Our writer checks out a leading Brussels American football team.
Many Europeans regard American football as being nothing but rugby with padding, and therefore a bit wimpy. In reality, football is one of the toughest sports in the world, in which large, strong men smash against each other while trying to move the ball down the field to score. To be tackled in this game is akin to being hit by a car. – this writer wouldn’t consider stepping on the field in anything less than an armoured personnel carrier, and even then I’d be worried.
There is a thriving American football scene in Belgium with Brussels being represented by three teams. To find out more, I tracked down the most formidable of these teams, the Brussels Black Angels. Head Coach Mo Jablonka and a couple of players spared some time in a break between practice sessions. According to Dan Casey, of the Pittsburgh Steelers Fan Club of Belgium, who has seen the game played at all levels, the Angels compare to a small US university team and are “very good, very sound, and fun to watch”.
VIOLENT OR NOT?
Mo is a big guy with an easygoing manner – I ask how they got their name. “Originally, we were called the Brussels Angels, named after Saint Michael, but we added the black to make us more aggressive four years ago.” It seems to have worked – their senior team were runners up in the Belgian Bowl this year while the juniors (14-18 years) are current division champions.
Is the game as violent as it seems? Mo considers his response. “It’s quite violent, it’s a contact sport, but there are strict rules and the first thing everyone has to do is to learn to obey the rules.” It does appear vicious, but looks can be a little deceptive – the aggression is very tightly focused and the game is as strategic as chess, with every player trying to concentrate on their part in the overall strategy every time the ball is played. But just how dangerous a game is it?
TEAM TALK
Each burst of action in the game lasts but a few seconds and players must have extraordinary concentration levels and reflexes to perform. The key is discipline and playing as a team – hotheads don’t last long.
When I enquire what it is actually like to play, the players are wide eyed: “It’s fun!” exclaims Bart Meys, part of the offense. Defensive lineman Johnny van Wezel is even more exuberant: “It’s ecstasy! I get a real kick from analyzing what the other team are doing and completely wrecking their plans, all in one second. There’s no room for error.” I’m convinced – I’ve lived in houses that were smaller than Johnny.
BIG AND SMALL
So, what’s special about the Black Angels then? Bart points towards the coaching staff, highlighting that, while there aren’t that many really good coaches in Belgium, the Black Angels have a full complement of experience staff.
Bart was drawn to American football because he felt there weren’t any good team sports for big guys, and he was hooked as soon as he started playing. However, he insists the game isn’t just for the larger chaps, as different physiques are suited for different positions: “It doesn’t matter how big or small you are, there’s a place for anyone who listens to the coaches and works hard.”
The Angels are always looking for new players, and Johnny explains that they look after them, making sure that they are properly trained and play ‘flag’ football, a version without the heavy tackling, before graduating to the full game.
This is an egalitarian sport where ability and discipline count above everything else. Coach Mo is proud that they have 17 different nationalities in their squad.
If you want to have a go at the game, why not attend one of the Black Angels twice weekly training sessions? For newcomers, the padding is provided free of charge while you decide if you want to carry on or not. After that, they’ll hire you the kit and provide insurance for between 125€ and 175€ per season.
www.brusselsangels.com
First published in Together Magazine
