Gridiron taking hold in Far North
GRIDIRON’S “monumental growth” in Far North Queensland will be nurtured with an informal combine being held this weekend in Cairns.
Gridiron Queensland will run a number of basic drills as part of its session on Sunday morning at Ivanhoes Football Club, with around 60 participants expected to join in.
State president Ben Sinapati said it was a landmark moment in the sport’s history.
“It’s the first event of its kind to be held in regional Queensland,” Sinapati said.
“There’s a real focus on improving the level of gridiron in Far North Queensland along with its profile.
“It gives people another option of what to play and we want to get behind the regions and find ways to grow the game.”
Cairns Gridiron Association’s David Tibbetts said the event aimed to introduce people to the game in a fun and inclusive environment.
“This is less of a combine and more of a skills and drills Cairns Gridiron’s David Tibbetts is excited about the potential of his women’s team with several newcomers showing a natural flair for the game. Tibbetts is hoping to organise games against the Griffith University Thunder this year. “Four women train with the men earlier this season and showed real potential,” he said. “I was really impressed with their talent and their ability to camp,” Tibbetts said. “It’s an unbelievable moment for gridiron in Cairns. We’re seeing a growing interest in the sport.
“I think we can expect about 15 youths to show up.
“I hope we see another five or 10 new women and I have a feeling we’ll get a lot of men show up.”
A former college quarterback and high school gridiron coach in the United States, Tibbetts said learning the American game was hard for newcomers to the sport. learn quickly. “Since then our numbers have grown and I’m so happy, proud and impressed with their growth. “I can’t begin to explain to you how amazed I am with how quickly they’re learning aspects of the game.” One of the standouts for the women’s team has been Mel Kelly (pictured) who represented Australia at the
“It’s such a cerebral sport and you have to integrate that with the physical side of the game, which takes time,” he said.
“There’s a lot of mental memory and physical muscle memory involved in the process.”
Participation rates skyrocketed last season, with men’s numbers doubling at training, Tibbetts said.
A women’s team has started training, with 13 women regularly attending and a junior International Federation of American Football Women’s World Championships in Canada last June. team may soon be on the horizon.
“There’s a lot of natural interest in the region,” Tibbetts said.
“Some of that is probably because of the growth and exposure of the sport and maybe also has a little bit to do with (Australian and former San Francisco 49er) Jarryd Hayne trying to play.”
Tibbetts has previously coached and played in a semiprofessional league in Guam.
Currently studying for a PhD at James Cook University, the academic said teaching the game had become a passion.
“It’s part of my identity,” Tibbetts said. “I really love this game. “I’m proud of what football gave me.
“Football was my family. My coach was my father (figure).
“I enjoy teaching now. I find that I learn and I grow from those experiences too.
Cairns Gridiron Association hopes to develop pathways that will eventually lead to Far North Queenslanders playing and studying at US colleges.
“There is some serious physical talent here,” Tibbetts said.
“There are also potential pathways that we’re starting to develop.
“I’m working to create linkages between us and some US universities.
“My hope is that something like that can happen in the future.”
The combine starts at 9am.
As a guide, 70cm and above is regarded as excellent in the vertical jump, 51 reps is the record for the bench press and the quickest time for the 40yard dash is 4.2 seconds.
What is the best way to train for this?
A good place to start is in the gym.
To become faster and more powerful you first need to increase your strength. Get into the weight room, learn to squat, deadlift and bench heavy (or at least heavier).
Improving the amount of weight you squat will generally lead to an improvement in your vertical jump.
Gains in lower-body strength should assist with an improvement in acceleration for the sprint and shuttle runs.
A quick guide: If your goal is to build maximum strength, each session should consist of no more than six exercises.
Your big compound exercises (squats, deadlifts, bench press) are your priority. Your main lifts could be done for one to five reps and four to six sets. One or two exercises at this intensity should have you fatiguing quickly.
This is a quick list of training ideas to assist you but if you really want to see results, find yourself a good coach and reach for some big goals.