IAFA Flag Football Emeald Bowl Conference 6th season is kicking off today. We thought we’d spend the next few weeks introducing all twelve teams competing for a place in the playoff, a chance to win Emerald Bowl 6 and a shot at being called 2019 National Flag Football Champions. That being said, all twelve teams are made of the best flag football you can get in the country today which is deemed to be this season the most competitive one yet.
The EBC 2019 season will kick off with nine teams and nine games in the People’s Park, Portadown. You can find all fixtures from this page Flag Football | EBC. The nine teams are the Belfast Knights, Belfast Trojans, Craigavon Cowboys, Dublin Bay Raptors, Dublin Rebels, Edenderry Eagles, Louth Mavericks, Meath Bulldogs, Westmeath Minotaurs.
This week, we had the pleasure to chat with team managers and head coaches from three of the teams playing this Saturday. We talked to Robbie Caldwell, head coach of the Louth Mavericks; Ian Shaws, head coach of the Belfast Trojans and Gytis Stankevicius, team manager of the Meath Bulldogs.
Louth mavericks - robbie calwell, HEAD COACH
IAFA: Second appearance in the EBC with a close loss in Emerald Bowl 5 to the current and two-time champions, Craigavon Cowboys. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the upcoming EBC 2019 season?
RC: Any loss is hard to take, it was an extremely hard-fought final that could have went either way.
Throughout the season we showed a lot of grit and determination in pursuit of the championship. These season’s preparations have been taken to a new level. We’ve many veterans back as well as some new blood. The intensity and desire from the players to win is greater than ever. Training seasons have been not only modernised, but revolutionised. At this stage, everyone is just raring to get on the field.
IAFA: What is your main goal this season?
RC: The main goal is and always will be to win the Championship.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best in teams in the country?
RC: Every training session, our Offence comes up against the best Defence inÂ
the country and our Defence comes up against the best Offence in country. I firmly believe that we are the best team in the league and come November 2nd, we’ll have proven that.
IAFA: Based on the EBC 2018 season, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
RC: That’s an interesting question to ask. We’ve competed against and beat most of this seasons schedule before. The Edenderry Eagles will be an interesting team to come up against. We didn’t get the opportunity to play them last year but they got to the playoff and competed in the Jacksonville Jaguars 7’s tournament, so there must be something there. Aside from that, whoever we’ll meet in the final.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
RC: Our commitment towards excellence. Everyone is striving to be the best player and teammate they can be. We’ve established a culture where everyone is working for each other and for the common goal. We had genuine athletes with high levels of footballing intelligence. A quarterback who can throw end-zone to end-zone. Receivers who will win contested balls time and time again even in double coverage. A blitzer who will be in on quarterbacks in less than 2.5 seconds. Defensive backs who know what opposition players are going to do before they even know themselves.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
RC: Everyone. To select just a few would be a great disservice to the rest of the team. If you take your eyes off one player, they will burn you.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
RC: Firstly, when we are champions this season. Absolutely! The opportunity to compete against and beat teams from around the world would be incredible. We’ve developed a style of play that is unrivalled and unique to ourselves. From what I’ve viewed on the international scene, I haven’t seen a team that could match us either. It would be another title that we’re more than happy to take home.
IAFA: With the increased emphasis on having more women involved in playing or managing sport, what are you doing to recruit more female members into your club?
RC: Increasing female participation in the sport is something that the club is committed to. Over the course of the preseason we had five female players. However, unfortunately due to work and other commitments we’re currently down to two. Really, there needs to be a multitude of things done which we are working on. This season we want to highlight the talented female players we have. By showcasing their talents, we would hope that they will help garner the interest of others to participate in the sport. Many of the players are actively trying to encourage the women in their lives to join our American footballing community. We’ve also been in contact with a number of female influencers in the region and are hoping to work closely with them in the future to help boost the profile of the sport.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National Programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
RC: It’s excellent that the National Programme is starting up again. However, winning will always be our main priority. When the national team comes recruiting, we know it’ll have a strong Mavericks presence.
IAFA: For any potential volunteers considering joining an American football team, what roles would you have available?
RC:Â A videographer and statistics analyst. I’m a big advocate of watching tape from training and games to go back over how everything went in order to see anywhere that that can be further improved. With the help of a videographer and statistics analyst, we’d be able to gather better quality videos and interpret more clearly the effect of each play and the opposing formations.
IAFA: What advice will you give your players before their first game?
RC: I genuinely can’t fully answer that due to the expletive laden and emotional nature of my pregame talks. However, it will generally focus on the greatness of them as a unit, how they have all the skills necessary to beat anyone and a bit of degradation about the opposition.
Belfast Trojans - IAN SHAW, HEAD COACH
IAFA: Second appearance in the EBC. You were also short of playing in Emerald Bowl 5 last year. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the upcoming EBC 2019 season?
IS: Losing in the wildcard round to a very good Edenderry side was tough to take, as is any playoff loss. It helped put a promising debut season into
perspective; we knew we were capable of making the playoffs and this season’s preparation has been geared around going further this time around.
IAFA: What are your goals for this season?
IS: The goal for the upcoming season is to build on last year’s performances and continue our progression as a team. With the talent and effort in this squad, the sky really is the limit.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best in teams in the country?
IS: Our schedule is definitely a step up
from last season where we were met with a few forfeits. However, our team has improved immensely over the past 18 months. It’s not a fixture list we’ll shy away from – that’s what the EBC should be all about, the best competing against the best.
IAFA: Based on last season records, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
IS: Louth Mavericks and UCC are both talented teams with a point to prove having narrowly missed out on Emerald Bowl 5 and playoff respectively. We had the opportunity to see UCD and Dublin Bay Raptors at a game-day last season and they looked dynamic and disciplined enough to give any team problems.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
IS: I can’t really speak for other programmes, but I know our coaching staff and off-field team are among the most committed and determined that I’ve ever had a chance to work alongside.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
IS: We have a lot of talented players on both sides of the ball. We are blessed to have Alex Kusmirek among our ranks, who is widely regarded as one of the best defensive backs in the country – particularly given his recent success as a Shamrock Bowl winner and with the Irish Wolfhounds.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
IS: That’s a bridge we’ll cross when we get to it. Our focus has to be on winning the Bowl before anything that comes after it. That said, I have always been a big fan of the various “Champions Bowls” played across the continent as a way of growing the sport internationally.
IAFA: With the increased emphasis on having more women involved in playing or managing sport, what are you doing to recruit more female members into your club?
IS: We’re arranging some upcoming trial days for female players – keep an eye out on social media! This season has also seen the first ever female Trojan captain in Helen Smyth who is returning after an exciting rookie season. We have also added some new female players to our Trojans 2ndssquad.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
IS: Our players’ focus will be on performing to the best of their ability on a game by game basis. That’s how they’ll be selected for the national team. I’m looking forward to seeing the revamped National Team and think it’s exactly what the sport needs in order to progress to that next level.
IAFA: For any potential volunteers considering joining an American football team, what roles would you have available?
IS: A little bit of anything and everything! Stats takers on gamedays, referees, film crew for recording sessions or even coaching roles within our squads. The only requirement is a love of the game.
IAFA: What advice will you give your team before their first game?
IS: Remember what brought us this far. This is our chance to do something special.
MEATH BULLDOGS - Gytis Stankevicius, Team Manager
IAFA: Second appearance in the EBC. You were also short of making the playoff last year. Tell us a bit about how this all sunk in and about your preparation for the upcoming EBC 2019 season?
GS: Not going to lie, last season we were underprepared. Flag was seen as something to bridge the gap between
the kitted football seasons. As such we struggled to maintain a consistent squad of players with dedicated assignments and well drilled out plays. A lot of things had to be adjusted to on the fly and at times this really showed.
IAFA: What are your goals for this season?
GS: This season we hope to lay the foundation for taking the Bulldogs flag football out of the contact team’s shadow. Grow the squad and define a more rigid and robust structure for the team. We are very competitive in nature so winning is always an objective but we’re prioritising establishing a future for the team.
IAFA: The EBC is now the premier league of Flag Football in Ireland. How did you approach this new season knowing you were going to compete against the best teams in the country?
GS: We believe the challenge will only make us a better team. We’ve worked hard both on the strategy as well as the
physical aspects of the game and are keen to see what the other teams can do. We know our strengths, but we will not miss out on the opportunity to learn an integrate effective styles of play from any opponent.
IAFA: Based on last season records, which of the other EBC 2019 teams do you think will give your team the biggest challenge this season?
GS: It is really difficult to say, both Trinity College and West Meath Minotaurs were exceedingly tough opponents. I’m sure each and every team on the roster whether competing again or just starting up have been busy preparing and improving so it is hard to call who will be team to watch this year.
IAFA: What would make your team have the edge over your other EBC competitors?
GS: Again, it would be tough to decide as we haven’t yet seen what the other teams have to offer. But I believe we have a versatile squad of talented players able to play on multiple positions both sides of the ball.
IAFA: Who are your players to watch?
GS: We have made some changes to the line-up since last year with our QB stepping away from the game, Andy Lynch will be filling that position so we’re looking forward to seeing how he holds up. Matthew Clarke and Darragh Hogan have proven themselves as capable receivers on the kitted team so you should keep an eye out for them as well.
IAFA: The International Federation of American Football, governing body for everything American football internationally, are increasing their focus on making flag football a bigger part of growing American Football on all continents, and therefore IFAF are spending more time and effort in international events and possibly creating a “champions league” of flag football. Would this be something your club would look forward to if you were to be champions this season?
GS: Absolutely. Not sure what more to say other than that we would be thrilled to take part in a higher level competition.
IAFA: With the increased emphasis on having more women involved in playing or managing sport, what are you doing to recruit more female members into your club?
GS: Friends and family of the club for the moment. But we do have plans to reach out to clubs and schools to focus our recruitment drives towards female players.
IAFA: With the newly revamped National programme kicking off for Flag Football this year, will your focus be a little different than just winning the season this time?
GS: We are focusing on growing the team and establishing a stronger core of fundamentals.
IAFA: For any potential volunteers considering joining an American football team, what roles would you have available?
GS: We have few roles that we would like to fill such as director of social media and recruitment officer.
IAFA: What advice will you give your team before their first game?
GS: Discipline on both sides of the ball. Follow your assignment. Win or lose as a team.