NFL Academy in London Prepares for Games / US College Summer time Camps
The NFL Academy which is primarily based in London, England gives over 80 teens who are mostly from Fantastic Britain the opportunity to train, study, and practice in hopes of earning a scholarship to play American football for a University in the United States. This plan was launched roughly two years ago, and the NFL Academy gives these student athletes with prime football coaches as effectively as state–of–the–art instruction facilities.
The Effect of the COVID – 19 Pandemic
Despite the fact that this initiative of the National Football League is a really promising effort to expand globally, it faces several difficulties which have been mainly attributed to the COVID – 19 pandemic. The troubles the NFL Academy faces is that there have not been real football games for the athletes in this system to participate in yet, and they aim to send these student athletes to pay a visit to some United States college football summer time camp programs as effectively.
It is wonderful news to hear that the NFL Academy in London has scheduled a game this Saturday, October 23rd, 2021 when they are set to play a genuine game against a freshman squad from the University of East Anglia. Besides the COVID – 19 pandemic it has also been a challenge for the NFL Academy to find prepared opponents of the identical age group in order to schedule a fair game for these aspiring student athletes to play in.
Other games have been planned versus other University teams, academies situated in each Sweden and France, and some other games are planned for the NFL Academy to play American football against European national teams who have American football applications there. This is just one more example of how the COVID – 19 pandemic has interfered with international activities all across the globe. Hopefully, the popularity of this system and others like it can overcome the devastation of the COVID – 19 pandemic and any other challenges that it faces.
The Significance of Game Film
It is very crucial for games to be played in order for the student athletes in the NFL Academy to have game film to send in for players seeking to switch to a High College in the United States of America or be granted a scholarship to a University in the U. S. A. Hopefully now that games are becoming scheduled for the NFL Academy there will be some strong game film for the coaches and admissions officials overseas to review so that they are familiar with these folks searching to come to the United States and play American football at either the high school or collegiate level.
The NFL Expansion Plans
The National Football League has been focusing on expanding its attain internationally to Europe as well as other continents. The NFL Academy based in London, England is a large instance of this especially as the NFL has been hosting a couple of their typical season games in London every year for the past numerous years or so. The National Football League just featured two games over the previous couple of weeks in London, England. They play at large venues as well such as Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as well.
In order to bring awareness of the NFL Academy the National Football League has sent ambassadors like the excellent Super Bowl Champion and Hall of Fame wide receiver, Jerry Rice, overseas for the opening of the academy’s health club/training facility. Operations such as that definitely assist market the outstanding sport of American football in Europe as Europe is definitely dominated by soccer throughout their sports landscape.
The National Football League is looking to replicate the model of the NFL Academy situated in London, England by generating a similar plan in Germany when the NFL starts bringing some NFL standard season games to Germany in the close to future. The National Football League has expressed interest in the previous of possibly relocating an NFL franchise such as the Jacksonville Jaguars to London or another key European city with a strong NFL presence and following already. These are all great initiatives by the National Football League as they attempt to expand globally in the future, and bring the excellent game of American football to other regions of the globe.
Media Statements
“Simply because of COVID, we haven’t had the likelihood to play anyone,” coach Tony Allen explained final week. Allen goes on to say, “We try to get them as young as feasible but they’re extremely green.”
“In the future and as early as subsequent summer time we’ll do these sorts of tours because actually what you need to have to do with these guys if they’re excellent adequate, is they want that exposure out in the U.S.,” says the head of NFL Academy relations, Seni Majekodunmi. “Colleges require to see them coaches want to see them. It’s not all about trying to get these guys to the NFL. Education reigns supreme. The quantity of youngsters who are going to make it out of this group is going to be truly slim so they want to have that program B.”
“Coaches want to see those guys compete against American kids,” NFL Academy advocate Brandon Collier confirmed. “I know for sure there is a lot of talent that’s coming by way of (the academy). It’s like how anything functions, it’s sort of who you know and the exposure. You need to have the trust of the college coaches. (Even without the games, a lot of players) adore the NFL brand and rightfully so. It is the most strong football brand in the world.”
“I devote almost everything I have to the game because this is my likelihood to not only play football at the subsequent level but also get a university education,” NFL Academy tight end Peter Clarke stated. “I’m 1 of the 1st men and women in my loved ones that will ever be able to go to university, so it is a huge factor for me.”
Supply:
Maguire, Ken. “NFL Academy in London eyes games, US college summer season camps”. The Linked Press. October 21, 2021.