Athletes in the UK could have a bright future in American football, a Birmingham-based coach has said.
The NFL generates a lot of British interest, making the sport a success in terms of fans watching on this side of the Atlantic – however, the domestic game has so far been unable to replicate the levels of success seen across the pond.
But although the sport remains amateur, the domestic game currently has 140 adult and university teams across the UK.
One of them is the University of Birmingham Lions. Their coach Austin Mawby said there is reason to believe players could forge a career in the domestic game in the future.
Mawby said: “I have seen athletes that have great potential.
“Having conversations with rugby players could be hopeful, as they have the most potential to love and be good at American football.”
Homegrown British talent may be rare, but five UK-born athletes have gone on to collect Super Bowl winner rings in the NFL.
But Mawby believes the sport in this country has to overcome hurdles if the domestic game is to grow.
“A lot of people are saying no to playing because of the stereotype it has within the country. Also, there is a lot of distaste and disregard for American football,” he said.
However excitement about the NFL is not low in the UK.
Games played in London each year bring in millions of viewers and hundreds of thousands of spectators – last year alone the three games in the capital saw more than 200,000 people attend.
Ironically though, Mawby believes the popularity of these fixtures does not translate to the domestic game.
He believes the growth of the sport is currently limited by circumstance.
“It has a lot to do with publicity,” he said. “But there also has to be a pioneer of the sport here to create excitement.
“The passion is here for sure, but ultimately the effort is not. It requires a lot more time and attention than people realise.
“At this point, it feels stagnant, but it can grow a lot quicker. People will just have to apply themselves properly.
“In any case it will experience growth, but without proper application, it won’t be significant.”
The new British American Football Association National League (BAFANL) is now underway. For more information on the season go to Gameday – Sportank.
People interested in taking up the sport can click here.