Baltic American football camp unites 60+ players in Estonia's growing scene
A nine-hour American football training camp took place in Paide over the weekend. Organised by the Tartu Titans, Estonia's only regularly active club, the event drew over 60 players from across the Baltic region. The camp ended with a practice match and was hailed as a success by Titans head coach Craig Hamer.
The camp brought together representatives from five Baltic clubs, Estonia's only women's team, and two Estonian flag football clubs. Participants travelled from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to take part in the intensive sessions.
The Baltic American Football League (BAFL) currently features eight active teams. These include Tallinn Estonia, Tartu Tomahawks, and Pärnu Rammbacks from Estonia; Riga Black Wolves and Riga Might from Latvia; Daugavpils StallIONS, also from Latvia; and Kaunas Vyčiai and Vilnius Berserks from Lithuania. The league's season is set to begin at the end of May. Estonia has produced several NFL players over the years. Michael Roos, born in Estonia, played offensive tackle for the Tennessee Titans from 2005 to 2015. Margus Hunt, another Estonian, played defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals and Indianapolis Colts. Chuck Ehin, born to Estonian parents, spent most of his NFL career as a defensive lineman for the San Diego Chargers.
The camp's success has raised hopes for the sport's growth in the region. Coach Hamer believes events like this will help develop American football further in the Baltics. The upcoming BAFL season will now test the progress made by players and teams.
