PULSE ‘Little’ GIANTS


American Football is becoming more and more popular, with over 14 million NFL fans, and over 40,000 people playing the sport at least once a month according to Sport England. It’s not all helmets and shoulder pads, though, as some school children in East Kent found out in the autumn.


Flag Football is an un-kitted version of American Football, similar to Tag


Rugby, with each player wearing a flag belt; instead of physically tackling each other, players snatch one of the ball carrier’s flags from their belt to signify where the ‘tackle’ would have been made. American Football Development, a British- American company based just outside Canterbury, delivered Flag Football taster sessions to numerous schools throughout Canterbury, Shepway


and Dover districts in September and October, culminating in two Flag Football and Cheerleading experience days at the Canterbury Academy on the 29th and 30th of October.


In partnership with the Prince of Wales Youth Club and with the Gillingham FC Gems Cheerleading squad, the Flag Football and Cheerleading days were a great success, with over 180 children


aged 5 – 11 taking part over the two days. The children were in for a special treat, as they had the opportunity to learn the game of American flag Football from someone who has played the sport at the highest level in former NFL player Ronnie Ghent. The children who attended the first experience day also got to meet two-time Super Bowl winner Byron Chamberlain, who made a special appearance at the camp. The camps were even visited by ITV Meridian, who filmed a segment that aired throughout the South East over two days.


American Football Development, who are accredited to deliver American Football to schools by the sport’s national governing body, the British American Football Association, are going to be delivering American Football sessions and programmes throughout the County from January. AFD are launching a schools American Football league in time for the Summer terms, built around their own unique rulebook, co-developed with a former member of the USA Football rules committee (the sport’s NGB in the US), and has been specifically developed for UK schools. Part of the schools league package includes helping to develop a school Cheerleading squad to support the Flag Football team, so everyone can get involved!


For more information about AFD’s programmes, and how your school can get involved in the American Football revolution, visit www.afdlimited.com. You can contact AFD on 0203 056 2702 or by emailing Gur.Samuel@afdlimited. com.


The Kent & Medway School Sports Magazine 9


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