The National Football League’s Jacksonville Jaguars are returning to London this summer to give British amateur American football talent the chance to be coached by NFL professionals at the Jaguars Academy held at Brunel University in Uxbridge from July 13-15.
Jaguars’ coaching staff and former star players will be flying to the U.K. to run a three-day residential training camp which will give amateur players a genuine feel of practicing at the highest level. The academy is part of the Jaguars’ continued year-round commitment to growing participation and improving the game of American football in the U.K.
The Jaguars Playing Academy will offer world-class coaching to the participants, providing coaching and guidance to all positions on the field, both offensive and defensive. Places are limited and the cost to attend is £250, which includes full kit, laundry, residency at Brunel and on-site food and beverages.
The goal of the Playing Academy is to improve the standard of the game in Britain by offering a level of coaching not available outside the NFL. At last year’s Playing Academy, 160 British and European players from 10 different countries including Denmark, Italy and Russia participated in the experience. Coaching was provided at the inaugural Academy by NFL Hall of Fame finalist and former Jaguars left tackle Tony Boselli, three-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Marcus Stroud and current running back Denard Robinson.
Denard Robinson at last year’s Jaguars Academy
“We’re excited to be returning to the U.K. for another year of the Jaguars Academy,” said Jaguars Head Coach Doug Marrone. “We couldn’t have been happier with the response from last summer’s inaugural event and in 2017, the academy will be even better. We have seen first-hand the growth of our sport in the U.K. and we want to put on the best event possible to help prospective players and coaches continue to learn about the NFL and the game of American football. We are excited about our Week 3 matchup with Baltimore at Wembley Stadium, but we are also pleased about the growth of our fan base in London and the increased knowledge of the NFL fans abroad.”
The Jaguars Academy will be suited to players with at least a year of playing experience and who are ready to push themselves in front of the Jaguars staff and show what British talent is all about. Training will take place during the day, while the evenings will be dedicated to film review with the coaches, as every training session will be taped.
Participant Lucie Stewart said:
“It was absolutely amazing to have actual NFL coaches and former players taking you for training. It was honestly a dream come true.
Lucie Stewart and NFL star Efe Obada
“You really do have to take everything they say on board and they were so approachable if you had any questions even during breaks in the session. The whole event was fantastic and it is great that the Jags come and give that bit of extra attention to the UK.”
To sign up to this amazing opportunity, please head to www.jagscampandacademy.com and fully complete the registration.
Along with the Playing Academy there will also be a UK-based one-day coaching clinic for amateur coaches at Brunel University on July 16. The day will be tailored to U.K. and Europe-based American football coaches looking to expand their knowledge and experience from first-hand NFL-level coaching with the ultimate goal of allowing coaches to return to their respective teams and improve team performance and individual player development. This Jaguars Coaching Academy is for any coach looking to further their experience and it will cost £50 per attendee.
The Jaguars Playing Academy and Jaguars Coaching Academy are both part of a broader strategy to improve and grow the game of American football in the U.K. To show their commitment, the Jaguars are also putting on a national flag American Football tournament, the Jaguars Se7ens Cup, and a schools programme, JagTag. With these programmes, the Jaguars are aiming to improve the quality and playing knowledge of American Football at the grassroots level.
About the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida. They are members of the South Division of the American Football Conference (AFC) in the National Football League (NFL). The Jaguars joined the NFL as an expansion team in 1995 and are owned by Shahid Khan, who is also owner of Fulham Football Club.
The club plays their home games at EverBank Field, located near the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. The team headquarters is also located in the stadium. Since their inception in 1995 the Jaguars have won two division championships and have made six playoff appearances.
The Jaguars have agreed to play one home game each year at Wembley Stadium in London, UK until 2020. They first played in 2013 against San Francisco 49ers, followed in 2014 by the Dallas Cowboys. The Jaguars beat the Buffalo Bills 34-31 at Wembley in 2015 and followed that with a 30-27 win over the Indianapolis Colts in 2016. The Jaguars are due to play the Baltimore Ravens for their fifth home game at Wembley in 2017.
Learn more at www.jaguars.com/uk