The NFL Academy, which opened in September 2019, is a major UK initiative by the NFL, which aims to use American football to create life-changing opportunities for young people.
The NFL Academy offers student athletes aged 16-19 the opportunity to combine their education with a life skills programme and an intensive training in the sport, under the guidance of full-time professional coaches.
Education is the main priority and, in partnership with Barnet and Southgate College in North London, the Academy aims to create pathways into further education, employment and potentially an opportunity to study and play NCAA college football in the United States.
Athletes have access to elite sports training facilities, kit and equipment, as well as an opportunity to learn from players and coaches from the NFL. The character development programme aims to provide students with the tools to be successful in whatever pathway they take following the NFL Academy.
This unique opportunity is open to students aged 16-19. Entry into the Academy is based upon a series of physical tryouts, along with a one-to-one interview and educational assessment. Successful students will be offered provisional places, dependent on meeting academic requirements.