American football: Touch down at Meadowbank and you'll have a field day

Published on Saturday 22 November 2008 11:39

I'VE only ever been to America once. When I was 15, I went on a school exchange trip to the cultural mecca that is Berwick, Pennsylvania.

I remember being so excited before we left. Not only was it my first trip to the States, but the family with whom I would be staying had sent me a letter telling me how much they loved football.

"Fantastic," I thought. "I wonder if they watch the Premiership. Maybe they're Newcastle fans, too."

Soon after I arrived, however, I realised they were talking about the American version. The version where there were about 80,000 players in a team, each one kitted out as if they were about to face heavy artillery, and featuring a blue-eyed star quarterback named Brad who dates an impossibly hot blonde cheerleader named Crystal.

During our stay, we attended two matches involving the high school football team – the Berwick Bulldogs.

My classmates and I were taken on quite a few boring expeditions during our two-week holiday, but I think the only thing I found more dull than watching the "Dawgs" in action was a trip to a living historical farm – a place where employees dressed in 18th century clothing spent the entire afternoon trying unsuccessfully to convince us that they'd never heard of hotdogs or television.

Looking back, I think much of my disdain for the oval ball game was borne of ignorance. It was a sport I simply didn't understand, and its stop-start nature seemed at loggerheads with the kind of football I knew and loved. But, after spotting a flyer for the Edinburgh Wolves open tryouts, which take place at Meadowbank Stadium tomorrow, I decided it was about time I learned a thing or two about this American obsession. But, as was demonstrated by the mass scrum for tickets to the recent NFL fixture at Wembley Stadium, it's not just our transatlantic cousins who go crazy for the "other" football.

"It's a hard-hitting impact sport that just offered me something different to the rugby I got a school," explained Wolves head coach Don Edmonston, a former Scottish Claymore. "I just took to football immediately."

At 6ft 5in and 21-and-a-half stone, it's easy to understand why. But what about the shorter people of this world? What about me?

"Smaller people usually play in the running back/receiver position," said Don. "I'm an offensive lineman. It's my job to advance the ball. We block – like the second row in rugby. The smaller guys like yourself just hide under my jumper and run for it."

Don said that tomorrow's tryouts are designed to teach newcomers the five fundamentals of American football: Running with the ball; throwing; catching; kicking and tackling. Before all that, however, I had to get kitted out. Wrestling with the enormous shoulder pads and lid (helmet) wasn't easy but, when it came to being tackled, I was glad to be wearing them. Don insisted afterwards that his players were taking it easy on me, but I wasn't so sure. While the pack of Wolves weren't holding back, safety is never compromised, with Don constantly stressing the importance of where to position the head and shoulders.

Catching I could just about manage, although it took time to adjust to the visual impairment that came with wearing a lid.

And given the difficulty I was having throwing one-handed, the session gave me a heightened appreciation of those quarterbacks who can ping an inch- perfect pass over 60 yards as if the ball were a guided missile.

My favourite part of the afternoon, trying to kick a field goal, was left until last. Four successful kicks out of four later and not only was I sorry my tryout was over, but Don was offering me a spot on the team as a kicker.

I took the comment with a large pinch of salt, but it opened my eyes to the possibility of competing in a sport where everyone has an important role to play.

While I had often criticised the game for its staccato nature and obsession with tactics, I realised that it just might suit me – something others may well find out tomorrow.

"The tryouts are for people who just fancy giving American football a shot," said Don. "We're not going to be testing you on how fast you can run or how high you can jump. It's just going to be a fun environment."

&#149 EDINBURGH Wolves open tryouts, tomorrow, Meadowbank Stadium, 12-2pm (registration starts at 11am), bring indoor shoes. For more information, visit www.edinburghwolves.com