Prince William has joined the growing number of people in the UK playing American football. However, rather than taking to the pitch at a Superbowl game, he made his debut in Kennington Park, South London. Playing the role of quarterback, he was credited with an “unbelievable” throwing arm, according to those who played with him.
While there are now 60,000 boys and girls playing the non-contact version of American football in 650 schools across the UK, the version played by Prince William is known as NFL flag. This version of the game features fewer players than the regular game and involves minimal contact. NFL flag is scheduled to make its debut at the Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028.
Prince William told Phoebe Schecter, who captains Britain’s women’s flag football team, that he had played American football when he was younger. She then suggested that he try moving his hips more by “embracing your inner Shakira”, referring to the Colombian singer. While this drew a laugh from everyone around them, Schecter was also impressed by Prince William’s arm strength. She said he “let that first ball rip” and she “couldn’t believe it”.
At the park, Prince William met a converted rugby player, Louis Rees-Zammit, who now plays NFL for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Children from Birmingham, Manchester and London also attended the event. Prince William praised the growing number of women participating in the sport—”It’s so good to see all the women getting more involved in it,” he noted. He also got some sound parenting advice, saying when presented with a football for his children, “Never go home empty-handed. That’s a crucial motto
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