American Football in Bristol - Get Involved
Posted on: 20 Jan 2016With the NFL playoffs heading to the championship games, and the Superbowl not far away, what better time to try American football in Bristol? On Sunday 24 January 2016 there is an open session for anybody in Bristol or the Southwest to go along and try American football. With two senior teams, a burgeoning women’s team, an American football academy and many other teams at the university and junior level, Bristol can be rightly proud of its American football pedigree.
Whether you have any experience of American football or not - 90% of people don’t - the Bristol Football family will welcome you at their opening session. In these few hours they will introduce you to the fundamentals of the sport – this is by no means a ‘try-out’. The session will take place at SGS College (formerly Filton WISE) from 12pm. If you don’t own your own helmet and shoulderpads (again, 90% won’t) then you should arrive at 10am to be fitted free of charge and use them for the day. All you need to wear is sportswear (think: football training), shoes suitable for 3G astro turf and a bottle of water.
In the last few years Bristol Football has seen people completely new to sport line up alongside England international rugby players. There is a position and a place on an American football team for anyone of any height, weight and athletic experience. Nobody is too tall or short, fat or thin, slow or fast...American football is a welcoming environment for all and actively seeks people of all sizes.
This session is the ideal place to start. If you’ve ever given the sport a second thought then come along and see what it’s all about. If you don’t like it then at least you can say you played it once! If you like what you see then you could be suiting up for the Apache, Aztecs, Great Britain, or even professionally in no time. The only limit is your own desire and work-ethic.
Chairman of Bristol football, and Offensive Coordinator of the Bristol Aztecs, Pete Jones said: “Bristol Football is an inclusive environment where people of all abilities can flourish; there is a place for everyone. Both the Aztecs and Apache are hugely competitive and places on the teams are always up for grabs. We encourage a professional atmosphere at all times but the social side of things is also factor of course! Many of our current and former players have found themselves playing at a higher level and we are happy to nurture and further that talent as it benefits the football community as a whole. Come along and see what Bristol Football is all about.”
For those aged 18 or over there are two teams and so can accommodate all abilities. The Bristol Aztecs compete in the highest level of American football in Britain and, whilst the two big London teams have shared the big prize for the past few years, the Aztecs have been in the hunt all along and you can set your watch by them making the playoffs. Alternatively there is the Bristol Apache: playing in a lower division than the Aztecs, the Apache are far more than a ‘second team’. A team in their own right, The Apache have their own identity and have nurtured burgeoning talent thanks to the huge experience of their coaches and also some more experienced players that can no longer keep up with the rigours of Premier League football thanks to their bodies!
Women are very much welcome in American football and there are many playing in, what many assume to be, ‘male’ teams across the country - including the University of Bristol (see below). The Bristol Football family welcomes all women who would like to give the sport a try. Women’s American football has really taken off in the past few years and Bristol Football are looking to set up a women’s team so get yourself there to see what it’s all about!
Bryony Thiele is currently playing for the University of Bristol Barracuda and had this to say: “I love playing football and the guys I play with are the best team mates I could ask for. I've never felt un-worthy, left out, or not good enough. My coaches work hard to make sure I improve what I need to work on and also help me play to my strengths and use being a smaller player to my advantage. Getting out on the field and knowing all the guys have got my back is one of the best feelings I've ever had and I hope to play football for as long as I can!”
Bryoni Thiele, RB, and MC Bass, WR representing the University of Bristol Barracuda.
Keep up to date by joining the Facebook Event HERE. If you can’t make this session then there will be other opportunities to get involved, just email bristolaztecs@hotmail.com.
For more info please visit the Bristol Football Facebook Page or Twitter. SGS College is located at: New Rd, Stoke Gifford, South Gloucestershire BS34 8.
Both Alex Jenkins (left) and Elliot Hoyte (right) received Division 1 scholarships to major universities in the US (University of the Incarnate Word and Boise State respectively) after coming through the ranks at Bristol Football. They are joined by Head Coach of the Aztecs, Chris Powles and head of the American Football Academy at SGS, Ben Herod.
.jpg "Bristol American Football - Scholarship Athletes")
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Born and raised in the suburbs of Swansea, Jimmy moved to Bristol back in 2004 to attend university. Passionate about live music, sport, science and nature, he can usually be found walking his cocker spaniel Baxter at any number of green spots around the city. Call James on 078 9999 3534 or email Editor@365Bristol.com.
