0:00:05 > 0:00:08LINDSEY: This is Blue Peter, but mini.
0:00:08 > 0:00:12Expect epic adventures, mates, bakes, badges,
0:00:12 > 0:00:15pets, presenters and your post.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.
0:00:20 > 0:00:23Bright, brash and bold.
0:00:23 > 0:00:26American football is a modern sporting spectacle.
0:00:26 > 0:00:30Huge in America, it's thought more than 150 million people
0:00:30 > 0:00:34around the world watched last year's league final, the Super Bowl.
0:00:35 > 0:00:38So I want to find out why so many people love it.
0:00:38 > 0:00:43And who better to tell me, than former pros, Osi and Jason
0:00:43 > 0:00:45from the BBC's NFL Show?
0:00:45 > 0:00:47Touchdown!
0:00:49 > 0:00:52So, guys, talk to me. Why is football so great?
0:00:52 > 0:00:54Why should we all love it?
0:00:54 > 0:00:56It's a beautiful event. I mean, it's for everyone.
0:00:56 > 0:00:59Yeah, and it's a sport anybody can play, whether you're tall,
0:00:59 > 0:01:02short, big, small, you know, skinny, whatever,
0:01:02 > 0:01:04there's a position for you out there on that field.
0:01:04 > 0:01:07NFL is getting big out here, American football is getting
0:01:07 > 0:01:09big out here and we're just continuing to urge people to play.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Feel tiny stood next to you both, but that's not an excuse, right,
0:01:12 > 0:01:13I can still play football?
0:01:13 > 0:01:15- No.- Absolutely, you are good to go.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18That's lucky because top amateur women's team, the
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Leeds Carnegie Chargers are letting me join their ranks for the day.
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Right, team, bring it in, let's take a knee!
0:01:26 > 0:01:30First things first, I think we need to know the rules of the game.
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Take it away, Coach Connor.
0:01:31 > 0:01:34An American football pitch is 100 yards long.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37And the aim of the game is to take the ball to the opposite endzone
0:01:37 > 0:01:39in order to score a touchdown.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41Each team has 11 players on the field,
0:01:41 > 0:01:43known as offence and defence.
0:01:43 > 0:01:45The offence can move down the field by running the ball
0:01:45 > 0:01:47or throwing the ball.
0:01:47 > 0:01:51It's the defence's job to stop the other team moving down the field.
0:01:51 > 0:01:53And they stop them by tackling.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Which I am totally not ready for,
0:01:55 > 0:01:59but there is a gentler version I can play first.
0:01:59 > 0:02:01This is flag football.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03'No tackling here.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06'By simply grabbing a player's flag, you stop them.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08'And for youth teams like Carnegies,
0:02:08 > 0:02:11'it's a great way to first play the sport.'
0:02:12 > 0:02:14It's different to other sports and it's really fun.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16Keeps me healthy.
0:02:16 > 0:02:18It's about teamwork.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21'This is great fun.'
0:02:21 > 0:02:22Boo!
0:02:22 > 0:02:25'But if I'm going to get a real taste of American football,
0:02:25 > 0:02:29'I probably need to play with some guys my own size.
0:02:29 > 0:02:31'Although they are quite a lot bigger than me.'
0:02:33 > 0:02:36- Coach, I've got my kit. I'm ready to go.- Cool.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41- What things are you bringing to the team?- I'm small, nifty...- OK.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43- ..fairly agile...- Fast?
0:02:43 > 0:02:45- Yeah!- Yeah?- I can run quite fast.
0:02:47 > 0:02:50Well, not quite as fast as this guy.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52But carrying the ball while running is tricky.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55So Gaby here shows me how to hold it.
0:02:55 > 0:02:59Cover it, fingers either side of the nose of the ball. Tuck it in.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02Double-cuffing it, make sure your fingers go over again.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- Oh, I see.- So nice and tight.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06- No-one's getting it.- No.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09'The key is not to drop the ball when tackled
0:03:09 > 0:03:12'so my grip needs to be tight.'
0:03:12 > 0:03:14Oh, my goodness, this is so intense!
0:03:14 > 0:03:16LINDSEY LAUGHS
0:03:16 > 0:03:21Ah... I think... I think the laughing made me let go.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24'Next, how to receive the ball from another player.'
0:03:24 > 0:03:27And you want your hands open like a gate.
0:03:27 > 0:03:29It's going to get slammed into your chest.
0:03:29 > 0:03:32- You cover it the same way we've just done...- Yeah.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34..and run forward ready to take the hit.
0:03:34 > 0:03:35And hut!
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Oh, missed it.
0:03:37 > 0:03:38And hut!
0:03:38 > 0:03:40- Oh.- That's good.
0:03:40 > 0:03:41And hut!
0:03:41 > 0:03:44- Yeah.- Whoo.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46'I'm picking up loads, but let's be honest,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48'I'm not wearing all these pads for nothing.
0:03:48 > 0:03:52'American football is full contact and if I'm going to play,
0:03:52 > 0:03:54'I need to learn how to be tackled.'
0:03:56 > 0:04:01- We just want to have a little look at Gaby and see how it's done?- OK.
0:04:01 > 0:04:02And hut!
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Oh!
0:04:06 > 0:04:08OK... Are you sure?
0:04:08 > 0:04:10Yeah, don't worry, you'll be fine.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Let's do this!
0:04:12 > 0:04:15- I'm so scared. This is it, first contact.- Ready?- Let's do it.
0:04:15 > 0:04:16And hut!
0:04:18 > 0:04:20Ugh!
0:04:20 > 0:04:22'Oh, my days.
0:04:22 > 0:04:24'But, hey, I'm still standing.'
0:04:24 > 0:04:26Whoo-ah!
0:04:26 > 0:04:28Whoa!
0:04:28 > 0:04:32Oh, my goodness. It's like the most aggressive hug ever.
0:04:32 > 0:04:34And it's really loud on your helmet.
0:04:34 > 0:04:36You know what, I've had three tackles now,
0:04:36 > 0:04:37I think I'm ready to play.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45'Now I need to put all my new skills into practice.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48'I've been set a classic American football challenge.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51'I'll have three attempts to receive the ball at the back of the field,
0:04:51 > 0:04:52'and keeping hold of it,
0:04:52 > 0:04:54'beat the defence down the right,
0:04:54 > 0:04:56'then run the length of the field
0:04:56 > 0:04:58'and score a touchdown.
0:04:58 > 0:04:59'Easy.'
0:05:00 > 0:05:01And hut!
0:05:03 > 0:05:04Ah!
0:05:04 > 0:05:06'Oh, maybe not that easy.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09'I dropped it. I totally took my eyes off the ball.'
0:05:09 > 0:05:12- And hut!- 'Take two.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15'I catch the ball, beat the defender...'
0:05:15 > 0:05:17Oh! 'Where did she come from?!
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'What a tackle.'
0:05:20 > 0:05:23LAUGHTER
0:05:23 > 0:05:25- I'm so sorry.- I flew.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28- Are you all right?- Yeah, I'm fine.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30'Last chance.'
0:05:30 > 0:05:31Hut!
0:05:32 > 0:05:34'I catch it...'
0:05:34 > 0:05:37'beat one. Spot an opening.
0:05:37 > 0:05:39'She's out the way, I'm going for it now.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42'I'm still going.
0:05:42 > 0:05:43'Touchdown!
0:05:47 > 0:05:50'I'll be honest, I think they were going a little bit easy on me,
0:05:50 > 0:05:52'but I've had a great day.
0:05:52 > 0:05:55'American football. Give it a go.'
0:05:55 > 0:05:57Join in every Thursday on CBBC.