Tag: BAFA

SENIOR | Head Coach Vacancy

08 Aug
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Senior Football , ,

Following last month’s announcement that Senior team Head Coach Neale McMaster will be stepping down at the end of the season, the club would like to invite applications for the position of senior team Head Coach from the 2019 season. It is hoped to select and appoint the successful candidate during the autumn of 2018 to allow for a full pre-season preparation.

About Us

The Eagles were formed in 2013 following a merger between the Milton Keynes Pathfinders and Bedfordshire Blue Raiders, initially as a Senior contact team based in Bedford offering football to those in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire.

The club also consists of the Bedford Blackhawks and Milton Keynes Redwings youth teams and Bedford Blackhawks senior flag team and aspire to develop the game throughout the region.

The senior team was promoted from Division 2 to Division 1 following the 2014 season and currently play in SFC1 Central.

The Role

The Head Coach of the OVE Senior Team is responsible all senior team football preparation, development and outcomes. This will include, but is not be limited to:

  • The development and implementation of the pre-season programme
  • The appointment of co-ordinators and positional coaches including from the existing coaching group
  • Practices scheduling, frequency and format
  • Player evaluation, retention and recruitment
  • Player coaching and development
  • Developing youth / junior pathways into the senior team
  • Playbooks
  • Off field activities e.g. game film evaluation, team film study, gym, workouts
  • Game day coaching
  • Building appropriate football relationships and networks
  • Liaison with coaching staff and Club Management Team
Requirements

The Head Coach of the OVE Senior Team is responsible all senior team football preparation, development and outcomes. This will include, but is not be limited to:

  • Proof of Level 1 BAFCA Coaching Qualification in American Football – essential
  • Proof of Level 2 BAFCA Coaching Qualification in American Football – preferable
  • Previous experience as a Head Coach or Co-ordinator
  • Presence for practice and games
  • Priority focus on Ouse Valley Eagles senior team
Selection Process

A short-list will be created. An interview panel will be convened for those short-listed. We’d like any interview to be a free form discussion about football and your approach. Please be prepared to talk about:

  • Your football philosophy
  • How you would improve Ouse Valley Eagles
  • How you structure your approach to games, practices
  • Your expectations of the players in terms of capability, effort, work / life balance
  • Expectations of remit, autonomy and Management Team support
  • Your football experience and network
  • How you work with and develop players
  • How you run game-day
  • Thoughts about recruiting and developing players
  • Year 1 programme plan
  • 3 year development plan
Application Process

Please mail mark.chilton@oveagles.com in the first instance to declare your interest. All correspondence will be treated in confidence.

NEWS | Cole included in GB U17 squad

18 Apr
Michael Dilley All News, Youth Football , , , , ,

Bedford Blackhawks defensive back Liam Cole has been named in the Great Britain Lions U17 developmental squad for the training camps taking place in May and June.

The GB U17 group is the development squad for the U19 team, and is aimed at players who have shown the skills to potentially progress to the U19 squad in the future.

Liam is the first player from the Eagles Academy to be selected for the development squad, and Head Coach Nick Benning said:

“We are all extremely proud of Liam as the first youth player being selected for an international squad. Having only taken up the sport mid-way through last season he has worked a hard on adapting his skill set and understanding the game.

“Physically he already possess no end of talent and we hope to help him develop his knowledge to match this and continue further on his journey. Liam has now set the bar for his team mates and I’m sure he will continue to raise it. Great work Liam!”

Speaking on the BAFA National Teams Facebook page, GB Head Coach Jason Henry said on the trials:

“Over the past decade I have had the chance to see U12 flag right up to U19 kitted and seen the talent we have in flag and U17 kitted programmes across the country. The coaches bought in with the idea of having players ‘grow’ with Team GB and planning success on and off the field.

“Yet again credit must go to the legions of dedicated coaches, volunteers and family members who have given young players the chance to grow and experience Football. The majority of the players attending had ever played football with more than 5 on a team but by the end of the day impressed coaches as the grasped and ran with the format which is 11 man tackle football.

“Congratulations on all the players selected to start the exciting chapter in their Football development.”

Join the Eagles

The Ouse Valley Eagles were formed in 2013 with the aim of becoming one of the leading lights for American Football in the UK.

The 2018 season is almost upon us but it is never too late to join one of our four teams:

  • Ouse Valley Eagles (Adult Kitted, age 18+)
  • Bedford Blackhawks (Adult Flag, age 16+)
  • Bedford Blackhawks (Youth Contact, U17)
  • Milton Keynes Redwings (Youth Contact, U17)

Despite being a relatively new Club, the Eagles are made up of an experienced team of coaching and backroom staff, with more players registering to join each month.

The goal set by our founding committee was to have a club here still winning games in 25 years time, and for our children to be able to play for the same team we did.

That remains the goal today, and we are working every day to make the club bigger and stronger. To register your interest in joining any of the teams under the Ouse Valley banner please complete the form below:

Your privacy is important to us. For more details about how we use your personal data, please read our Privacy Statement. We would like to send you additional information that is relevant to you. By ticking the boxes below you consent to receive information about:

Rookie SessionsTraining SessionsUpcoming Events

We will not pass your details to third parties. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by emailing gdpr@oveagles.com or using the opt-out facility on each email.

NEWS | Eagles 2018 Schedule Released

06 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , , , , ,

The Eagles’ 2018 regular season schedule has been confirmed, and sees the team kicking off at home in SFC1 Central to last season’s division champions Sussex Thunder on Sunday 22nd April.

That is followed three weeks later with the return game on the South Coast, before a first ever meeting with the Berkshire Renegades the following week.

After a week of practice we then have games on four successive weeks vs Bristol Apache (H), Berkshire Renegades (H), Oxford Saints (A) and Solent Thrashers (H).

There then follows back-to-back games in July against the Thrashers (A) and Saints (H), before the regular season comes to a close on 12th August with a trip west to face Bristol Apache.

Ouse Valley Eagles 2018 Regular Season Schedule
  • Sunday 22nd April vs Sussex Thunder
  • Sunday 13th May @ Sussex Thunder
  • Sunday 20th May @ Berkshire Renegades
  • Sunday 3rd June vs Bristol Apache
  • Sunday 10th June vs Berkshire Renegades
  • Sunday 17th June @ Oxford Saints
  • Sunday 24th June vs Solent Thrashers
  • Sunday 15th July @ Solent Thrashers (3pm)
  • Sunday 22nd July vs Oxford Saints
  • Sunday 12th August @ Bristol Apache

All home games will take place at Bedford International Athletics Stadium and kick-off at 1pm. All away games will kick-off at 2.30pm unless otherwise stated.

2018 Play-Off Structure

As per the 2017 season eight teams in Division 1 will progress to the play-offs, consisting of the top two teams in each of the four conferences (NFC1 North, NFC1 South, SFC1 Central and SFC1 East).

The first round of the play-offs will see the #1 seed in the SFC/NFC face and #4 seed, and the #2 seed meet the #3 ranked team.

The Division 1 Championship will be decided between the NFC1 and SFC1 winners.

Join the Eagles!

The Ouse Valley Eagles were formed in 2013 with the aim of becoming one of the leading lights for American Football in the UK.

Members of our club come from a wide range of backgrounds and over a large geographical area to be part of one of our four teams:

  • Ouse Valley Eagles (Adult Kitted, age 18+)
  • Bedford Blackhawks (Adult Flag, age 16+)
  • Bedford Blackhawks (Youth Contact, U17)
  • Milton Keynes Redwings (Youth Contact, U17)

Despite being a relatively new Club, the Eagles are made up of an experienced team of coaching and backroom staff, with more players registering to join each month.

The goal set by our founding committee was to have a club here still winning games in 25 years time, and for our children to be able to play for the same team we did.

That remains the goal today, and we are working every day to make the club bigger and stronger. To register your interest in joining any of the teams under the Ouse Valley banner please complete the form below:

Your privacy is important to us. For more details about how we use your personal data, please read our Privacy Statement. We would like to send you additional information that is relevant to you. By ticking the boxes below you consent to receive information about:

Rookie SessionsTraining SessionsUpcoming Events

We will not pass your details to third parties. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by emailing gdpr@oveagles.com or using the opt-out facility on each email.

NEWS | 2018 League Alignment confirmed

29 Jan
Michael Dilley All News, Senior Football , , , , ,

The British American Football Association (BAFA) have announced a further expansion of Division 1 of the National League from 20 to 24 teams for the 2018 season, and sees the Eagles remain in the SFC1 Central Conference.

Joining the Eagles in SFC1 Central this year are 2017 opponents Oxford Saints, Solent Thrashers and Sussex Thunder, as well as Berkshire Renegades and Bristol Apache – both promoted from Division Two.

Each team will play each other twice during the regular season (once at home and once away). Details of the regular season schedule are expected to be announced in the coming weeks but will take place between Sunday 15th April and Sunday 19th August.

2017 Play-Off Structure

As per the 2017 season eight teams in Division 1 will progress to the play-offs, consisting of the top two teams in each of the four conferences (NFC1 North, NFC1 South, SFC1 Central and SFC1 East).

The first round of the play-offs will see the #1 seed in the SFC/NFC face and #4 seed, and the #2 seed meet the #3 ranked team.

The Division 1 Championship will be decided between the NFC1 and SFC1 winners.

2017 Divisional 1 Alignments

NFC1 North

– Gateshead Senators
– Glasgow Tigers
– Lancashire Wolverines
– Leeds Bobcats
– Newcastle Vikings/Lightning
– Yorkshire Rams

NFC1 South

– Coventry Jets
– Doncaster Mustangs
– Leicester Falcons
– Nottingham Caesars
– Sandwell Steelers
– Shropshire Revolution

SFC1 Central

– Berkshire Renegades
– Bristol Apache
– Oxford Saints
– Ouse Valley Eagles
– Solent Thrashers
– Sussex Thunder

SFC1 East

– Cambridgeshire Cats
– Colchester Gladiators
– East Kent Mavericks
– Kent Exiles
– London Hornets
– Wembley Stallions

Super Bowl Sunday Open Session

Start your Super Bowl Sunday the right way!

Our Senior Team are holding a further Open Session on Sunday – 4th February at the University of Bedfordshire on Polhill Avenue between 11am and 12:30pm.

American Football is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, and with the success of the NFL International Series interest in the game has never been higher.

If you are aged 18 or above and have always fancied having a go why not try it out and see how you get on? No previous experience is necessary, as our team of qualified coaches will put you through your paces running a series of passing, catching, running and blocking drills designed to give you a real taste of American Football.

What to expect

If you want to know what to expect at the session, check out this highlights video from our previous Bedford session in November:

What you’ll need

There are a few things you’ll need to bring with you to the session:

– Water (recommended 2L but the more the better).
– Rugby or football boots as the session will be taking place on grass
– Shorts/Joggers or similar
– Top of some kind: sweatshirt, t-shirt or similar
– Gumshield

How to get there

Register your interest

To register your interest in the session, please respond to our Facebook event, complete the form below, or get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

Before the session you will be asked to complete a simple registration form (registrations open at 10.45am). If you would like to download a registration form and complete it ahead of the session, you can do so here.

Your privacy is important to us. For more details about how we use your personal data, please read our Privacy Statement. We would like to send you additional information that is relevant to you. By ticking the boxes below you consent to receive information about:

Rookie SessionsTraining SessionsUpcoming Events

We will not pass your details to third parties. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by emailing gdpr@oveagles.com or using the opt-out facility on each email.

NEWS | Milton Keynes Redwings launched

08 Nov
Michael Dilley All News, Come and Try, Youth Football , , ,

The club are proud to announce the formation of a new U17 contact team, the Milton Keynes Redwings.

The Redwings join the Bedford Blackhawks under the Ouse Valley Eagles banner as a 5v5 contact team, and represent a major step forward in the club’s goal to expand the number of people playing the sport in our area.

Initially the team will play friendly matches during a development year in 2018, with a view of joining the National League in 2019.

Training times and locations for the New Year will be confirmed in due course, but in the meantime anyone who is interested in joining the team should attend one of our Open Sessions taking place this month – continuing on Sunday at Stantonbury Campus between midday and 2pm.

Anyone interested joining the team in a coaching capacity should contact Club Chairman Michael Dilley in the first instance via michael.dilley@oveagles.com, or get in touch via our Facebook and Twitter pages.

The new Redwings logo is a nod to the one used by the Milton Keynes Pathfinders, who merged with the Bedfordshire Blue Raiders to form the Eagles in 2013.

Speaking on the news, Academy Coordinator Mark Chilton said:

“As the only senior club in the region we have a responsibility to promote and grow the game in our area. A major part of that is providing playing opportunities for U18s interested in American Football, and provide a pathway through to our senior team should they want it.

This announcement is part of an ongoing program of starting youth/junior affiliate teams and introduce the game to young people in our region. As a resident of Milton Keynes I am particularly pleased to have helped to provide this unique opportunity for the young people of our City”.

Club Chairman Michael Dilley added:

“When the club was founded one of our priorities was to create multiple youth teams across the area.

We started that in Bedford with the Blackhawks and I’m delighted that we’re able to build on those solid foundations by establishing the Redwings in Milton Keynes.

The future is looking really bright and I’m excited to see how the team develops.”

Open Sessions

Open to those interested in playing for the Ouse Valley Eagles senior (18+), Bedford Blackhawks Youth (13+) and Milton Keynes Redwings (13+) full contact teams, as well as the Blackhawks senior flag (16+) team, we will be running three further Open Sessions during November:

– Sunday 12th November | Stantonbury Campus, Milton Keynes (12pm-2pm)
– Sunday 19th November | Northampton High School, Northampton (10am-12pm)
– Sunday 26th November | Lealands High School, Luton (10am-12pm)

To register your interest please complete the form below:

Your privacy is important to us. For more details about how we use your personal data, please read our Privacy Statement. We would like to send you additional information that is relevant to you. By ticking the boxes below you consent to receive information about:

Rookie SessionsTraining SessionsUpcoming Events

We will not pass your details to third parties. You may opt out of receiving these communications at any time by emailing gdpr@oveagles.com or using the opt-out facility on each email.

YOUTH | League Alignment and 2017 opponents updated

Blackhawks
08 Mar
Michael Dilley All News, Youth Football , , , , ,

Following a review by the British American Football Association (BAFA) the Blackhawks will now play in the BAFA Regional U17 Outer London Conference.

They are joined in the updated Conference by Berkshire Renegades, Buckinghamshire Wolves, Cobham Cougars Blue and Farnham Knights.

After receiving feedback from a number of teams concerned about large travel distances and associated costs, BAFA have removed all inter-conference games from the schedule. As a result of that change, the Young Hawks will just face their divisional opponents in a number of mini tournaments that make up the regular season.

The full schedule will be published here once confirmed by BAFA.

BAFA Regional U17 Outer London Conference

Bedford Blackhawks
Berkshire Renegades
Buckinghamshire Wolves
Cobham Cougars Blue
Farnham Knights

YOUTH | League Alignment and 2017 Opponents Confirmed

06 Feb
Michael Dilley All News, Youth Football , , , , , , , , , ,

The British American Football Association (BAFA) have confirmed that the Blackhawks Youth Team will play in U17 Conference E in the 2017 season.

They are joined in the Conference by Buckinghamshire Wolves, Cobham Cougars, Cobham Cougars Varsity and Farnham Knights.

The Young Hawks will face their divisional opponents in a number of mini tournaments that make up the season, and will also come up against Kent Exiles Rebels, Essex Spartans, Sussex Thunder and Cornish Sharks during the regular season.

The full schedule is expected to be confirmed by BAFA in the next couple of weeks.

PREVIEW | Blackhawks set for season finale

29 Jul
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , ,

The Blackhawks bring the curtain down on their inaugural season against Reading Lions in the BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference tomorrow.

Aylesbury Vale Spartans – who also face the Lions – are hosting the game. The ‘Hawks were also due to meet the Solent Thrashers but unfortunately they will not be attending.

The Blackhawks have their full squad available and will at full strength for the game, and Jed Parisi says the team are still pushing for an unlikely place in the post-season:

It’s the last gameday of the season and the guys are looking to close the season on a high. We are against some tough opposition but still not mathematically out of a playoff spot.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the Spartans with the Lions. After Highflyers pulled out of the league the reduced schedule for the morning is:

  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Reading Lions
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Reading Lions
Directions

The games will take place at Fairford Leys Pitches, Coldharbour Way (off Oxford Road), Aylesbury HP17 8QQ:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Sandy to watch the games we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks at full strength for round four

24 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , , ,

The Blackhawks travel to Hertfordshire this weekend for their next round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The matches, which take place tomorrow, are hosted by the Ware Wolves and as well as the Blackhawks feature the Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers and Victoria Park Panthers.

The Blackhawks have their full squad available and will at full strength for the first time all season.

Jed Parisi and Jake Cooper come up against their old teammates the Wolves for the first time, and Parisi is looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces:

The lads are all excited for this weekend’s games, no-one more than me and Jake as it’s our first game back against our team Ware.

This game day is critical if we are to qualify for the play-offs this season.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 10am, and pairs the hosts with the Panthers. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Ware Wolves vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers vs Bedford Blackhawks
  • Ware Wolves vs Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bishop’s Stortford HighFlyers vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Ware Wolves vs Bedford Blackhawks
Directions

The games will take place at Freman College, Bowling Green Lane, Buntingford, Hertfordshire SG9 9BT.

Directions are below, but please drive right to the end of Bowling Green Lane and into the school, straight ahead through to a small car park at the far end of the school. Walk alon side the gym onto the playing field:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Buntingford to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store

PREVIEW | Blackhawks look to build on first win

10 Jun
Michael Dilley All News, Flag Football, Previews , , , , , ,

The Blackhawks travel back to East London this weekend for their next round of BAFA Flag Southeastern Conference games.

The matches, which take place tomorrow, are hosted by the Victoria Park Panthers and as well as the Blackhawks feature the West Essex Showboats and Aylesbury Vale Panthers.

The Blackhawks will be without a number of regular players for tomorrow’s game, as Jed Parisi (cornerback), Jonny Stratford (linebacker), Cody Hinton (cornerback), PJ Pateman (cornerback) and Josh Randall (wide receiver) are all unavailable.

In the most recent meetings between the sides the Blackhawks lost 56-0 to the Showboats and 32-18 to the Spartans, but speaking on behalf of the team Jake Cooper said that the team aren’t giving up on the post-season yet:

The guys are looking to take the boost we gained through our first league win last weekend and translate that into further success for the ‘Hawks.

With a crucial fixture between us and the Spartans taking place that if we win, keeps our dreams of play-off football alive, this game day is arguably one of our most important.

We won’t be at full strength due to handful of absentees, however the players that will be travelling down are sure to give their all to try and bring home another W.

Schedule

The first game of the day will kick off at 11am, and pairs the Spartans with the hosts. The full schedule for the day is:

  • Aylesbury Vale Spartans vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs West Essex Showboats
  • West Essex Showboats vs Victoria Park Panthers
  • Bedford Blackhawks vs Aylesbury Vale Spartans
Directions

The games will take place on the old section of Wanstead Flats: Harrow Road, E11 3QD:

Game Coverage

If you can’t make it to Wanstead to watch the games, we will be providing regular updates via the Blackhawks Twitter and Facebook pages.

Keep up-to-date with the latest news, squad details and events with out new mobile app for iOS and Android:

  • App Store
  • Google Play Store