The World team led by head coach GREG MARSHALL completed the first of four two-a-day practices as the team prepares for the U.S Under 19 National Team, assembled by USA Football at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas on Wednesday, February 2.
The ‘Team USA vs. The World’ game will match a World team composed of the best players aged 19 and under selected from International Federation of American Football (IFAF) member countries against 45 of the top high school seniors from the United States. More information can be found at the event website: www.USAvWorld.com/2011, www.IFAF.org and www.facebook.com/USAvsWorld.
Despite being from fifteen different countries and not coming together as a team until they landed in Texas on Thursday, the 42-man roster and development team have gelled quickly during the first two practices. The team will have three more sessions of two-a-days on Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
“It is not easy to bring in this many different player and coaches,” said head coach GREG MARSHALL. “There are some communication barriers we need to work on, but overall I am very happy. We got in a lot of offense and defense and I think they team is coming together well.”
“But we have a great group of kids and it is a great opportunity to work with great people and people from different cultures. It is pretty exciting.”
In the afternoon practice the offense and defense came together for a light scrimmage showcasing the talent of the team’s quarterbacks – JAHLANI GILBERT-KNORREN (University of Saskatchewan), German MARCO EHRENFRIED (Schwabisch Hall Unicorns) and Canadian BEN ROSSONG (Sackville High School). One of the quarterbacks favorite targets was the talented Canadian wide receiver JAKE HARTY (Calgary Colts), who made multiple acrobatic catches.
“It is a great honor to play a team with the best players from around the world,” said Harty. “It is cool to have a coaching staff from different parts of the world and to see their coaching philosophies, techniques, and angles of football.”
The World team also displayed a big, strong, and talented offensive and defensive line. Along with their size, the players proved to have great mobility including Austrians MICHAEL HABETIN and ALEKSANDAR MILANOVIC. Both also play for the Austrian Senior National team that will compete in the 2011 IFAF Senior World Championship this summer.
The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory. The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game’s popularity spreads around the world.
The second annual game kicks off Wednesday, February 2 at 7:30pm CT at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas. Tickets cost $8 and are available at www.usavworld.com/2011/.
TEAM USA VS. THE WORLD – WORLD TEAM SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 29
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
4:00 – 6:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
6:30 – 8:00 Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)
Sunday, January 30
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Practice Fields)
5:00 – 7:00 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Monday, January 31
10:00 – 12:00 World Team Practice (Practice Field)
5:00 – 7:00 World Team Practice (Westlake Stadium)
Tuesday, February 1
1:00 – 1:30 Team Photo & Game day walk through
1:30 – 3:30 World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Wednesday, February 2
6:00pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7:30pm ‘Team USA vs. The World’ Game kickoff
TEAM USA VS. THE WORLD – TEAM USA SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 29
2:00 – 4:00 US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
6:30 – 8:00 Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)
Sunday, January 30
10:30 – 12:30 US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
1:00 – 4:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Monday, January 31
10:00 – 1:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake Stadium)
Tuesday, February 1
10:00 – 1:00 Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
1:00 – 1:30 Team Photo & Game day walk through
Wednesday, February 2
6:00pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7:30pm ‘Team USA vs. The World’ Game kickoff
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