The largest number of clubs (5) come from capital city Helsinki, with 3 more hailing from the metropolitan area or neighboring municipalities.
Besides Helsinki, Jyväskylä is the only other city that host two or more clubs (Jaguaarit, men's and junior teams and Jaguars, a club fielding women's team) In Finland, American football is played in men's, women's and youth leagues.
The two highest tiers have a league license system in place, hence no promotion and relegation between these and 2nd division are ever based on competitive results alone.
In addition to competitive status, teams have to reach a certain level when it comes to economics and organizational structure.
The system was put in place largely to ensure long-term planning and sensible running of clubs.
Due to its large size (most teams in SAJL competitions of any age group) and its status as the lowest level of 11-man football, the 2nd division carries a wide range of teams with great differences in the level of play and goals as an organization.
Youth leagues run in 21 and under, 19 and under, 17 and under, 15 and under and 13 and under categories which are called A-, B-, C-, D- and E-juniors respectively.
From 2014 season on women's championship series is played with 11-on-11 rules as is the international competition organized by IFAF.
Finland entered the competition with a team now consisting of players, according to new international rules, 19 years old and under.
Finland has since participated every time in the biannual event - apart from the 2002 competition when they lost the qualification game to the Czech Republic.
Finland was the most successful team in the first years of the competition, winning the first three titles followed by a bronze medal.
Finland was in the race for spots in the first World Junior Championship to be held in Ohio, USA in summer 2009.
Finland has also participated in Nordic Junior Championship played biannually since 1997, winning four gold and two silver medals.
The junior national team has a history of being the showcase of best youth talent in Finnish American football.
Many of Finland's best players have starred the junior team during their careers, including Michael Quarshie, Seppo Evwaraye and Klaus Alinen.
With one and a half years on preparation, the team was set to take part in Nordic Championship scheduled to be held in Tampere, Finland.
In the 2006 World Championships, they took bronze and in 2007 they narrowly failed to defend their title in the EC, taking silver.
Finland earned its place as Europe's top country with a 26–18 victory over Germany in the bronze game.
Throughout its time as an independent state, Finland has had big rivalries in all fields of sport against its neighboring country Sweden, and American Football makes no exception.