American football in Jamaica?

Football rules here in Jamaica, and that’s the European kind, of course. However, American-style is gaining popularity, and if Roger Salmon and Keith O’Sullivan achieve their goals, it will become both a mainstream sport and an opportunity for young players to further their education.

Roger Salmon and Keith O’Sullivan co-founded the Jamaica American Football Association in 2009, fuelled by a love of the sport and a vision of helping young athletes earn scholarships abroad.

“I normally watch the NFL games, and we have a lot of guys here with talent, so we thought we could give this thing a try here in Jamaica,” Salmon said during a practice at Camperdown High School’s football field in the Manley Meadows area of East Kingston. “We want to create opportunities for these young guys to play in the States. Our aim is to make them into young men of tomorrow and make them into leaders.”

Every Saturday, around 20 young men between the ages of 15 to 30 show up to practice for a few hours on the dusty field. Because of a lack of funding, they only play tag football, as they cannot afford all the protective gear, nor the cleats necessary to play tackle-style football. A full kit costs about $14,000 (JMD) and pair of cleats alone costs $3,000 (about $30 US), which is out of reach for most of these young men.

Salmon, however, is able to provide training, which he is learning from an online course from an institution in Ohio. But it is not just the practical skills and drills Salmon provides. He also serves as an informal mentor and creates a sense of structure, accountability and support for these young men. “This is not just about football. We want them to become more responsible. They have to get their education, because that is the most important thing. We look out for their education first and foremost.” So if a team member is struggling to balance work, school and football, Salmon will urge him to take a break from practice and return when he is ready.

Paul, who is 25, is one of the informal leaders. When he was in junior high, he lived in Philadelphia, where he played football. Wide receiver, to be exact. “It’s just a different sport,” he says. “It was not something I was used to and it just grabbed by attention.”

Salmon is currently trying to raise funds for a summer camp, which culminates in a tournament. The first summer camp was held successfully last year, with about 40 participants. To this end, Salmon has written to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Culture asking for support and received a favourable response. Salmon is also completing the paperwork to register with the formal governing body, but that has a prohibitive cost of around $120,000.

So how does Salmon think Jamaicans will receive American football, in a nation obsessed with track and field and football? Judging by the reception he gets when visiting high schools, there is potential. “People get very excited. They say they did not know it was around and they say they want to learn.”

In the meantime, Salmon (who also works full-time for a financial investment company) shows up every Saturday as coach. However, his job as coach extends beyond these hours, as he continues educating himself about the sport and acting as a mentor to these boys. On the Saturday I visited the practice, the enthusiasm was evident as the young men did drills for speed and agility, then played a very competitive game. The enjoyment, sense of camaraderie and co-operation among the young men was remarkable, especially when differences of opinion came up, which was often. Hopefully, the JAAFA will continue to grow and provide both opportunity and an outlet for these promising young men.