihi. 24 January 2021.
  4. Web site: Türkiye'de Amerikan Futbolunun Detaylı Tarihi. 12 January 2021. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160118095140/http://nfltr.com/2009/07/turkiyede-amerikan-futbolunun-detayli-tarihi/. 9 July 2009. nfltr.com.
  5. Web site: 13 May 2020. American Football in Turkey Turkey American Football League (TAFL).
  6. Web site: Türkiye'de Amerikan Futbolunun Detaylı Tarihi. 12 January 2021. 18 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160118095140/http://nfltr.com/2009/07/turkiyede-amerikan-futbolunun-detayli-tarihi/. 9 July 2009. nfltr.com.
  7. Web site: 13 May 2020. American Football in Turkey Turkey American Football League (TAFL).
  8. Web site: Boğaziçi Sultans, 2013 sezonu şampiyonu oldu. 22 February 2021. 9 June 2013. nfltr.com.
  9. Web site: Sultans üst üste ikinci şampiyonluğunu kazandı. 22 February 2021. 10 June 2014. nfltr.com.
  10. Web site: Boğaziçi Sultans üst üste üçüncü defa şampiyon!. 22 February 2021. 1 June 2015. nfltr.com.
  11. Web site: TAFL 2015-2016 Sezonu Şampiyonu Koç Rams!. 22 February 2021. 6 June 2016. nfltr.com.
  12. Web site: Koç Rams – Sakarya Tatankaları Finali TRT Spor'dan Naklen Yayınlanacak!. 22 February 2021. 8 June 2017. nfltr.com.
  13. Web site: Kulüpler Ligi'nde Normal Sezon Finali Oynanıyor!. 22 February 2021. 18 May 2018. nfltr.com.
  14. Web site: Koç Rams, Üst Üste Dördüncü Defa Şampiyon!. 22 February 2021. 14 July 2019. nfltr.com.
  15. Web site: 25 September 2020. TKF1L'de Yeditepe Eagles şampiyon ilan edildi. 24 January 2021.
  16. Web site: Kulüpler Ligi'nde Normal Sezon Finali Oynanıyor!. 22 February 2021. 18 May 2018. nfltr.com.
  17. Web site: 8 March 2020. 2020 SEZONU TÜRKİYE KORUMALI FUTBOL 1. LİGİ. 24 January 2021.

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