Schools from around the county took to the rubber crumb pitch at Loughborough College for the regional flag American football finals to decide which school would be making their way to the NFL UK National Championship, being held in London at the end of the month.
Of the nine teams taking part, eight schools are new to the NFL Flag initiative and have integrated the sport into their curriculum. This project welcomed over 1,900 Year 6, 7, and 8 pupils and commemorated the launch of the Year 9 and 10 girls-only pathway into the sport.
Jared Doherty-Gray, Participation Officer for the NFL UK shared, “The way these schools have worked so quickly to get flag American football into schools shows just how passionate they are about the game.”
Flag football is described as a non-contact version of American football, where tackles are made by stealing opposing players’ flags, which are attached to their kit.
Each school was assigned an NFL team name and jerseys, and with the support of NFL Academy students acting as coaches, launched into a day of exciting matches.
Deputy Principal of Loughborough College, Heather Clarke said, “We are so proud to host the Flag Football finals here at the College. Being an active part of our community is a vital part of our ethos and we are so excited to see so many young people get involved in this initiative.”
Vice Chair of Governors Ian Marron added, “The enthusiasm from the NFL Academy players and College staff is clear, and it has been a fantastic event. I am delighted that as the sport expands into the UK, more girls are participating and are represented in this tournament. This is a great opportunity for future female athletes to be inspired by the possibilities available.”
Following a morning of friendly and qualifying games, the afternoon saw the action-packed final match take place between Long Field Spencer Academy’s Buffalo Bills and Wreake Valley Academy’s LA Rams. Both teams fought for the regional title and the chance to lift the trophy, and after an energetic game, entered sudden-death extra time as the game finished 7-7.
Kieran Grundy, PE Teacher at Robert Smyth Academy expressed his excitement about the day. “Having the NFL Academy guys there set the bar for the students and helped me learn the game too. I hope you do something similar in the future, it’s been a highlight of my year, too.”
Twenty-five minutes of tense added time saw both teams take every chance they could, but it was Long Field Academy that were crowned the eventual winners. The team will now go on to the NFL Flag UK National Championship finals, held at the iconic Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Wednesday 28 June. Long Field will face off against eight other secondary school regional finalists. Good luck, Long Field! We’ll be rooting for you!