The Prince of Wales met young athletes who play American football and who benefit from the support of the NFL Foundation UK. After learning the rules, Prince William played a few rounds of flag football, a sport derived from American football.
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Prince William plays flag football for NFL Foundation UK 3rd anniversary
The National Football League (NFL) is the American football federation, which organizes the main championship of this sport in North America. The NFL also has a foundation and three years ago, this charitable organization opened a branch in the United Kingdom. Through its foundation, the NFL sets foot on another continent for the first time.
Prince William learns about flag football at NFL Foundation UK’s 3rd anniversary (Photo: Kin Cheung/PA Wire/ABACAPRESS.COM)
This Tuesday, October 15, the Prince of Wales wanted to highlight the work of this foundation, on the occasion of its third anniversary. Prince William went to a London stadium and played a few phases of the game with young people who play American football. Prince William is a huge football fan and regularly visits the stadium to support his favorite team Aston Villa, in addition to his visits to the stadium in an official setting. Until this summer, Prince William was the president of the English Football Association.
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The Prince of Wales explores the benefits of American football for young people
After football, Prince William is interested in American football. Football and rugby arrived on the American continent at the end of the 19th century and an intermediate sport between the two emerged. In 1920 the NFL was created, which imposed common rules on “football”, what we call American football in Europe.
The Prince of Wales meets young people supported by the NFL Foundation UK (Photo: Kin Cheung/PA Wire/ABACAPRESS.COM)
Prince William discovered the rules and principle of NFL Flag, also called flag football in French. It is an adaptation of American football which is played faster and without contact. The tackles are replaced by “flags”, or strips of fabric that must be torn from the players’ belts. It is also a sport that can be practiced in mixed teams and is therefore presented as inclusive. This sport will be included in the program of the next Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The NFL Foundation UK fights the inequality and lack of opportunity faced by young people aged 11-20 in disadvantaged communities across the UK. The foundation explains that it “tackles these challenges by providing grants, training and equipment to local community organizations, enabling young people to access activities and support that will help them understand and realize their potential.”
During this visit, Prince William was accompanied by American football star Louis Rees-Zammit. This Welsh athlete plays in the American NFL championship, in the Jacksonville Jaguars club. Phoebe Schecter, captain of the Great Britain women’s flag football team, was also there to present her sport.
Nicolas Fontaine
Editor-in-chief
Nicolas Fontaine has been a designer-editor and author for numerous Belgian and French brands and media. A specialist in royal family news, Nicolas founded the site Histoires royales of which he is the editor-in-chief. nicolas@histoiresroyales.fr
