Croatia Takes Steps Toward Forming National Team at Growth Of A Game Skills Camp

| American Football | 08/18/2016

This article is provided in partnership with The Growth of a Game

Link: https://www.growthofagame.com/2016/08/2016-split-skills-camp-recap/

From August 5th-7th, The Growth of a Game, in partnership with the Croatian American Football Association, hosted a 2 day skills camp as well as the first-ever Croatian National Assembly. The aim of the National Assembly was to take steps towards putting together a Croatian National American football team. The 1st annual camp was a fantastic success and brought in talented players from across the region.

Players from 6 of Croatia’s 7 teams were in attendance and the participants came from 6 different countries. The sport of American football is still in its early stages in Croatia, however the passion for the sport was evident with a high turnout for the first camp of its kind in the country. Attendance surpassed all projections and a strong foundation was set for next year’s camp.

In addition to hosting the skills camp, The Growth of a Game also organized a coaches’ clinic to teach and mentor Croatian coaches who are at the forefront of the growth of the sport in their country.

The Growth of a Game gave away JAMBO field equipment to the 3 teams with the most participants at the camp, which included the Dubrovnik Sharks (15 players), the Zaprešić Saints (14 players), and the Zagreb Patriots (8 players). A total of 6 step-over bags, 4 hand shields, and 2 tackle dummies were awarded to the teams. JAMBO field equipment was also used at the camp, as the up-and-coming company is The Growth of a Game’s preferred training tool for its 2016 skills camps.

AFI - Growth of a game - Croatia skills camp

The Growth of a Game skills camps are all coached by many of the best coaches in Europe, and the Split Camp was no exception. Daniel Levy (Head Coach for the Warsaw Eagles), Tyler Harlow (Head Coach for the Cineplexx Blue Devils), Eoin O’Sullivan (Offensive Line Coach for the Warsaw Eagles), Matt Dias (Defensive Coordinator for the Warsaw Eagles), Lex Braga(Defensive Backs Coach for the Warsaw Eagles), and Clayton Lovett (Defensive Coordinator for the Brazilian National team) led the camp. These coaches gave it their all and ensured that everyone at the camp made strides in their game.

The Growth of a Game Split Skills Camp would not have been possible without the exceptional work Mario Penic, vice president of the Croatian American Football Association.Mario is a true advocate for the development of American football in Croatia.

The Croatian Association itself was also a fantastic partner, and The Growth of a Game team is extremely grateful for its contributions.

The camp was also made possible by the contributions of various partners, including the Tourist Board of Dugopolje, the Tourist Bureau of Solin, Gear4Teams, Battle Sports Science, Cramer Sports Medicine, JAMBO, Bepo Split Apartments, and Hostel Jadro.

The Growth of a Game Split Skills Camp will return to the region again in 2017.

To view more photos of the camp, please click here.

John McKeon is a former professional and collegiate American Football player and coach now living and working in New York. His goal is to spread news, information, and opinion on the global growth of the sport he loves.