Lindsey Tries American Football Blue Peter Bite

LINDSEY: This is Blue Peter, but mini.

Expect epic adventures, mates, bakes, badges,

pets, presenters and your post.

We've only got five minutes, so get ready for your Blue Peter adventure.

Bright, brash and bold.

American football is a modern sporting spectacle.

Huge in America, it's thought more than 150 million people

around the world watched last year's league final, the Super Bowl.

So I want to find out why so many people love it.

And who better to tell me, than former pros, Osi and Jason

from the BBC's NFL Show?

Touchdown!

So, guys, talk to me. Why is football so great?

Why should we all love it?

It's a beautiful event. I mean, it's for everyone.

Yeah, and it's a sport anybody can play, whether you're tall,

short, big, small, you know, skinny, whatever,

there's a position for you out there on that field.

NFL is getting big out here, American football is getting

big out here and we're just continuing to urge people to play.

Feel tiny stood next to you both, but that's not an excuse, right,

I can still play football?

-No.

-Absolutely, you are good to go.

That's lucky because top amateur women's team, the

Leeds Carnegie Chargers are letting me join their ranks for the day.

Right, team, bring it in, let's take a knee!

First things first, I think we need to know the rules of the game.

Take it away, Coach Connor.

An American football pitch is 100 yards long.

And the aim of the game is to take the ball to the opposite endzone

in order to score a touchdown.

Each team has 11 players on the field,

known as offence and defence.

The offence can move down the field by running the ball

or throwing the ball.

It's the defence's job to stop the other team moving down the field.

And they stop them by tackling.

Which I am totally not ready for,

but there is a gentler version I can play first.

This is flag football.

'No tackling here.

'By simply grabbing a player's flag, you stop them.

'And for youth teams like Carnegies,

'it's a great way to first play the sport.'

It's different to other sports and it's really fun.

Keeps me healthy.

It's about teamwork.

'This is great fun.'

Boo!

'But if I'm going to get a real taste of American football,

'I probably need to play with some guys my own size.

'Although they are quite a lot bigger than me.'

-Coach, I've got my kit. I'm ready to go.

-Cool.

-What things are you bringing to the team?

-I'm small, nifty...

-OK.

-..fairly agile...

-Fast?

-Yeah!

-Yeah?

-I can run quite fast.

Well, not quite as fast as this guy.

But carrying the ball while running is tricky.

So Gaby here shows me how to hold it.

Cover it, fingers either side of the nose of the ball. Tuck it in.

Double-cuffing it, make sure your fingers go over again.

-Oh, I see.

-So nice and tight.

-No-one's getting it.

-No.

'The key is not to drop the ball when tackled

'so my grip needs to be tight.'

Oh, my goodness, this is so intense!

LINDSEY LAUGHS

Ah... I think... I think the laughing made me let go.

'Next, how to receive the ball from another player.'

And you want your hands open like a gate.

It's going to get slammed into your chest.

-You cover it the same way we've just done...

-Yeah.

..and run forward ready to take the hit.

And hut!

Oh, missed it.

And hut!

-Oh.

-That's good.

And hut!

-Yeah.

-Whoo.

'I'm picking up loads, but let's be honest,

'I'm not wearing all these pads for nothing.

'American football is full contact and if I'm going to play,

'I need to learn how to be tackled.'

-We just want to have a little look at Gaby and see how it's done?

-OK.

And hut!

Oh!

OK... Are you sure?

Yeah, don't worry, you'll be fine.

Let's do this!

-I'm so scared. This is it, first contact.

-Ready?

-Let's do it.

And hut!

Ugh!

'Oh, my days.

'But, hey, I'm still standing.'

Whoo-ah!

Whoa!

Oh, my goodness. It's like the most aggressive hug ever.

And it's really loud on your helmet.

You know what, I've had three tackles now,

I think I'm ready to play.

'Now I need to put all my new skills into practice.

'I've been set a classic American football challenge.

'I'll have three attempts to receive the ball at the back of the field,

'and keeping hold of it,

'beat the defence down the right,

'then run the length of the field

'and score a touchdown.

'Easy.'

And hut!

Ah!

'Oh, maybe not that easy.

'I dropped it. I totally took my eyes off the ball.'

-And hut!

-'Take two.

'I catch the ball, beat the defender...'

Oh! 'Where did she come from?!

'What a tackle.'

LAUGHTER

-I'm so sorry.

-I flew.

-Are you all right?

-Yeah, I'm fine.

'Last chance.'

Hut!

'I catch it...'

'beat one. Spot an opening.

'She's out the way, I'm going for it now.

'I'm still going.

'Touchdown!

'I'll be honest, I think they were going a little bit easy on me,

'but I've had a great day.

'American football. Give it a go.'

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