TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT | GATORS SPLIT SQUADS FOR "WELSH LEAGUE" SEASON
- gwentgators
- May 17, 2021
- 3 min read
The Gwent Gators are proud to announce they have enlisted two separate squads to compete in this years one off: 'Welsh Division' competition for the 2021/22 season.
The Gwent Gators Coaches and committee members thought it best to take the opportunity presented of a one-off Welsh League Season to use it to gain experience and game-time for the entire roster of the team.
The teams will be split into Gators 'Orange' and Gators Blue, the primary concepts for the squads is the preliminary starting five on what would be the actual game-day squad offence, on the Orange team, and the same for the starting defence on the Blue, allowing a strong presence and foundation of experience on one side of the ball and an allowance of game-time, reps and experience for the rest of the squad.
Head Coach Dale Davies explained the idea:
"After so long on hiatus due to Covid and seemingly endless lockdowns we cannot wait to get back into the competitive side of flag football."
"With the NFFL setup this year leaning on geographical restrictions along with no promotion opportunities; essentially only playing for pride, it left the Wales division looking bare with only 4 teams so the committee, coaches and I came to the decision that we would split our squad to make two teams to help bolster the league along with providing ample opportunities for game experience for the whole squad."
"The Blues will see the Gators starting Defence along with the reserve/backup offensive players whereas the Oranges will have the Gators starting Offence and the reserve/backup defensive players."
"We see it as an excellent opportunity to develop the club and it’s members by giving them more starting game reps and responsibilities than some would have gotten had we just rolled with one team."
"This, in turn, will hopefully allow for some more competition for starting roles moving forward and, should the squad split be a success, maybe continue forward with 2 teams in the BAFA National Flag Football League structure."
"We have also, for this season, adopted the former Tydfil Trojans team under the Gwent umbrella; the Gwent Trojans for this season, which in essence makes it 3 teams we have playing in the League."
Offensive Co-ordinator Christopher Bartlett-Legge noted the goals for his roster this season:
"Good thing about the splitting is short term; it shows whether this is a feasible long term option to have two teams, it breeds a lot more competition within the squad."
"By having two teams the perceived backups get full game time so can hone their own crafts to push for starting spots the year after. Some people are what I believe to be 'gamers' that really step it up game time that you don't see in training (I know I am) so we get to see everyone's true worth on the field."
"Having the offensive team I'm looking for us to score at least 75 percent of drives and 50 percent against the high standard Cardiff side. If we can do that then we have really succeeded in our efforts and set ourselves up for the real battle of the year after. I also see no reason why we can't achieve that with the talent we have on the team, I want at least a 20% stop rate on defence, with it being flag it's set up for offensive joy and it's hard to play good defence so a few drive stoppers should give us a win in most games"
Defensive Co-ordinator Mark Studley explained his pleasure at the opportunity to play again:
"Really looking forward to the season, after the last 18 months being back training and having a season again is huge."
"It was a slight shame that it isn't in a normal format, as the club's big goal is to challenge for promotion, but having any season at all is great under the circumstances."
"We've embraced the decision and seen it as a huge opportunity to develop as many players as we can and I think it could be a really good thing long term. We've got a lot of players who will really benefit from the extra game time and experience, especially the new guys we've managed to pick up. Playing the best team in the country in the Hurricanes is going to be the best possible experience we can get. Playing them along with the Trojans and Hammerheads who would also have been pushing for promotion had it been a normal year is going to make it a really challenging season which I can't wait for."
Captains for the squads and Roster News will be announced closer to the league start date.
The Gwent Gators teams will start the new Welsh League season on the weekend of the 19th of June, with Orange playing their opening game-day on the 19th and Blue begin on the 20th.
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