We asked U19 defensive player, Ritchie Church, some questions about his transition from other sports to American Football to find out some challenges he faced, any skills that transferred over and what makes the sport so unique.

What inspired you to transition from your previous sport to American football with the Northants Knights?

My cousin played American football out in the States, so I've always wanted to play American football and enjoy that ‘Friday night feeling’ for myself.

How has your experience in your previous sport helped you adapt to the unique challenges of American football?

Rugby helped by understanding the technique of tackling and making big explosive plays to either get the ball or get to the ball.

Can you share some of the key differences you've noticed between your previous sport and American football, both in terms of gameplay and training?

For gameplay, I like the fact there are more breaks and more team talks to share concerns or even be hyped up by the team and especially coaches, and for training, it's higher intensity and it pays off. It allows me to push myself, and I always know what the coaches want from me.

What position did you play in your previous sport, and how does it compare to the position you currently play in American football?

I played second row and back row, so playing D end and linebacker were two great options due to my speed and tackling experience, which somewhat carried over but mainly linebacker.

Did you face any initial challenges when learning the rules and strategies of American football? How did you overcome them?

The rules were alright to grasp; it's the strategies that keep me guessing and on my toes with what the coaches will come up with, but to overcome them, I just made sure to keep asking questions and practice; it's always 1% every day.

Are there any skills or techniques from your previous sport that you find particularly useful in American football?

The skills of carrying a ball hard, fast, and hot to brace for impact while doing so, as well as tackling and rucking, were great to move to American football because rucking helps with being strong and powerful at DE.

How has the team camaraderie and atmosphere with the Northants Knights compared to your previous sports experiences?

The Knights are more like a family; we are brothers at the end of the day. We kept the fight in us and showed it on the pitch, and we know how to hype each other up. Compared to my old team, I felt like I had only a few good mates, but with this team, no one is left out, and after my first couple months, I was already at a team mates birthday, which was great.

Could you describe a memorable moment or game that made you feel proud of your decision to switch to American football?

I felt the passion of the first loss of the season, which showed the team was serious about the upset of the loss and how the season was going to be more of a challenge.

What advice would you give to other athletes considering a transition to American football with the Northants Knights or a similar team?

I would definitely watch the footage of any game or even try to figure out what position you want to be in so the coaches can help you achieve your goals or help you find a better fit on the team. Just try your best; no one will judge you if you aren't the best straight away.

In your opinion, what makes American football with the Northants Knights a unique and exciting sport to be a part of?

American football with the Knights has been a great experience, and the coaches have made me fall in love with the sport. The team is great to be a part of, but also the fact that I came in to U19s when I could have played U16 showed the coaches believed in me to succeed, which has been going well with the college that tried to recruit me to go and the university coaches that have asked me to go to open days and prospect days, which has shown me the exciting opportunities that this sport has to offer any team.

This off-season we will continue to highlight young athletes and their stories.