A CHEER-FULL TIME FOR RIVER LEA PRIMARY - NFL TAMPA BAY CHEERLEADERS AT SCORE

LOCSP Press Release – Friday 30 January 2009

A CHEER-FULL TIME FOR RIVER LEA PRIMARY

Ayae, Susan, Barbara, Lori and Marlana from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers American Football NFL Cheerleading team took time out last Friday from their hectic nationwide schedule of appearances to run a cheerleading workshop for the youngsters of River Lea Primary at Score, Leyton.

The cheerleaders were in England to coincide with Super Bowl XLIII in Tampa as well as promoting the NFL game at Wembley in October between the Buccaneers and the New England Patriots.

Run by Paul Motion, NFL Development Officer at Leyton Orient Community Sports Programme (LOCSP) as part of the work between LOCSP and NFL UK, the hour session saw the young girls run through a series of cheerleading exercises and skills before the Florida ladies showed off a full match routine.

The young students then had an opportunity to take part in a question and answer session and pose for photographs, with every participant receiving a fantastic signed Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleaders squad photo.

After the session the cheerleaders headed down to Draper’s Field to support the ‘Friday Night is NFL Flag Football’ night for 14-19 year olds every Friday night from 4pm – 6pm.

Susan, Tampa Bay Buccaneers Cheerleader in her rookie year said:

“This is my first time in London, but, coming from Florida, I love the cold! The
girls here today in Leyton have been excellent and did a great job.

“They have told us they will be starting a cheerleading club at their school now which is great news – we aim to inspire young people to set themselves goals and work hard to achieve them.

“We all look forward to coming back to England in October!”

Aliyah, 9, Pupil at River Lea Primary School said:

“I felt really excited about the class as I really like cheerleading – I couldn’t wait!

“First we learnt some of the steps, then ‘high v’, ‘low v’ and ‘half t’ and then their touchdown routine.

“We then ran through the ‘rainstorm’ exercise, using our hands and feet - we started off quietly, then went loud and then loud to quiet.

“At the end they showed us the dances they do when they are on the pitch which I really enjoyed.

“The best thing about cheerleading is making the people you are cheerleading for feel they have got your support.

“The cheerleaders were very pretty and really nice – I am a Tampa Bay fan now!”

Marie Ebefourie, PE Co-ordinator/Teacher, River Lea Primary School said:

“This was a great opportunity for our pupils to come down and learn some
cheerleading skills from the world’s best. When they heard they were coming they
were really excited – some said they couldn’t sleep the night before!

“The workshop was excellent – they went right down to the girls level and went through routines and exercises a number of times, including games that the girls really enjoyed. It was very positive and encouraging for them to hear from a team of NFL Cheerleaders that they were doing really well.

“We will take this back to school and start a cheerleading club and have the girls
actually lead the sessions rather than an adult like me, which will be really good for their personal development and as young leaders.

“Cheerleading is an excellent sport as it is really active and gives girls an opportunity to participate in a sport away from boys and have something they can call their own.”

LOCSP and the NFL UK are running a ‘NFL Junior Player Development’ camp at Draper’s Field in February half term (Weds 18, Thurs 19 & Fri 20). The camp is a fully-kitted and full-contact three day event open to Girls and Boys aged 14-18.

For more information about the LOCSP NFL activities please contact Paul Motion, LOCSP NFL Development Officer on 020 8556 5973 or email paul.motion@locsp.org.