Walking through the rows of parked cars towards the practice field, I saw the sights I’d become used to after nearly a decade in Britball; players labouring to get into their pads, wives and girlfriends sitting in the cars trying to keep the cold out and coaches trying to organise a dozen different things at once. This wasn’t Birmingham though, this was Orlando and the players weren’t Bulls, they were Orlando OutlawsWhen most Brits think of the sport in America, the NFL and College game are what come to mind. A few may follow arena football or the Canadian teams too. As for thinking of the sport in the UK, those outside of the BAFL rarely know of its existence. Anonymity is what far too many of us who play the sport in the UK are used to. The Bulls have been playing for 25 years but remain out of the mainstream spotlight.
In the USA there are hundreds of teams, and therefore thousands of players who toil in the same anonymity. Minor league football has existed for many years to provide players with the opportunity to continue football after their high school or college career has ended. For some, it’s a chance to showcase their talents for scouts from smaller leagues such as the arena leagues or CFL. For the majority though, minor league football is there to let them continue playing the sport they love. In this sense, the players who I met in Orlando aren’t that different from my teammates in Birmingham or the rest of the BAFL. We play for the love of the game.
The Outlaws are a new team, playing in the Florida Football Alliance with the best teams in the state. Thanks to the generosity of team founders Dan Plouff and Luke DesForge, I was able to turn a day of my Christmas holiday to Florida into a transatlantic football meeting. They were keen to meet a Brit who played their game and to establish links with the Bulls.
That’s how I came to be walking through those rows of parked cars, at a Wednesday night practice just after New Year. It was dark and bitterly cold, but the Outlaws had turned out in good numbers and were eager to play. Dan asked his team to take a knee and introduced me, to a loud cheer. They were initially surprised that we played the sport in the UK, but were keen to know more about the Bulls. I left their practice having made friends and generating interest in the sport over here. There’s also the promise of a visit in the future from a few Outlaws who want to sample the BAFL and Birmingham’s nightlife! The FFA is divided into three, 4 team divisions; Northern, Western and Eastern with teams from all across Florida. There’s a Bulls team from Miami, Eagles, Vikings and Gladiators. The FFA season runs from January to May.
For more info on the Outlaws, visit:www.orlandooutlaws.net