The Tribune

THE highly anticipated inaugural Popeyes Bahamas Bowl is set for noon (EST) December 24 at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium.

The game will be televised live on ESPN, featuring the Central Michigan University Chippewas from the Mid-American Conference against the Western Kentucky University Hilltoppers from Conference USA.

However, the youth of the Bahamas will not be left out of events leading up to the big game. A youth football clinic is scheduled for 3-5pm December 22 at the Roscow A L Davies Field in Nassau.

The clinic is open to kids aged 7-13 and will be held in cooperation between the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, USA Football and the Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF).

Britton Banowsky, president of the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl, made the announcement during the bowl press conference on December 11 at the Atlantis Convention Centre.

Banowsky noted that a USA Football coach along with student athletes and staff from the Central Michigan and WKU football teams will run the clinic, teaching football fundamentals and safety techniques.

In cooperation with the BAFF out of Grand Bahama and other organisations, they are hoping to foster the sport of American Football in the community.

Nassau has not had an active youth football season for the past two years. BAFF representatives were in attendance for the official announcement and were confident that the youth clinic would be one of the first steps in re-building the programme throughout the Bahamas.

Banowsky added: “We hope to see as many as 400 youth from around the community attend this inaugural event. By teaching the fundamentals in a safe and correct manner, more kids will be able to grow up enjoying this sport as both a spectator and a participant.”

Any questions pertaining to the youth clinic can be directed to a representative from the Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF). In Grand Bahama, please contact Tammi Mitchell at 242-477-9735 or, contact Dave Johnson in Nassau at 242-433-0741.

For more information on the 2014 Popeyes Bahamas Bowl or to purchase tickets to the game, visit www.PopeyesBahamasBowl.com

The Bahamas American Football Federation (BAFF) expects that through the growth and development of the federation’s programme initiatives, the participant group will increase to include all school-age individuals and adults who are interested in playing the sport of American football.

Key objectives of BAFF are:

- Apply positive youth development through sport model to effect social change and produce outcomes that will lead to successful completion of secondary education and increased attendance and successful matriculation during post-secondary education

- Empower persons of influence to serve as sport coaches, mentors, counselors and programme supporters by providing training opportunities, resources and technical support

- Examine, evaluate and educate programme participants, families, and programme stakeholders on areas of public health concerns and issues

- Build community support coalitions to strengthen, create and maintain networks of support for the programme.

BAFF became a member of the Pan-American Federation of American Football (PAFAF) and IFAF in 2008. The Bahamas Junior National Team (75 eligible players) took a roster selected from islands – Abaco, Bimini, Grand Bahama and New Providence – and Bahamian citizens from Miami, Florida (US) to Panama to compete in a qualifying game for the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship Qualification Game in Panama City, Panama, losing 52-6.

BAFF continues to work to develop the sport by further developing the BYF Tackle and Flag Football Bahamas programmes on four to five islands: Abaco, Bimini, Exuma, Grand Bahama and New Providence.

The federation also plans college tours, camps and combines for its members and coach/official trainings and clinics to further develop the sport in the Bahamas.

Bahamas American Football Federation utilises empowerment model programmes that allow for all interested groups to establish and maintain the financial resources and support necessary to sustain its grassroots community-based initiatives.

BAFF and its programmes establish and build community support coalitions to support it and actively participate in the positive development of the youth of the respective communities and country.

The Bahamas American Football Federation is organised and operated democratically and without any racial, religious, political or gender discrimination.