(S43) PT #2 - Putting the I in International

[Repgnar]

PT Pass

[Reedy0rNot]

To be very honest, I was shocked when I got the call. The butchers got really lucky. I just happen to have my cell phone on me during this off-season training. The CC let me know that several countries in Southeast Asia were asking for my help with a football workshop. The older I get the more rest I need so I decided to pick three locations to make the most out of my three week trip. Week one and first stop on my trip was Bangkok Thailand. week two was in Seoul South Korea week three and arguably my favorite stop on the trip. Was Tokyo Japan. I formatted all three weeks to function very similar the workshop, focused, mainly on defense, which given the fact that I am the three time defensive player of the year, these young players are in good hands. The first two days of the five day camp focused on foot work. The next two days, focused on hands and getting off blocks in the last day of the week was for different techniques. I definitely enjoyed my time. I would love to go back next off-season to see if the kids improved.

(WC-199)

[caravaggio]

Walrus Jones was sent to a land of ice, specifically a country called Iceland. After arrival he met with the Icelandic Society for American Football, better known as the ISAF. The main purpose of the trip was to discuss possible growth and education opportunities. The American football participation rate is almost non-existent in the country, and this poses a big challenge. Games from America have been available for broadcast for about 20 years, but it is still seen as the antithesis of soccer, with their significant differences in pace and timing.

So first order of business was to promote more American football games on television services. Availability promotes more interest, which causes demand, which hopefully spirals into a significant fanbase. To grow the sport takes time, and this can be kickstarted with exhibition games. The society was very interested, and asked me to push for some exhibition scheduling next season. I have met with the commissioner and there may be a push in the next few seasons for a host spot somewhere in Iceland, we’ll have to see how that goes.

[oilmandan]

Stetson David volunteered to be part of the Honolulu Hahalua outreach team this past offseason and help with a workshop back where he was from.. in Canada. He actually ended up in his home province of Alberta as his exploits in the DSFL had created a large following for the Hahalua. Even though Canada has its own pro football league and its own differing rules from American football, the fans and participants enjoyed the American version a great deal. Stetson showed his receiving chops one afternoon in a pickup game and dominated like no other. He also spent an afternoon signing autographs and taking pictures with all the kids. Part of the program also included him bringing Honolulu jerseys and giving out around 250 of them to expand the Hahalua brand. Even though there is an ISFL team in Yellowknife, Stetson is sure his good works went a long way to claiming Canada as Hahalua country

[jj2416]

https://simulationhockey.com/showthread....405388-shl affilate

[jollyjiggs]

Legs McMillion speaks the universal language of kickass, so he had no issue with language barriers when the team set up a workshop in Japan. While he is used to being a spectacle of sorts, Legs was pleased that most people kept their questions football related. A major thing for Legs is making sure fields have good turf. He showed examples of good turf and bad turf, as well as why it makes a difference.

Legs McMillion's main focus, however, was promoting the sport in general. He ran numerous drills and tried his best to get the kids involved. He had an open challenge for anyone that thought they could beat him in a race or score a touchdown on him.  Lastly, he showed off his little known talent of also being able to kick field goals.

The trip seemed to be successful, and hopefully Legs McMillion's time in Japan ends up being worth it.

[captainsb]

As the ambassador of the ISFL, Joey Battle along with 3 other rookies joined the global outreach program to bring awareness to the sport of simulated football. Dallas along with other DSFL teams sent Joey and the group to Brazil. Brazil was chosen for a few reasons - has a sports loving population where soccer reigns supreme; they have infrustructure that could be easily double up as a football field by eliminating the goal posts for field goals and extra points; and the most interesting thing is they have the third largest number of prisions at 835k. 

This group was stationed to visit some of the federal prisons where inmates can learn and play football. It would be a way to make their prision sentence feel special and with athletes like Joey Battle who were former prisioners re-acclimiated to society through sports, Brazil with the help of the US government, United Nations and the ISFL Head Office has agreed to hold 6 workshops in the initial year.

[TheRake]

Rico Savage jumped at the opportunity to visit the home country of his bisabuela (great grandma), so when the International Sim Football League Football Workshop was announced in Mexico City, Rico urgently put his name forward as the Chicago Butcher’s representative. The American Football Delegation from Mexico sent an incredible care package to Rico’s residence that included a variety of molès, cured Mexican meats, and a sampler of tequilas and mezcals. After being officially selected, Rico began putting together a training program that included catching footballs from a JUGS machine, practicing quick feet with an agility ladder, pushing sleds full of blocking dummies, and throwing passes into nets spread across the field. The last drill of the workshop would be the most important one: how to properly tackle. In this day and age where brain health is becoming a hot topic, teaching would be football players the proper way to tackle was vitally important to Rico and was emphasized heavily in the workshop. All in all, it was an experience he would never forget.

[Duilio05]

Alex spent the offseason helping a football league with marketing campains. The Sabercats sent Alex to Germany to act in a campaign with a lot of local players to help the german football league grow their popularity. Alex really enjoyed his time there. part of the campaign included doing to some work out drills with local players. the campaign got shots of Alex going one on one with a few of the German star defensive ends. Another part of the campaign had Alex shopping trying to decide which german team's jersey he would purchase. the scene finished with Alex buying a jersey of every team and then giving them away to local kids. In compesation for Alex's time and for helping promote the sabercats in europe, alex will get to return during Oktoberfest. This will also probably be filmed and used in the marketing campaign as well. Even when having fun, Alex will be used to prmotoe football in Germany.

[RussDrivesTheBus]

In a bit of a stereotypical move, the country that has been the fondest of Russet Buster is none other than Ireland. When word made it across the pond that a sentient potato was playing professional (American) football, naturally, the Irish were quite intrigued. Some started wearing the Green and Gold around town and to the pubs and spreading the good word of the Sabercats and Buster. Now, the game of American Football hasn't quite grown in popularity in Ireland yet, but a smaller league called the NFL has hosted games in Europe before, so it's not a completely foreign concept. Management of the Irish National Football Association reached out to the Sabercats ownership to set up a summer camp for the youth that had interest in the game. Members of The Boys in Green came to the camp and hammed it up with the Sabercats; swapping jerseys and running some drills. Russet even tried some soccer drills, to hilarious results.