The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
AMERICANFOOTBALL:ABERDEENSILVERCATSUPTOSCRATCHFORFIRSTTASTEOFLEAGUEACTION
Aberdeen’s premier flag football club, the Aberdeen Oilcats, has unveiled the identity of its development squad which will be in league action for the first time this weekend.
The squad, known as the Aberdeen Silvercats, will compete in the British American Football Association (Bafa) Division 1, with the Oilcats fighting for the Premier Division title.
Michael Scott, head coach of the Aberdeen Oilcats, said: “Over the last 15 years our club has gone from strength to strength, regularly finishing in the top five in the UK, however the sport’s growing popularity has meant an influx of new teams to the league and players into the ranks of existing set-ups like ours.
“This led to the creation of a tiered league system and we felt this was the ideal opportunity to enter a second squad. The Silvercats will train alongside the Oilcats and players from the Division 1 team can be called up to the Premiership side if required.”
Flag football is a non-contact derivative of American football where tackles are made by ripping flags from a belt worn round the players’ waists, rather than with full contact, meaning it is generally a safer and more accessible version of the sport.
The Aberdeen Oilcats kick off their Premiership campaign on Sunday against the Inverclyde Comets and Edinburgh Outlaws in Greenock, while the Silvercats make their Division 1 debut on Saturday in Dunfermline with games against Midlothian Sabres and Paisley Spartans.
Scott added: “Both squads will have tough games to start their seasons but we are confident that our busy off-season training will stand both teams in good stead. In addition to the league games, our players are training for our first international tournament in the Netherlands later in the month where they will take on some of the best teams and players from across Europe.