ASCHAFFENBURG/BERLIN (mg). American football is currently exploding in Germany and throughout Europe. In November, the National Football League (NFL), the American professional league, will play two games in Frankfurt after stopping off in Munich last year – and with great success. But not only fans and spectators are fascinated by the sport. More and more want to play football themselves. Just like Tim Schulz from Aschaffenburg. The 24-year-old has had an excellent start to his fledgling football career so far…
“Everyone has to fight for the other. If one doesn’t do their job, then the move doesn’t work. Of course that creates a bond – I love this team spirit!” Tim Schulz grew up with American football: His father Hansi had his best time as a running back in the jersey of the Aschaffenburg Stallions at the end of the 1990s. His name is in the club’s Hall of Fame and the junior is now following in his footsteps. The running back position is one of the most physically demanding on the field: you get the egg from the quarterback, the playmaker, so to speak, and then you have to keep gaining as much space as possible. The players often have to go exactly where it hurts the most. At 18 Tim started in the youth of the Stallions, after two years of men’s football at home and a short stopover at the Darmstadt Diamonds, his studies moved him to Dresden, where he played with the Monarchs in the German Football League (GFL), the first German league, could prove his skills. In his first year in the German Oberhaus, he fought his way into the team and experienced his greatest success to date: winning the German championship. In Florence on the Elbe he also met his best friend Robin Wilzeck. Born in Brandenburg, he is on the field as a wide receiver, so he is responsible for catching the quarterback’s balls. Together, the two then moved on to the Berlin Thunder in the European League of Football (ELF) – the premier class in European football.
School trip through Europe
The ELF has only existed since 2021, but hasn’t stopped growing since then: “There are more and more viewers. We get more attention, more games that are televised. That makes the sport more professional and the level rises because more people are playing.” The GFL is only playing second fiddle – and probably not without reason: “Many players were not satisfied with the GFL for a long time and the ELF offers a bigger one Stage and more opportunities.” 17 teams from all over Europe play in the league. The two previous champions came from Frankfurt and Vienna. “It’s just really fun. You can imagine it like a class trip. Everything is organised, you’re just having a good time with your boys.” The team consists of a wide variety of people from different countries. “We train together every day, of course that creates a bond.”
Champion guest
In his second season, Tim has been promoted to starter, so he gets more plays and balls. “As a running back, you rotate a lot because it’s very physically demanding. If you had two tough runs, the next one comes in.” In order to be able to last a whole season, the preparation in American football is particularly intensive: “I sometimes had nine to ten units a week.” The last month in particular is really hard work again . “You train during the week and have a training camp all weekend.” During the season it’s a little more relaxed: “The coaches make sure that you don’t break yourself in training.” He often stands opposite him in training another with roots in the Lower Main: Marius Markert from Großwallstadt plays as a linebacker in the defense of the Thunder. It’s going to be hot again this weekend for both of them: The reigning champion from Vienna, the Vienna Vikings, are guests. “They were the best team in Europe last year. Of course, our goal is still to beat them and have a good start to the season.” They laid the foundation for this last week. In the 36:3 win against the Fehérvár Enthroners, the defensive was the decisive factor for a dominant performance. If the offensive around Tim Schulz gets rolling, there could also be something against the Vikings…
2023-06-11 04:04:22
#bulldozer #Aschaffenburg
