European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 17, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page. 32 the stars and stripes sports wednesday August 17,1994american football scores abroad by Christopher Allbright. Staff writer from tailgate parties to a the wave a american style football is growing in Europe largely because it combines mental toughness with physical ruggedness. In the year before the world football league does its metamorphosis on the european continent Amateur football is in full swing. The sport is growing among europeans in general and particularly among germans. A football for the germans is exotic a said Dave Ringler starting quarterback for the Landsberg express. A these Guys take a lot of Pride in being part of something  in Germany organized Amateur football started in the mid-1970s with the Frankfurt Lions. Now More than 400 teams exist. Germany currently has five menus leagues. The football clubs which Are corporate sponsored usually carry a number of youth teams along with a growing number of female teams. Football has established a cult like following Over the past two decades. The season begins in late Spring and ends with the championships in Early autumn. Marketing teams seems to be a Large part of the game plan. Teams offer pregame festivities such As live bands and parties. Admission to games ranges from about 5 to 20 Marks depending on the league and team. The Challenge for germans coach Sven Oliver Jacob said is to look past the apparent brutality of the sport and see Trie discipline involved with playing and thinking As a unit. A when i started playing in 1979, people were thinking american football was a killing game but its really not a said Jacob head coach of the revitalized scan Malmstadt warriors. A football is chess on the  Jacob said a football puts a lot of things together a fun a Good workout and Contact. I love hitting and there is More team spirit than in soccer. You can twin without 11 Good players who work together. In soccer you can have two or three and win a even with the demise of the air Force football program in Europe fans still can see live football in the civilian communities. A just because the air Force does no to have a football program does no to mean that football Isnit being played a said coach Lawrence Rhone 31, of the first league Hanau Hawks. Rhone said head like to see More americans at the games to a help educate the fans on Little things like How to Start a  a. A. A a a. A. Quot a a a a a. A a is amps Christopher Allbright the Landsberg express dark uniforms is one of More than 400 German teams playing american style football this summer. % american service members have been playing on German american football teams since the leagues Conception. In its infancy the number of non German citizens on the team were quite Liberal. Not enough germans knew the sport. A a a a a. A Thomas Hackforth 31, first saw . Football on american forces network television and later a Friend brought a pigskin Back from a visit to the states. From that the Small group of friends started a football team in 1981. A a when we started the Russel sheim crusaders we did no to know How to throw the football or Block. Gis from the Barracks showed us what they knew a said Hackforth a former player who now works for the Frankfurt Galaxy. A americans helped develop the game by making it popular and teaching the techniques a although their numbers Are shrinking service members Are very much Active with Many teams John Hopson 27, an army Supply ser want from an Augsburg unit said that e plays in Landsberg because he  have the Chance to play anywhere else. His command is supportive of Vii Jug _. A amps Christopher Allbright Landsberg quarterback Dave Ringler gets some pointers from his coach Wolfgang go Moll prior to exhibition game with an american team from Sembach air base. His off duty activities he said. A was Long As i come Back healthy and it does no to take away from my work the Chain of command has no problem with me playing football a Hopson said. The level of play varies. A Good High school team from the states could do very _ Well at the third league level according to Ringler 24, a former quarterback at Kalamazoo College in Michigan. A a a a. Possibly coincide entry As the draw Down claims entire military communities rules limiting the number of a non Germany players on a roster tighten up. Now Only two non germans May be on the Field at any time. Teams Are Only allowed to carry eight foreigners on the game Day roster. Some leagues also restrict How Many non germans can be on the total roster. Americans on most teams still hold key positions such As quarterback running Back and wide receiver. But that a changing too. A a it a a two edged sword. Its Good to have americans in key positions in the Short term but if you always have an american quarterback you re never going to develop european players for the Long term said marshal Happer vice president for the american football federation in the German state of Hesse. Rhone said a i try to use a German quarterback. German quarterbacks need to be put in a role where they can be  being an american on the team has its advantages As the German players look to them for leadership and guidance. A if i did no to have americans on the team the Quality of play would be different a Rhone said. Players who have grown up playing the sport do show some differences in their abilities according to both americans and germans. Ringler 24, said that the German teams have Good athletes a but we done to have a lot of complexity. The plays tend to be less complicated than a High school would  former Soldier Trent Fowler 25, who also plays for the Landsberg express said a americans tend to hit a Little harder and take the game far More seriously. A germans Are Good but some quit too easily when they get hit. When we re Down they give up and done to try to come  Hopson said that German players Are often intimidated by Black americans. A if they see a Black Guy walk on the Field they May think the person is quicker or faster because of the stereotypes. But everybody has to put the pads on and play the game on the Field a Hopson said. Markus Navarro Landsberg express founder and former player said a americans have told us big stories about having played for College teams and we find out later they they be never been to  Hopson said that the americans try to keep their Mouths shut and Only a offer constructive criticism in a tactful  americans players recruited from the states Are generally compensated with amenities such As housing transportation and a stipend. Locally recruited players usually pay a fee for the use of the equipment. Because team members Are rarely paid players. Work in a variety of White Collar and Blue Collar jobs. Playing alongside accountants engineers and Salesman Are mechanics movers and skilled tradesmen. By playing a Contact sport they risk injury and their jobs. A a in be had Many injuries but i done to care because i love football so much a said Mick Schrepf split end and backup quarterback for the Landsberg express. Many players echoed the sentiment that they done to think Abc iut injuries they just think about playing. Families Are also very much involved with the program both As fans and As volunteers with the team. \ Joy Adam 49, events organizer for Landsberg said a living in Germany All of these years in be lost a. Sense of being american and this helps me retain  people get together off the Field and that makes the team like a family. With the return of the professional world football league in april 1995, the sport is Likely to continue to gain popularity in Europe