Oulu Northern Lights, Women’s American football team

Oulu Northern Lights is one of the oldest active American football clubs in Finland. American football, also known as jenkkifutis or jefu, has been played in Oulu with a strong attitude since 1982!

In the 2023 season, the club has a team in the Women’s Vaahteraliiga and the men’s I-Divisioona. The women’s team’s major achievements include a Finnish championship in 2012 and three bronze medals in 2011, 2014, and 2015. Additionally, both the men’s and women’s national teams of Finland are the most successful in Europe! The women’s team made a comeback to the Vaahteraliiga level in the 2023 season after two successful years in the lower division and continues to pursue success at the national level.

American football, or jenkkifutis/jefu, is an extremely physical and tactical sport often referred to as the chess of sports. To a new viewer, the game may seem like chaotic collisions, but every running line, step, hit, and throw is carefully planned to advance the team on the field.

Training in the sport focuses on diverse strength training, speed training, and, of course, extensive sport-specific training like in other ball sports. The physicality and contact of the sport set it apart from other ball sports. The intense contact requires meticulous supplementary training to ensure that the body is prepared for the demanding pace of the game season.

We had the opportunity to test Cloudboots throughout the season and noticed that they expedited recovery from both training sessions and game events. As we travel long bus journeys across Finland, the time spent on the road is a great opportunity to enhance recovery. Cloudboots provide an easy way to recover on the bus and in hotels!

Player comments:

“After using them immediately after intense games or training sessions, I noticed a difference in recovery compared to before. Additionally, taking a moment to relax is a nice breather, and sleep tastes better after late-night training sessions. My favorite program is definitely lymph!”

“It has helped speed up recovery from games, allowing for effective training even after demanding game weekends despite the tight game schedule 🤌”

“As a player in a position that involves a lot of running, my legs often get tired. I’ve noticed that my legs feel lighter in the following training sessions after using Cloudboots.”

“One great thing about them is how easy they are to carry on away games and use right on the bus after games. Recovery can start very soon after a demanding performance.”

One of the greatest aspects of American football is that it requires athletes with diverse qualities. Whether you’re small and fast, big and strong, tall and long-reaching, or a skilled ball handler, you are equally important on the field. Additionally, most of the sport’s enthusiasts in Finland have started playing the game as adults, so it’s never too late to give it a try!