gridiron UK

Six players at the Iceni Spears yesterday for flag american football training in Thorpe St Andrew .  A minimum flag team is just five as so amply proved by the Hyde Park Renegades back before the virus.  Impressed to see passers getting spin on the ball and coach Jamie Fowle told us the Opal Series will be running this autumn so there will be competition ... can't wait.

In american football the NFL for the coming season have dropped one pre-season game and added a seventeenth regular season game.  Looking at the schedule it seems teams play an opponent from the other conference ...

Perhaps fortuitously with International Women's Day on Monday the NFL has appointed their second woman official and the first African-American woman official Maia Chaka.

For quite a long time we vaguely thought it was called a hook and ladder because it was something to do with firefighting equipment.  Then we learnt that hook is a receiver route hooking towards the pitch centre and the ladder is a lateral (a sideways pass) ... generally known as a hook and ladder.

Thoughtful american football pundit Mike Carlson became Michael Carlson on Radio 4's arts prog Front Row last night.

Last year Sarah Thomas became the first woman to officiate a Super Bowl playoff game.  She managed the measuring chain and the down marker the NFL having renamed the role from Head Linesman to the gender independent Down Judge ... she's doing it again tomorrow fortnight at this year's Super Bowl.

In East Anglia we're lucky to benefit from ref Alisha Darkins who does not lack attitude when disorder breaks out ... Get off my field!.

Not surprisingly the Colchester Gladiators have postponed their Rookie Day this coming Sunday.

Lots of laughter at the Ipswich Cardinals' first practice after lockdown two and interestingly to us at least the first hour was spent on special teams ... no blocking below the waist on kicking plays.  New players (especially linemen) and rookies always welcome.

At the bottom of the page proposed age groups for under 17 flag american football.

Sarah Fuller eh?  How long before we get a woman in the UK premiership?  Soccer that is.

Oh joy, the return of outdoor sport at this lockdown end.  We do miss the socialising as well as the sport of East Anglian american football.  While we wait here's an unnumbered reason to be cheerful ♫ Hurl that spheroid down the field ♫

Saturday In Lowestoft speedy Waveney Wolves were running through multiple Iceni Spears tackles but with time the Spears started making their tackles.  A Spears trick play along the lines of It's the wrong ball worked beautifully.  We think maybe just three or four flags in all three games which were played with an outstanding spirit though heavy rain inevitably dampened the final match.

At the Ipswich Cardinals new venue in Rushmere despite steady rain with enough wind to make it uncomfortably cold an impressive near fifty players old and new turned out and just one spectator.  Some younger newbs unwisely thought shorts .. more here

Yesterday's UEA Pirates socially distanced rookies had some 15 newbs in the drizzle and a hatful of them could complete a pass.  Chatting with the ... more here

Driving this morning to Norwich for the Iceni Spears noticeable was classic and sports cars coming the other way surely for Classics at Glemham.  Very encouraging that there are now enough Spears for players left over on the sideline during scrimmaging.  Hand sanatising during breaks and general good vibes but sadly coach Jamie Fowle is not anticipating any competitions this year.

Seems unlikely but UEA in Norwich are offering american football scholarships, you need to apply before the end of the month.

Saddening but not surprisingly the Red Rooster Festival near Thetford has been postponed until next year.  Robert Stan Stamper (seen here on the Ipswich Cardinals chain crew entertaining the visiting Bury Saints sideline) at last year's Maverick Festival before dashing off to dance with his daughter told us the 2018 Roosterfest had been brilliant. ♫