"The first victory will be the sweetest": how American football appeared in Kirov

      American football for Kirov is exotic. Just two years ago, it didn't exist here at all. No team, no field, not even markings. Now there is a federation (documents for accreditation have already been submitted), more than 40 players, and big plans. The first official game is already behind us. And although the score was not in favor of the newcomers, the enthusiasm of the guys is undeniable. They are confident: the first victories are still ahead.

      "We started playing even before the federation"

      On May 16, 2024, six to eight people gathered for the first flag football training session — a non-contact version of American football. No big plan, just desire.

      Now there are more than 40 people in "Vyatichi." There is a flag football team, a contact team, and a coaching staff. Three home tournaments have been held, six away games, and eight players participated in the Russian championship for other teams last year. And now there is a regional federation of their own.

      "We started playing in 2024. First flag football, then full contact. The federation is needed as a legal entity to legitimize activities, to make the sport official," says president Danil Berdnikov. "We recently submitted an application to the Ministry of Sports and received approval for accreditation. The process is underway."

      Players came in various ways. One of them, Danil Shilyaev, accidentally stumbled upon a VKontakte group, signed up, and manager Marina wrote and invited him to training. Ivan Maltsev also learned from social networks but took two weeks to gather his courage. And Mikhail Litsarev joined the team thanks to friends he has known for over 20 years.

      "There is such brotherhood here..." says Mikhail. "I am endlessly grateful to each one. To Danil and Marina — they carry everything on their shoulders. It's a titanic effort."

      How to distinguish American football from rugby

      Many confuse them. The main difference: in rugby, the ball cannot be passed forward — only backward or sideways, and the game goes on almost without stops. In American football, one forward pass is allowed per play, but each play lasts 5–15 seconds, followed by a pause. Plus, mandatory hard equipment: helmets, shoulder pads, shin guards. In rugby — just a mouthguard.

      The first official match: an experience that is more important than the score

      On June 6, "Vyatichi" faced Moscow's "Spartak" (second team). For the Kirov team, this was a debut at the federal level. The opponent has a long history, a huge coaching staff, and high-level players. "Vyatichi" gave their all, and the president called this game an important step.

      "The guys showed our maximum," says Berdnikov. "Spartak is a strong team. They are stronger than us by several goals. I praised them. They tried hard — and that's the main thing."

      Players do not hide: the emotions after the final whistle were strong, but they were not broken.

      "I was emotionally down," Ivan honestly admits. "But the coach came into the locker room, said he was proud of everyone and glad that we are all on the team. That supported me."

      "I shed a tear, but it's nothing serious — we move on," adds Shilyaev.

      The main thing that both the president and the players note: without such matches, there is no growth. Watching how strong opponents play, analyzing their mistakes — this is the path to future victories.

      Next match: preparation for a new opponent

      Soon "Vyatichi" will meet the "Bulldogs" team from Naberezhnye Chelny. The opponent is serious and strong. But "Vyatichi" are preparing.

      "We are preparing, analyzing mistakes. Defense, offense — we are drawing conclusions," says the head of the federation.

      Danil is gearing up for battle: "I realized that I lack literally half a second to sack the quarterback. Now I'm working on my explosiveness, on my acceleration. I want to win. I don't want to lose."

      Players have already remembered some good moments: Danil dramatically tackled a running opponent half a meter away from him in one of the games. Maltsev, although he received an unexpected hit, got up and continued to play. Small details that build character.

      "If I say that the result doesn't matter, I'll be lying, but the experience is more important."

      The president of the federation is honest and pragmatic: "Of course, I want a less crushing score. But right now, experience is more important for us. In training, we already know each other. But how do we fare against other teams? Only through games."

      Ivan thinks calmly and wisely: "Our task this season is to gain as much experience as possible. It's wrong to be upset about the result in our situation."

      And his teammate Danil delivers a phrase that could very well become the motto of "Vyatichi": "We will hit this wall as many times as necessary. If we need to play 0:52, if we need to play 102:0 — we will claw out the victory ourselves. With our hard work and sweat. The first victory will be the sweetest."

      What's next? Plans for 2027

      Currently, "Vyatichi" play in the Development League in a 9-on-9 format. The plans are to pass accreditation, enter the regional calendar plan, and next year play fully 11-on-11 in the Russian championship.

      An ideal 2027 for the president looks like this: "To compete in the Russian championship and not finish in last place."

      American football, according to Berdnikov, is not just a "Western" game: "It is a game with a Russian character. A very team spirit, brotherhood. Without respect for each other, there is no place in this game."

      How to support the team

      "Vyatichi" are always happy to see fans. Those who have already been to the games know: the support from the stands is very energizing.

      "There were a lot of people at the match against Spartak," recalls Shilyaev. "It was energizing. Come, shout 'Vyatichi — forward!'"

      As one of the players said: "We don't have a sponsor yet. Everything is at our own expense, driven by enthusiasm. But we don't complain. We are building the future."

      The first victory will definitely come. And it will be the sweetest.