Rovaniemi Nordmen ry is an American football club founded in 2013 that participates in competitions organized by the Finnish American Football Association (SAJL ry). Our men’s team began in the summer of 2013, introducing new players to the sport through flag football and gradually progressing to gridiron American football. As the players’ skills and knowledge of the sport grew, flag belts were first abandoned in favor of two-handed “tackling,” and then gradually and carefully moved on to full-contact. The first full-contact practices were held on September 3, 2013. The men’s team played in the SAJL’s 4th Division in the 2014 season and in the 3rd Division during the 2015-2018 seasons. After a short stint  in the SAJL’s 2nd Division in 2019, the men’s team played in the SAJL’s 1st Division for the 2020 & 2021 seasons. In an effort to focus on rebuilding the team and expanded our club’s footprint, we returned to the 2nd Division in 2022 and continue to compete in this division.

Since the club was founded, women have also been welcome to join the sport, with women having participated in men’s practices and club activities. Women’s interest in the sport has been growing, which led to the establishment of a women’s team on September 6, 2016.
The women played their first season in Division II in 2017, following it up with a second place finish in the 2018 season. Activity waned and our women’s team has been suspended since the end of 2018, but we still strive to recruit women to our club in hopes of a triumphant return to the field.

The club launched its junior program in the summer of 2017. The aim of the junior program was to encourage children and young people to improve their health and social development through physical activity and team activities. Since American football is a sport that almost anyone in good health can play, it gives young people the opportunity to take up a sport without any previous athletic background or special skills.

The club’s goal has been to increase awareness of the sport and the club in the Lapland region and to establish the sport in Rovaniemi. The club offers affordable recreational and competitive activities so that anyone interested in the sport can participate, regardless of their background.

The club’s activities are strongly based on community spirit, and it strives to utilize the resources and strengths within its own community. The club offers its members the opportunity to develop and train through club activities, and it organizes or facilitates participation in, for example, coach training, referee training, and other activities that support club activities and community engagement. The aim is to maintain high-quality activities and ensure the continuity of the sport in Northern Finland.

Contact:

Rob Patterson
Chairman
Email: info@rovanieminordmen.fi
Phone: 045 894 4433

Rovaniemi Nordmen ry
Finnish Business/Non-profit ID: FI25603764