Local primary schools invited to free Jacksonville Jaguars JagTag launch event

Jacksonville Jaguars

Primary schools across Rochdale are invited to the free Jacksonville Jaguars JagTag launch event in wake of childhood obesity levels at all time high.

Professional National Football League (NFL) team, Jacksonville Jaguars, are working with Manchester-based EdStart, a Primary School physical education provision company, to launch their hugely successful grassroots American football programme, JagTag, in the schools of Greater Manchester.

Based in Northeast Florida, the Jaguars first introduced JagTag to the UK in 2015, teaching students in London primary and secondary schools a simplified, non-contact version of American football. Since then, the programme has become extremely popular with over 3,000 children taking part across the capital – 45% of which are female. JagTag teaches the key basic NFL techniques of throwing, catching, evading and defending and is suited to children of all athletic abilities.

The expansion into schools across Manchester comes at a time when the latest Public Health England report into Child Obesity, released only last week, shows that one in every 25 children are ‘severely obese’.

Hussain Naqi, Senior Vice President of International Development at the Jacksonville Jaguars, said: “The Jaguars aim is to make American football accessible to fans of all ages across the UK.

"Manchester has been selected as the first city outside of London to deliver the JagTag programme and we are very excited to be working with EdStart Sports Coaching to bring American football to the North-West of England.

"We are confident that Manchester students will embrace the sport and enjoy playing JagTag as much as they have in London.”

The JagTag Schools Programme is part of the Jaguars aim to grow grassroots American football in the UK and help play a role in encouraging young people to lead active, healthy lives. The programme has received backing from the UK government with a grant from Sport England.

Chris Irwin, Managing Director of EdStart, is thrilled to be working with the Jaguars. He said: “To have the weight of an NFL franchise behind such a brilliant schools sport programme is fantastic for the young people of Manchester. We cannot wait to get to work with the Jags, and coach thousands of children in and around the Manchester area.”

The JagTag Schools Programme will be offering a  two free taster days with special events at Salford City Roosters ARLFC, Eccles, on Thursday 14 June 2018 from 1pm – 4pm and Platt Lane Sports Complex, Manchester, on Friday 15 June and will include:

• Free coaching from JagTag coaches followed by matches
• Free fun Jaguars inflatable game
• Free Jaguars giveaways
• Open to years five and six, maximum ten players per school
• Transport to be discussed directly with EdStart

After the taster day, schools will have the opportunity for JagTag to be taught to their students by trained JagTag Ccoaches provided by EdStart. If they do decide to take on JagTag, the students will also have the chance to compete in local competitions and receive unbelievable rewards such as the chance to watch the Jaguars play live at Wembley Stadium in October 2018.

The Football Association (FA) last month confirmed a bid for Wembley at £1bn, heavily rumoured to be from billionaire owner of Fulham Football Club and Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team, Shahid Khan.