One day away from the BAFA Women’s Flag Development and for
those involved the preparation has been thorough and exact. Those words can
also carry true to the play and mind set of a player/coach that has been a
constant fixture amongst the Women’s flag set up, and beyond.
Today we thank Jade
Archibald of the Northants Titans, a
Coach, QB, CB, Centre for answering a few questions for us.
1. What was your first game experience like?
Wow, what a
rush! I remember it vividly. At the time I was playing in a mixed team,
and only 1 of 2 women, amongst a tribe of men.
It was absolutely awesome.
Stepping onto the field, to start warm up, I was immensely nervous, so
many self-doubting thoughts went through my head ‘what if I missed a tackle,
what if I let the team down….’ I managed
to pull myself together and as soon as the whistle went I settled into the
Middle Linebacker role!
I can only describe
it as the most invigorating 40 minutes of my life, and from that moment, I knew
I was absolutely hooked! I managed to
hold my own, despite being outsized, I wanted more! And couldn't wait for our next game day!
2. From that experience, what advice would you give to those
wanting to take up the game?
If you don’t try, you
will never know! I was really unfit, I
had never played a hand ball sport, (wow that’s a mouth full) I was into
hockey, swimming and cross country running.
My first ever session with the Northants Titans was terrifying....but
the Coaches were patient, and soon I started to get it. My fitness improved, and my sense of
belonging was overwhelming. I had
joined a team that really cared, that wanted to have fun, and I felt like I was
a part of something bigger than myself.
This is a very far
reaching feeling, as the culture of American Football, is such a family feel,
everyone is so passionate about growing the sport, about building something
that is truly sustainable for the future.
I am immensely proud to be a part of the footballing community! We are making things happen, and we building
a legacy for future athletes!
3. Describe your current role within the Women's game setup?
Well, I am a little
bit of a sucker for variety and I LOVE me some structure and organisation, so
here goes: I am a player first and foremost.
I play QB mainly, as well as Cornerback.
Recently I have been working on my Centre skills. I, along with a few other Coaches, started
the Northants Titans Women's Team, which I now Coach and Lead the team. I also have a BAFA Role, which supports the
setup and organisation of the Opal Series. I am obsessed about growing ladies
flag in the UK, so tend to get involved with BAFA behind the scenes to bring
things together.
Later this summer the
Northants Titans will be hosting the first Summer Series Tournament, as a
further opportunity for ladies across the UK to play competitively (in the not
so freezing months.
4. How far do you think the Women's game can go in the UK?
Without a shadow of a
doubt ALL THE WAY, from being part of our schools curriculum's, to running a
Women’s league, equal to or greater than the mixed league at the moment. More players, more games, more fun! I have been a part of the sport for 3 short
years, and in that time the number of players has almost doubled, new teams are
developing every year, across both the flag format and contact. It's a great time to be a part of women's
football in the UK.
The foundations have
been set incredibly well, by our very own Coach Jim Messenger and Coach Andrew
Gambrill. The momentum of the sport is
about to reach tipping point, and we just need to be ready to embrace
developing teams, support them to learn the sport, and provide a competitive
route for all players.
Last year we saw the
first ever GB Kitted and GB Flag Teams being selected, this was a significant
moment in the sports history, and signifies to those getting involved at the
grass-roots, that the sky is the limit, if you have the drive and motivation to
get there!
Base on the current
growth in Women's Football, I believe we will see continued growth over the
next few years, which will change the way we play today, with further focus at
the grass-roots level, to ensure that we have a healthy pipeline of competitive
players coming through.
5. What would you change to spread the word about the
Women's game?
There is nothing in
particular I would change, but there are a few observations that I have made in
the last few years. For me, as a predominantly flag player, the time of year
the Flag Women’s League is played is in the coldest of winter…. Now this makes
you one hell of a tough player! If you
can play in gale force winds, sleet and very heavy rain, you are ‘BAD ASS’,
that said, for Rookie or Developing teams, this can add extra complexity. A simple change to when the Ladies Season is
held, may be the answer. This will also allow women who play other spots,
soccer or rugby to enter into the Footballing world, as these skills are very
transferable across spots, as most other spots are played during winter
months. This may give the sport an extra
boost!
I also believe that
every team, every Coach has a duty and a responsibility to support further
growth, either through their local sports teams, universities or
communities. It’s up to us, to support
Rookie teams, to show them the ropes, and to set them up for success. The BAFA organised Development Days, are a
great way of introducing new players in a safe and structured environment. BUT we CAN DO MORE.
6. Who personally, has been the biggest influence on your
game?
This is a really
really tough one! There are so many people, that have shaped the player and
Coach I am today, my crazy husband Dan, for inviting me to my first ever
session, without him, I would never have even thought to get involved. Coach Gambrill for inviting me to take part
in my first ever ladies tournament, at which time I was even more hooked! Which subsequently lead to The Titans
starting to explore the concept of our very own Women’s Team. That said, the most overwhelming thing about
Women's Flag Football is the players, the sense of community, the friendships
and FUN! It keeps me coming back week
in, week out.
7. How would you encourage someone who was unsure if this is
the sport for them?
From my experience of
coaching rookie players, who have never picked up a football in their life, or
seen a game, it’s all about baby steps.
I have a few ladies in this very position at the moment, and it’s all
about positivity and confidence! I
firmly believe that anyone could be great at playing football, with the right mind-set,
and the right fundamentals.
I like to work
alongside my players, supporting them every step of the way, breaking things
down and building things back up, so they understand how certain tasks are
executed and their role to play within the team.
For me it’s about
really knowing each player as individual's, understanding how they learn, and
then adapting myself to get the best out of them. People are different, and therefore I know I
need to flex my style to suit their needs.
I am a firm believer
of building trust, a team that trust each other, will excel on the field, I
tend to promote a sense of community and fun, so that we can break down a few
barriers and get to work! It’s a really
safe environment, and reinforcing that is very important to me.
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