PANAMA CITY, PANAMA -The addition of three new members and a commitment to youth (15 and under) and junior (19 and under) development were the key accomplishments of the Pan-American Federation of American Football (PAFAF) Congress held on May 9 in Panama City.
Six of the seven founding members of the confederation - Argentina, Guatemala, Mexico, Panama, the United States and Uruguay -were represented at the Congress. The seventh PAFAF member, Canada, was unable to attend.
Guests of the Congress included International Federation of American Football president Tommy Wiking, NFL International's Kathryn Kelly and American Football Coaches Association spokesman Todd Bell.
The Congress heard presentations from three prospective members - the Bahamas, Brazil and the Dominican Republic - before voting unanimously to accept all three as members of PAFAF.
The primary topic of discussion at the Congress was the development of youth and junior football throughout the Americas. PAFAF members agreed unanimously to focus their efforts over the next year on creating and expanding youth and junior flag football in their respective countries.
"The 2008 PAFAF Congress was a great success with productive discussion and a commitment to growing our great game at the youth and junior levels. We agreed that developing the game below the senior level is necessary to sustain the growth of football in the Americas," said PAFAF President Scott Hallenbeck.
The Congress host, the Panamanian Federation of American Football (PFAF), was presented as a model for developing federations to follow. Panama currently offers flag and contact leagues for ages 8 and older.
Panama's plan for growth includes the construction of a 5,000-seat football-only stadium in Panama City that will serve as the home base for the federation and has the potential to become a center for regional PAFAF competitions, clinics and training.
"The Panamanian Federation of American Football did a tremendous job of hosting the PAFAF Congress and we look forward to supporting their continued efforts to expand American football in Panama and Latin America," Hallenbeck added.
The 3rd PAFAF Congress will be held in Canton, Ohio in conjunction with the 1st IFAF Junior World Championship in July 2009.