Search for
Search for
Search forAdmirals looking to recruit women
Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 07:00
Club officials were forced to call off their last two matches of the season after player numbers fell to a dangerously low level.
Now Admirals have made it clear that they would welcome female players to their training sessions.
Secretary Paula Dodds said there was nothing in British American Football League regulations to prevent women playing in senior matches.
Dodds, herself a standout tight end with Admirals' former youth team, the Commodores, said the team had already received one inquiry from a teenager who was interested in playing.
Club secretary Dodds, who had to quit the game after suffering knee injuries, said they were inviting the teenager, from the Plymouth area, to one of their youth-team camps in the off season.
Dodds said: "All that women players have to do is to come along, get the kit on, and play.
"Some sort of extra chest protection is advisable – I speak from experience – but otherwise there's no difference.
"When I played, I was told by the then Admirals coach that as long as I could do everything that the men could, he would pick me.
"I'm sure that would be the case now."
Dodds added: "There is absolutely nothing in the league rules which prevents women from playing in the senior league – one of the teams up the line did in fact have a woman player.
"There must be some women rugby players out there who fancy keeping fit in the off-season.
"The girl we, hopefully, have coming to our training camp goes on to her friends about American Football all the time – maybe she'll bring them, too."
Admirals pulled out of South West Two after the number of active players at the club dropped to 15.
Officials said they couldn't risk the safety of their remaining players by asking them to play in unfamiliar positions.
Numbers had drastically fallen because of injuries and unavailability.
Admirals are also losing their long-serving head coach Steve Perry, who is moving to America.
But Dodds insisted: "There is no way we are going to let this club fold – we will be ready for next season."
Anyone, particularly females, who are interested in American Football should contact the club via plymouthadmirals@hotmail.co.uk or 07780 717752.
Comment on this story