The Coventry Cassidy Jets have this week announced the plans for their new kitted youth football programme. The recently appointed Head of Youth Football Operations, David Cowen, unveiled the plans revealing that with the first training session, open to anyone aged between 14-19, will be on Saturday the 24th of January, the weekend before Superbowl XLIII. The training session will be held at Cov Tech RFC on Mitchell Avenue in Canley and will last approximately 2 hours.
Former University of Michigan wide receiver Lou Barnes has agreed to become Head Coach of both the youth (16-20 age group) and junior (14-16) teams and is currently constructing the rest of his coaching roster. Barnes, who's been an offensive assistant with the Jets for the past two seasons will be looking to establish a youth programme that will provide exciting prospects for the dominant senior team.
Cowen, who's been in the sport for 21 years winning National Titles with the Leicester Panthers & last season with the Jets, retired after the recent Britbowl victory and immediately began work on setting up the youth programme. "We've attempted to run a youth team in the past but we've never been in the position we're in now. We're now able to provide a full coaching set-up and have committed volunteers that can take care of the administration side of things".
With a coaching staff shortly to be announced and an already impressive crop of youngsters the Jets will compete in the British American Football League Junior Kitted competition in 2009. "The 14-16 age group play a 5 man variation of the game and we currently have enough players to jump straight in" continued Cowen "the youth team won't be ready for competition until 2010 but we'll be looking to gain associate membership this year and play some friendlies towards the end of the season". For further details please visit the Jets website www.cassidyjets.com.