The 2016 Flag Football World Championships
Flag Football is the non contact version of American Football, where instead of tackling Players carry "flags" attached to their waist which are ripped to simulate a Tackle. Whilst removing the contact the game is still fast paced and full of action with the full range of passing routes and run plays being called, but with Tackling being replaced with pulling Flags.
The 2016 IFAF Flag Football World Championships was scheduled to be held in the Bahamas in September 2016, and New Zealand put together a mens squad, the New Zealand Makos, to attend this prestigious tournament. After weeks of Player evaluations, Scouting and Combines across New Zealand 39 Finalalists were picked from Auckland (20), Hamilton (5), Wellington (6) and Christchurch (8) to participate in the NZ Mens National Team Selection Camp in May. Post this Camp the squad was taken down to a 15 man travelling squad to take on the World's best in the Bahamas, who trained together for the weeks leading up to the Tournament.
Despite a last minute change in Venue from the Bahamas to Miami, Florida the team headed off in September to take on the Worlds best in the Tournament, with the team being highly competitive in every game. The New Zealand team ended up coming 9th in the Tournament which is a rank they will take into the next Qualification found (16 teams qualify for each Tournament) and also came home with the "Fair Play" team award so certainly did New Zealand pround on the Global stage.
Results:
Beat Japan 20-14
Lost to Israel 34-15
Lost to Panama 26-13
Lost to Austria 27-12
Lost to USA 46-28
Lost to Great Britain 33-19
Lost to Guatemala 45-39
Beat Korea 40-6
The 2016 IFAF Flag Football World Championships was scheduled to be held in the Bahamas in September 2016, and New Zealand put together a mens squad, the New Zealand Makos, to attend this prestigious tournament. After weeks of Player evaluations, Scouting and Combines across New Zealand 39 Finalalists were picked from Auckland (20), Hamilton (5), Wellington (6) and Christchurch (8) to participate in the NZ Mens National Team Selection Camp in May. Post this Camp the squad was taken down to a 15 man travelling squad to take on the World's best in the Bahamas, who trained together for the weeks leading up to the Tournament.
Despite a last minute change in Venue from the Bahamas to Miami, Florida the team headed off in September to take on the Worlds best in the Tournament, with the team being highly competitive in every game. The New Zealand team ended up coming 9th in the Tournament which is a rank they will take into the next Qualification found (16 teams qualify for each Tournament) and also came home with the "Fair Play" team award so certainly did New Zealand pround on the Global stage.
Results:
Beat Japan 20-14
Lost to Israel 34-15
Lost to Panama 26-13
Lost to Austria 27-12
Lost to USA 46-28
Lost to Great Britain 33-19
Lost to Guatemala 45-39
Beat Korea 40-6
