American Football Hawke's Bay set to become affiliated

Jordan Cox and the American Flag Football boys are keen to expand to at least 20 players so they can set up a mini-season in Hawke's Bay.

American Football Hawke's Bay is set to become an official affiliated club before Christmas, and are looking for more members to join the team.

"We're going to affiliate as a club, that means you're eligible to trial for New Zealand teams and compete," says founder Jordan Cox.

The club will initially start off as a Flag Football club and once affiliated, members are able to compete at the World Flag championships, which happens every two years.

Once it starts to gain momentum that's when a sevens team could be created with the intention to compete at the national tackle sevens tournament for American Football "it's fast paced and a bit more exciting," he says.

"Essentially we need approval from the New Zealand American Football Federation, which they're going to give us.

"They've been really helpful, so a constitution will be drafted for our club and then we register with the New Zealand Society Register."

It's been about four years since Cox and a few other guys who love footy and want to see the game take off here began playing a casual game together but on a regular basis.

"Part of it for me is about the opportunity that it provides, there is a lot of talent here, guys who are great touch players or rugby players or anything like that.

"Because rugby is such a big sport it's real hard to make it to that top level but these are the kinds of players who have the basics and can be fantastic football players.

"I'd like to see opportunities for representing Hawke's Bay in the sport and even potentially scholarships to study in the States or play football in America, there are so many opportunities."

Currently there are around 10 guys who are keen and committed and turn up most weeks, and are able to compete outside of the region regularly.

But to make the club viable there would need to be around 20 regulars that would enable a mini-season to be held in the Bay.

"So we wouldn't have to wait for a competition in Auckland, we could run our own with at least three teams to start off with," says Cox.

Growing Flag Football is the stepping stone to tackle football with the eventual goal of accessing funding to buy helmets, tackle pads and other equipment.

"We hope to grow it over the next three to four years so that people see it as viable and worth supporting."

Anyone of high school age and above is welcome to come down and play every Sunday at Cornwall Park in Hastings.

All the information for venue times and dates can be found on the American Football HB Facebook page, otherwise Jordan can be contacted directly on jordan@americanfootballhb.com