American Football Rookie Tryouts

[spoonie]

Dear all

Just a quick plug for the East Kilbride Pirates rookie tryouts. Perfect for those who have played for years or those who have never tried it. Even if you just want to see what it's all about, please come along and try it out.

23/11 and 14/12. Full details here

Spoonie

[Dec]

[Westy]

I'm tempted but i'd probably get rode silly. My cousin says I could do some sort of task on an American football pitch to some extent but I think i'd get halved.

[SOLIDBOB]

Originally Posted by Awright

I'm tempted but i'd probably get rode silly. My cousin says I could do some sort of task on an American football pitch to some extent but I think i'd get halved.

see that bit in the Waterboy where the teams plays there actual little kid waterboy at wide receiver and he gets destroyed on the first play? That'd be you.

[Westy]

I could well be a running back so i'm told.

[Dec]

Like a running back, get it man, I'm straight off the block.

[Hammer]

Here, Spoons, what's the time commitment and that like for this?

I'm kind of tempted to try out (meant to try out for the Uni Rugby team this year) but not sure if I can spare the time with Uni and stuff.

[i_am_blip]

I'd get right bored playing american football i think.

Going back to rugby once my knee is back in action. Especially seeing as i'm no longer a wee boy.

Fatblip

[bugpowderdust]

Originally Posted by Hammer

Here, Spoons, what's the time commitment and that like for this?

I'm kind of tempted to try out (meant to try out for the Uni Rugby team this year) but not sure if I can spare the time with Uni and stuff.

I trained with the Pirates at the beginning of last season for a few weeks, Jan to Feb 08. They're a great bunch of guys and very welcoming to rookies. I have absolutely no aptitude for sport whatsoever, but Andy the coach and all the dudes on the O-line were very patient and didn't seem to mind my crapness

That said, if you're wanting to stick with it you will need to make certain commitments. When I was there the training was Sundays from 10am to 3pm and they started a Wednesday evening fitness/sprint training class (which I never attended). In addition to this you're expected to be putting the time in at the gym, and I'd say that's a definite requirement if you want to get in game-shape. From the point of view of the O-line, I was about the right size and weight for it, but my upper-body strength was really lacking so I'd just get schooled in a proper game.

I hope that helps. Like I say they're a great bunch of guys and if you're into it I definitely recommend the Pirates. You should pop along to one of the try-outs as there's no commitment and you'll get a much better idea of what you'd be up to.

Originally Posted by i_am_blip

I'd get right bored playing american football i think.

Going back to rugby once my knee is back in action. Especially seeing as i'm no longer a wee boy.

Fatblip

Sounds like you're in the same position as my mate Iain. He played rugby at Shawlands/Cartha for a wee while until he picked up a shoulder injury. He came along to the EK Pirates try-out with me last year and they had him doing running-back drills. He said the training wasn't intense enough for him and the game style was a bit boring compared to the rugby that he was used to, mainly because he wanted to be smashing people all the time

P.S. Sup Spoons!

[Fremlin]

I would love to play again, but sadly just don't have the time these days.

[spoonie]

as my homeboy stephen says, there's an expectation that you'll put in certain amount of work. training is as follows:

sunday 10-3 (actually 10-12 and 1-3 with a 1 hour chalk and talk/lunch)
wednesday 7-9 (sprint/fitness till the clocks go forward and then standard)

outside of that, there's a need to work in the gym. we've got guys who can put a tailored plan together for you and guys who can give you nutrition advice. we're also sponsored by extreme nutrition so get 35% off their products and all the access we need to their staff which is more than impressive!

the season itself will run from mid may until the end of august and comprise ten games in 14 weeks. home games are played in Hamilton (yes, I know!) and away games this year will be in London, Bristol, Coventry, Farnham and Sussex. there's then a week off and a maximum of two more (playoff and then British final) which are in September.

Despite all of that, you don't need to be a total machine! I'm in pretty poor shape but work at it and get good coaching and it's a fantastic team sport. Even if you're not sure, as Stephen says you should come along and give it a go and see. Might not be for you, might be right up your street!

p.s. i'm good bro! how about you?

[Largest of Als]

Originally Posted by Fremlin

I would love to play again, but sadly....

.. I'm too old and damaged from playing years ago...




Al

[Fremlin]

Yeah I totally buggered my ankle playing for the Stratchlyde Hawks years ago but it's been pretty good the past couple of years. Wouldn't mind just getting a wee game sometime though.

[spoonie]

and there's always flag football, which we attach no time commitment to and which we offer purely for the banter aspect and so we can all make mad jerry rice style grabs!

if anyone fancies playing that (the non-contact version) let me know

[Fremlin]

I got ejected from a game in Stirling one year playing flag football for running over the top of a little girl.