American Indoor Football Association
Current season or competition: 2008 American Indoor Football Association season
Sport	Indoor football
Founded	2005
Motto	Fast Paced Family Fun
No. The 2008 American Indoor Football Association season is the league's fourth overall season This article discusses indoor variations of American football for indoor versions of association football (soccer see Futsal and Indoor soccer and for the Athletics (track and field For an extensive coverage see 2005 in athletics (track and field Track of teams	16
Country(ies)	United States
Most recent champion(s)	Lakeland Thunderbolts
Official website	www.aifaprofootball.com

The American Indoor Football Association (AIFA) is a professional indoor football league that was formed in 2006. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the History The Lakeland Thunderbolts began in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, finishing their inaugural season with a 6-8 record and losing This article discusses indoor variations of American football for indoor versions of association football (soccer see Futsal and Indoor soccer and for the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. The league's creation coincided with the demise of the American Indoor Football League (AIFL), and all AIFL teams subsequently joined the AIFA. Founders and owners of the AIFA are John Morris and Michael Mink.

Sixteen teams participate in the AIFA, which is concentrated mostly in mid-sized markets in the eastern United States and the Rocky Mountains. The talent level is comparable to a league such as af2, with several former NFL practice squad players scattered across the league. af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. Its primary competitor is the Continental Indoor Football League. The Continental Indoor Football League ( CIFL) is an indoor football league based along the Northeastern United States region

History

The league has its roots in the Atlantic Indoor Football League, which began play in 2005 under the leadership of Andrew Haines (now running the Mid-Atlantic Hockey League). Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. First season The league cancelled the remainder of the 2007-08 season and suspended operations on February 12 2008 declaring the Indiana Ice Miners league champions The league began with six teams, all of them based in the eastern United States. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Two teams played all of their games on the road, and the regular season was cut short two weeks because of teams being unable to secure venues for playoff games. In the 2005-06 offseason, the league changed its name to the American Indoor Football League, while nine expansion teams entered the league and a tenth (the Rome Renegades) joined from the National Indoor Football League. Season-By-Season |-| colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Crude |-|2002 || 1 || 13 || 0 || 4th Atlantic Southern || --|-|2003 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 5th National Indoor Football League was a minor league indoor football league that is based in the United States.

The 2006 season was marred by the folding of two teams, and the league used semi-pro teams to fill scheduling vacancies. The league was briefly acquired by Greens Worldwide, Inc. Greens Worldwide Incorporated ( is an organization that owns the following companies American Challenge Golf Tour Las Vegas Golf Schools New , the owners of the amateur North American Football League, during the 2006 season, but they terminated the contract soon afterwards. The North American Soccer League is sometimes mistakenly called the North American Football League NAFL redirects here for the Northern Irish soccer league Nine teams left the league after the season, including four who split off to create the short-lived World Indoor Football League). The World Indoor Football League was an Indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the On October 2, 2006, a massive reorganization took place as Morris and Mink set up a new league, which absorbed all of the remaining AIFL franchises, and Haines was ousted. (Haines is experiencing similar stability problems with his current league. ^[1]) The league took on its current name at the same time.

The 2007 season was relatively successful for the league, as all 112 scheduled games were played and no teams folded mid-season, a major improvement over the past two seasons (when the AIFA was known as the AIFL). The AIFA Championship Bowl I was a neutral site game held in Florence, SC. In addition, the league held its 1st All-Star Game the same weekend, also in Florence. League owners stated that the neutral site was chosen so that both games could be televised to obtain nationwide exposure for the league.

The league has since expanded nationwide and individual teams have been able to acquire several players with NFL experience, a sign that the league has achieved a level on par with leagues such as af2. af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. It had appeared that the league had earned a major television contract as well: On September 17, 2007, The American Indoor Football Association owners John Morris and Michael Mink announced that the league signed a three-year national television broadcast, mobile phone broadcast, and webcast licensing agreement with Simply 4Me Incorporated [1], who would produce a live broadcast and relay the games on the Internet and through the ION Television network in exchange for US$2,500,000 in rights fees for the AIFA. Ion Television is a broadcast television network first broadcast on August 31 1998 SimplyMe, however, reneged on their promises. ION dropped the league from their schedule and replaced it with Western movies, and SimplyMe failed to produce a live or even a tape-delayed broadcast through the first five weeks of the season. On April 15, 2008, SimplyMe reported in a letter to the league that they would be unable to meet the financial obligations, and the AIFA terminated the contract with the company shortly thereafter. Later in the season, the more established FSN Pittsburgh agreed to pick up the remaining games; Erie, Pennsylvania-based Image Sports Network also televises local games of the Erie RiverRats. FSN Pittsburgh (sometimes referred to as Fox Sports Pittsburgh) is a cable channel controlled by Fox Sports Net. The Erie RiverRats are a 2007 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association.

Eight teams participating in the league in 2007 will not return for the 2008 season, including the 2007 champion Lakeland Thunderbolts. History The Lakeland Thunderbolts began in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, finishing their inaugural season with a 6-8 record and losing The AIFA is the third league since 2004 (excluding the folded WIFL and NIFL before its folding) to lose its standing champion (the 2004 NIFL champion Lexington Horsemen left to join the newly created UIF and are now in af2, and the 2006 champion Billings Outlaws also left to join two years later. National Indoor Football League was a minor league indoor football league that is based in the United States. National Indoor Football League was a minor league indoor football league that is based in the United States. The Lexington Horsemen are an Af2 team based in Lexington Kentucky. af2 (short for arenafootball2) is the name of the Arena Football League 's Minor league, which started play in 2000. The Billings Outlaws are a professional Indoor football team They are a member of the Indoor Football League. ) Two of the three teams who have won the league championship are no longer in the league. However, nine teams have signed on to begin play in 2008, and the league has created a Western Conference. In 2007, the team farthest west was based in Mississippi; in 2008, the team farthest west will be based in Arizona. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States The State of Arizona ( is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States.

Basic rule differences

The AIFA's red, white, and blue football

• The AIFA does not use the rebound net found in the Arena Football League. The Arena Football League (AFL was founded in 1987 as an American football indoor league.
• One linebacker may move flat to flat but must stay in drop zone.
• Two offensive players may be in motion at one time. The AFL allows only one in motion.
• Platooning and free substitution is allowed, meaning players do not have to play both offense and defense.
• Franchises must have at least 9 players that originate from within a 120-mile radius of the team's home town.
• The AIFA recognizes the single (also known as an uno or rouge). A single ( single point, rouge or UNO) in Canadian football, is awarded when the ball is kicked into the end zone by any legal means other than If a kickoff goes through the uprights, or if the receiving team does not advance the ball out of the end zone on a kickoff, the kicking team is awarded one point and the ball is spotted at the opponent's five yard line. (Demonstration by AIFA kicker J. R. Cipra)
• The AIFA ball pattern is similar to that of the basketball in the American Basketball Association, with red, white, and blue panels as opposed to the brown colored football of most leagues. The American Basketball Association ( ABA) was a professional Basketball league founded in 1967, and eventually merged in part with the National

2008 AIFA teams

Eastern Conference

North Division

• Baltimore Mariners
• Canton Legends
• Erie RiverRats
• Reading Express

East Division

• Carolina Speed
• Fayetteville Guard
• Florence Phantoms
• Huntington Heroes

Western Conference

South Division

• Augusta Colts
• Columbus Lions
• Florida Stingrays
• Mississippi Mudcats

West Division

• Arizona Adrenaline
• New Mexico Wildcats
• Utah Saints
• Wyoming Cavalry

Set to begin play in 2009

• Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (2009 expansion team)

Rumored for 2009 Expansion

• Ogden, Utah (2009 Expansion Team)
• St. George, Utah (2009 Expansion Team)

Defunct franchises

• AIFL Ghostchasers - traveling team only; ceased operations at the end of the 2006 AIFL season. The Baltimore Mariners are an Indoor football team based in Baltimore Maryland. The Canton Legends are a professional Indoor football team based out of Canton Ohio. The Erie RiverRats are a 2007 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association. The Reading Express are a professional Indoor football team based out of Reading Pennsylvania. The Carolina Speed is a professional indoor football team that played their first season in 2007 The Fayetteville Guard is a professional Indoor football team The Florence Phantoms are a professional Arena football team based out of Florence South Carolina, in the United States. The Huntington Heroes is a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Augusta Colts are a professional Indoor football team based out of Augusta Georgia. The Columbus Lions are an Indoor football team and were a charter member of the World Indoor Football League. The Florida Stingrays are a 2008 expansion team of the American Indoor Football Association. The Mississippi MudCats are a team of the American Indoor Football Association. The Arizona Adrenaline is a professional indoor football team that began play in the American Indoor Football Association in the 2008 season The New Mexico Wildcats are a professional indoor football team that will begin play in the American Indoor Football Association in the 2008 season This page is for the American Indoor Football Association team for the English dance band see Utah Saints. The Wyoming Cavalry are a professional Indoor football team of the American Indoor Football Association. Ogden is a city in and the County seat of Weber County, Utah, United States. St George is a city located in the southwestern part of the U The AIFL Ghostchasers was an all-road team that was created four weeks into the 2006 AIFL season after the Carolina Ghostriders lost 15-straight games and declared themselves
• AIFL/Carolina Ghostriders - folded during 2006 AIFL season and replaced by AIFL Ghostchasers. The Carolina Ghostriders is a now-defunct indoor football team and charter member of the American Indoor Football League.
• Chattahoochee Valley Vipers - terminated from their arena lease following the 2006 AIFL season. The Chattahoochee Valley Vipers (or the Valley Vipers for short were a professional Indoor football team based out of Columbus Georgia.
• Danville Demolition - terminated from their arena lease. History On June 19, 2006, the AIFA announced that Danville would get a team to play at the Palmer Arena [2]
• Erie Freeze - League refused to renew charter in October 2007; Pittsburgh RiverRats moved to Erie to replace the Freeze in January 2008. The Erie Freeze was an American Indoor football teamThey were an original member of the American Indoor Football League in 2005 and advanced to the first AIFL
• Gulf Coast Raiders - league-owned traveling team that will not return in 2008. Season-By-Season |-|2007 || 0 || 3 || 0 || 8th Southern || -- 2007 Season Schedule
• Johnstown Riverhawks - declined participation in 2008; supposedly planning to play in 2009. 2001 Tennessee ThunderCats IPFL Schedule Week 1 – Tennessee ThunderCats 52 Trenton Lightning 25 Week 2 – Tennessee ThunderCats 34 St
• Lakeland Thunderbolts - declined participation in 2008; league has signed a letter-of-intent with the Lakeland Center for an AIFA team in 2009. History The Lakeland Thunderbolts began in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, finishing their inaugural season with a 6-8 record and losing The Lakeland Center is an 8178-seat multi-purpose Arena in Lakeland Florida.
• Montgomery Bears - team drew under 500 fans per game and folded under league ownership. Entire Team Fired Late in April 2006 the second year of the club's existence Donald Jackson an attorney representing members of the team said the club had not paid the players
• Richmond Bandits - ceased operations following the 2006 season. The Richmond Bandits were an indoor football team They were a charter member of the American Indoor Football League.
• Syracuse Soldiers (a. Season-By-Season |-|2006 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 8th Northern || -- k. a. Binghamton Brigade) - folded during 2006 AIFL season and the schedule was finished by semi-pro teams.

Teams no longer in the AIFA

• Baltimore Blackbirds - expelled by the league. History The team was originally going to be a member of the Eastern Indoor Football League, but left for the AIFA soon after the "League Showcase/Jamboree" held
• Raleigh Rebels - announced a move to the World Indoor Football League and changed name to Carolina Bombers following the 2006 season but ceased operations shortly thereafter. Season-By-Season |-| colspan="6" align="center" | Raleigh Rebels (AIFL |-|2005 || 3 || 7 || 0 || 5th League || Lost First Round ( Canton)|-|2006 The World Indoor Football League was an Indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the Season-By-Season |-| colspan="6" align="center" | Raleigh Rebels (AIFL |-|2005 || 3 || 7 || 0 || 5th League || Lost First Round ( Canton)|-|2006
• Columbus Fire, Cumberland Valley Cardinals, and Philadelphia Scorpions - outdoor amateur teams from the North American Football League brought in by the league during the Greens Worldwide period. Franchise history The Cumberland Valley Cardinals are a semiprofessional outdoor football team from Chambersburg Pennsylvania. The North American Soccer League is sometimes mistakenly called the North American Football League NAFL redirects here for the Northern Irish soccer league They were used to replace the Syracuse Soldiers in the schedule; none of the teams won, and they all returned to the NAFL (the Fire is now in the Mid Continental Football League). Season-By-Season |-|2006 || 1 || 10 || 0 || 8th Northern || -- The Mid Continental Football League (MCFL is a Semi-professional football league formed in 1991.
• Daytona Beach Thunder - left to join the World Indoor Football League following the 2006 AIFL season. The Daytona Beach ThunderBirds are a franchise in the Af2, set to begin play there for the 2008 season. The World Indoor Football League was an Indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the
• Miami Valley Silverbacks - left to join the Continental Indoor Football League following the 2006 AIFL season. The Miami Valley Silverbacks are a professional Indoor football team based out of Troy Ohio. The Continental Indoor Football League ( CIFL) is an indoor football league based along the Northeastern United States region
• Rome Renegades - announced a move to the World Indoor Football League following the 2006 season but ceased operations shortly thereafter. Season-By-Season |-| colspan="6" align="center" | Oklahoma Crude |-|2002 || 1 || 13 || 0 || 4th Atlantic Southern || --|-|2003 || 2 || 12 || 0 || 5th The World Indoor Football League was an Indoor football league founded by Harry Pierce owner of the Rome Renegades and Raleigh Rebels of the
• Springfield Stallions - originally joined the league, but left to join the Continental Indoor Football League before playing a game. Season-By-Season |-|2007 || 0 || 12 || 0 || 8th Great Lakes || -- 2007 Season Schedule The Continental Indoor Football League ( CIFL) is an indoor football league based along the Northeastern United States region
• Steubenville Stampede - left to join the Continental Indoor Football League following the 2006 AIFL season. 2006 Season The team began play in 2006 as an expansion member of the American Indoor Football League. The Continental Indoor Football League ( CIFL) is an indoor football league based along the Northeastern United States region
• Tallahassee Titans - mutual decision between the league and team to not participate in 2008. History The owner of the team David Morris had been given a choice from three markets Charlotte North Carolina, Greenville South Carolina, or

Championship games

• 2007: Lakeland Thunderbolts 54-49 Reading Express

See also

• List of leagues of American football

References

1. ^ Fanelli, Patrick. AIFA Championship Bowl is the main championship game of the American Indoor Football Association. History The Lakeland Thunderbolts began in 2005 as an expansion member of the National Indoor Football League, finishing their inaugural season with a 6-8 record and losing The Reading Express are a professional Indoor football team based out of Reading Pennsylvania. This is a list of current and defunct leagues of American football and Canadian football. Haines sells MAHL team. The Post-Journal. The Post-Journal is a daily Newspaper, serving the area around Jamestown New York. 28 February 2008.

External links

• AIFA homepage
• 2007 Season Stats
• 2008 Season Stats