Flag football is probably not yet well known to most people in the St. Wendel region. But that should change today, because in our series “Clubs in the St. Wendeler Land” we present you the Celtic Bulls, the flag football club from Otzenhausen.
Since the beginning of the year, Celtic Bulls have been building their team and bringing the sport to the borough with enthusiasm and passion. After the first attempt to start the team in 2020 was suspended due to Corona, the team now has 22 players and hopes to inspire even more men and women to their sport.
Flag Football: What is it?
The object of the game is to score a touchdown within playing time (2×15 minutes) and thus collect points for your team. Unlike American football, which we now also know from television, flag football is less physical and therefore less dangerous. It is a contactless variation of American football. So-called “tackles”, i.e. bringing the ball carrier to the ground, are not permitted. Instead, each player receives a belt from which hang two flags, which must be torn off to stop the opponent and thus end a round.
The fringe sport therefore has a much lower risk of injury and is perfect for beginners of all ages. “Our players are between 16 and almost 50 years old,” says Thorsten Dewes, who coaches the team and is active as a player. A special feature of flag football is that women and men can play together in a team. “I have never played sports in this direction before and I feel totally comfortable here and it’s just fun,” Viktoria enthuses. She is so far the only woman on the team, but she hopes even more women get excited about the sport.
Dewes points out that you don’t need to have any previous knowledge or physical skills with the Celtic Bulls. You just have to be motivated and interested in trying something new. “We also have ex-footballers in the squad, but some of our players have never seen a football match before, let alone played it, and are thrilled now.” The training is individual. Attack (attack) and defense (defense) are trained separately in the first part of the training to focus on the specific requirements. Dewes explains that flag football not only challenges the body but also the mind. You have to keep in mind the rehearsed moves, keep an eye on the ball and anticipate how the opponent will move.
“Wednesday is always reserved”
Training takes place on Wednesdays from 18:30 to 20:30 on the sports ground in Otzenhausen. Afterwards, the Celtic Bulls like to get together and end the night together. Celtic Bulls, as you can see in conversation, are passionate about their sport and have a good community. “We have good team dynamics and we grew up in a family,” enthuses Dewes, noting that newcomers are always welcome in training.
They are currently competing in friendly matches and taking part in tournaments in the region. On February 26, they will play in the “Saar Bowl II”, an indoor tournament in Illingen. In the future, however, they would like to start playing regularly and build a youth team as well as a second team.
As well as new players, the Celtic Bulls are also looking for a manager who can support them from the sidelines.
You can find more information about the Celtic Bulls and a taster session at Instagram come on Facebook
