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Training camp begins for U.S. National Team
Forty-eight men from across the United States have reported for training camp at the University of Akron in preparation for the 2015 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship.
The U.S. Men’s National Team will spend 10 days in training at the Northeast Ohio campus prior to the tournament July 9-18 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton.
Players from 19 states, from Massachusetts to Hawaii, arrived this weekend, looking to make the final 45-man roster that will represent the United States in the seven-nation tournament to determine the world champion of American football.
Players and coaches met to begin installing the offense and defense and had a brief conditioning session Sunday evening.
“We are very excited to finally get to camp and get started,” U.S. head coach Dan Hawkins said. “I have been very impressed with the intensity and camaraderie of our players already.”
Linebacker B.J. Beatty, who played at the University of Colorado, had the longest trip to camp, making the 5,700-mile trek from Tokyo, Japan, where he plays in that nation’s X League.
Ten players hail originally from California, the most on the squad. Ohio and Texas have seven natives each, and three players are from Georgia.
Of the men attending camp, 33 played football at the NCAA Division I level, 12 at the NCAA Division II level and three played at NCAA Division III schools.
The squad will have a walkthrough this morning and a full practice this afternoon at Akron’s InfoCision Stadium.
