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From the NFLE:

National Players get chance in Frankfurt

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- November 17, 2003 NFL Europe

Tony Allen casts his eye over the national player prospects in Frankfurt. photo: NFL Europe

Last week NFL Europe Director of Game Development Tony Allen cast his eye over roughly 100 prospects who form a part of NFL Europe's national player programme. With players gathering in Frankfurt from around Europe, and as far afield as Russia and Turkey, Coach Allen was given the opportunity to evaluate the cream of each country's crop.

Tony Allen said of the camp, "This was the most productive national player mini camp we have ever held in Europe. We got a look at more players than ever before and worked with veteran athletes who will be good national players in 2004 and younger prospects who will shine in our league in the years to come.

"The level of coaching the players received will make them all better and it was good for the six head coaches of our teams to be on hand in Frankfurt. The athletes got the very best level of coaching, while the coaches got an early look at the guys who will form their national player contingent in the coming season."

In addition to players being considered for the impending NFL Europe League season, a younger group of future hopefuls traveled to Frankfurt intent on impressing the coaches. These players will form the basis of a group who will take the national player programme to the next level and may provide NFL rosters with European talent. This posse of young European stars grabbed the attention of Allen,

"The players were exposed to the rigours of a professional football camp and will be more aware of what is required to perform at the highest level. This was a very good week and the future of the national player programme is very exciting."

Coach Allen was joined at the end of the week by all six NFL Europe head coaches, including recently appointed Cologne boss Peter Vaas, and his replacement in Berlin, Rick Lantz.

Several of the players on show had previous experience in the league, with veterans like Scott Couper, Werner Hippler and Robert Flickinger impressing with their experience and ability to teach the younger players.

Amsterdam Admirals head coach Bart Andrus said, "The National Player programme gets better every year. The players that I have seen in Frankfurt are bigger and faster than those from 2002"

"The national players that I have had in Amsterdam have been extremely coachable, and they have shown a vast improvement from the beginning of training camp onwards."

"Looking at this year's group, I would say that the future of the national player programme is very bright".

Jack Bicknell, who recently joined the Scottish Claymores as head coach from Barcelona, added, "We have some great players here. The challenge that I see is to develop the next generation of young European athletes to take on the mantle of Scott Couper and Rob Flickinger; and perhaps to take it the next step and get onto an NFL roster"

"The facilities and the time that we get to spend with the players increases each year. They all seem extremely coachable and therefore develop quickly".

"When I first arrived in this league 13 years ago there were no weight-training facilities in Spain, and so this had to make up a large part of getting the players ready to play. Now they turn up and their conditioning is at a good level already".

Tony Allen will now team up with the other coaches at the mini-camp in Frankfurt and determine which players impressed enough to be assigned to NFL Europe teams for the 2004 season. These successful athletes will then face a grueling training camp before the final pre-season cuts ensure them of safety and the fulfillment of their dreams: a place on an NFL Europe roster.