The national youth flag football championships concluded with great enthusiasm, with the finals held last weekend at Fattoria La Principina in Grosseto. Among the twenty-four participating teams in the Under 17 category, the Reggio Emilia Hogs shone, gaining an honorable seventh place. This result takes on particular significance as it is the first year in which the Hogs have presented a team in this category, already demonstrating considerable ability and potential.
The regular season was a triumph for the Under 17 team of the Reggio Emilia Hogs, who dominated their group with a record of five wins and only one defeat. This result allowed them to qualify for the national finals among the best eight teams in Italy.
During the weekend the Granata team participated in the Final 8, despite the relative inexperience compared to their opponents, the young people from Reggio showed determination and fighting spirit, they did not give up, facing some of the best Italian teams and still leading to home a victory that placed them in seventh place.
Coach Borsari said: “I am very proud of the boys, of how they behaved on and off the pitch. Just reaching the final was a great achievement for us, the most experienced of them have only been playing for a year, but most of them are new and until 4 months ago they had no idea what flag football was. Being among the best 8 teams in Italy and finishing seventh out of twenty-four teams at a national level is a great pride and shows that the work done in recent months has been excellent and the boys have learned in the right way. This success is not only a goal, but also a starting point. Many of the players have already been noticed by national scouts and some of them could have a bright future in the world of flag football, they have the potential to achieve great goals. We will continue to work hard and improve to face the next championships, even with helmet and armor.”
This success is the result of the consolidated Football Academy Enea Codeluppi project, active for several years, which has allowed the Hogs to develop a solid and promising academy. In the last year alone, approximately 50 children aged between 10 and 17, fielding three teams in the different youth categories (under 13, under 15, under 17). The Hogs, with their youth recruitment project and the results obtained, represent a virtuous example of how passion, dedication and commitment can lead to great successes. The company looks to the future with optimism and determination, ready to continue its growth path and contribute to the development of American football in Italy.
Particularly noteworthy is the interest generated by the Hogs’ young talent on a national level. In fact, six players from the club took part in the selection rallies for the Italian national teams, with three boys called up for the Under 15s and another three for the Under 17s. This recognition is a testimony to the excellent work carried out by the coaches and the club in training not only athletes, but also young promises of Italian football.
Flag football, a non-contact version of American football, is a sport accessible to all and is experiencing rapid growth globally. With its recent inclusion in the program of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, interest in this discipline is set to increase. Even in Italy, flag football is gaining more and more popularity, and the Reggio Emilia Hogs are at the forefront of this movement, promoting the sport among young people and offering them a unique opportunity for personal and sporting growth.
Starting from Monday 3 June, the Reggio Emilia Hogs are launching open days at their headquarters in Via Mogadiscio 2. The events will be held every Monday and Thursday from 6.00pm to 7.30pm. This is a unique opportunity to get closer to a growing sport and be part of a company that aims to enhance youth talent and promote the values of sport.
Join the Reggio Emilia Hogs and discover flag football: an exciting and educational sporting experience!
