In American football it often crashes tremendously when several guns collide. This looks impressive, but can also act as a deterrent on children who want to start sport. Therefore, the path to American football leads through Flag Football, a low -contact variant of the game, which harbors less risk of injury. At the Delmenhorst Bulldogs, Omar Woodard is responsible for the flag footballer as a head coach. “This is a very good preparation. If you start with flag football, you grow as a good player or as a good player,” he says.
At the Delmenhorst Bulldogs, head coach Omar Woodard gives the children what matters at the flag football.
The rules are almost like American football. A team has the right to attack, there is a quarterback as a central figure, and the play equipment has to be carried into the opposing end zone to achieve a touchdown. The important difference: tackle is not allowed, but there is so -called flag pull. You have to tear down a flag from the belt of the opponent so that the game stops at this point. “In the offensive line, where the quarterback is protected, some contact is allowed, otherwise not,” explains Woodard. Flag has been found at Bulldogs for two years. The team is currently completing their first league season. In the first four games she booked a victory and three defeats. “The team is developing,” says Woodard.
New players are welcome
35 children belong to the squad, according to the headoach, which is supported by six other coaches, may be more. Woodard reports that the players are eight to 15 years old. “The average age is eleven or twelve years old. Of course we have a huge width, but the older ones always fit well on the smaller ones,” says Woodard. Boys and girls play together. “The proportion is about 50:50 with us. We have a lot of girls, some of them are top performers,” emphasizes Woodard.
The American himself played for the Bulldogs and is still in the squad of the association league. Because of his work as a trainer, he has little time to train, says Woodard. In its function as a flag football coach, he is at least as important for the club as a player. He ensures that young people come up – to the men’s team and maybe at some point to the team of women. Bulldogs are currently working with Bremen Venom in the women’s area. “Through the many girls in the Football flag, we have the dream of getting our own team of women on their feet,” emphasizes Woodard. The boys continue after the flag football in the U18 team of the Bulldogs, and there should be a U16 team soon.
Max Rabbel, Gregor Plewnia, Omar Woodard, Anika Meyer, Silke Hohmann, Jermain Hooker and Mirko Schmidt (from left) take care of the flag footballer at the Bulldogs.
For Omar Woodard, Flag Football is the perfect sport because nobody is excluded. “All kids have space. There are no physical disadvantages in the flag football at all because every body type is needed,” emphasizes Woodard. From the age of eight, it makes sense to start with Flag football. Interested parties are always welcome during training. “You can just come by with tunnel shoes and sports clothes and take part in the sample. We will explain everything to you,” says Woodard. Training is carried out on the square of the Delmenhorster TB (on the small sea) on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. If you need more information, you can contact the email address [email protected].
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