WEXFORD EAGLES ROOKIE GUIDE 2026
Welcome to the Wexford Eagles American football club!
This document provides information to new club members, answering some frequently asked questions and providing resources to help as you start out. Topics covered include;
- Equipment
- Club fees
- Training and attendance
- QwikCut Game Film Library
- Team WhatsApp groups
- League Registration
Equipment
One of the main concerns new players have when joining an American football club is the equipment. The club has some pads and helmets available to help rookies get started, and we will find the best fit for you at your first training session.
Some players, however, prefer to purchase their own pads and helmet. The following websites are good resources for a range of football gear. The basic equipment required when starting includes pads, helmet, and softs (knee pads, thigh pads, hip and tail pads).
Other sites may offer ancillary equipment, e.g., gloves, wrist coaches, etc. If you have any questions in relation to gear, feel free to ask one of the coaches or veterans.
Some sites will offer starter packs that include both pads and a helmet, but individual models can also be purchased from a range of prices. With proper care, this gear will last your playing career.
Positions & Playbook
Not sure what position to focus on? Don't worry, our coaches and veterans will help guide you to finding the best fit for your skills! And, when it comes to playbooks, you will receive the playbooks in due course, and we will host classes to teach the play concepts. Ahead of that though, we will train isolated techniques to help you find your footing. The process is all about building good habits and techniques, so ask questions and be a student of the game!
Club Fees
To cover the costs of training facilities, buses, ambulances, and other game-day expenses, the club collects monthly fees from players. For new players, the first month is free!
For 2025, these fees were €45 a month the club is active. Each season we will be active for 10 months; September to November, and January to July.
The cost of the fees are subject to change in line with increased/decreased club membership.
Training and attendance
On-field training currently takes place on Thursday evening (8-10 pm) and Sunday morning (11 am-1 pm) at Castletown Liam Mellow GAA indoor arena (location on Google Maps).
The club also holds video/playbook sessions online from time to time, and links to these will be sent out prior to these sessions. These sessions are intended to teach the basics of football to new club members, as well as scout opponents once the season kicks off.
All players should aim for a minimum of 75% attendance to maximize learning.
QwikCut Game Film Library
American Football Ireland hosts league game footage online for all teams to access. This is done via the QwikCut website. You should register for an account on the site to access game film, which can help in learning the game and improving your understanding of the sport.
We may film and upload footage from training sessions, which will enable us to review and correct mistakes. There is also a League Pool of tape available to browse and review.
Team WhatsApp groups
To assist in communication, the club has a number of WhatsApp group chats for various club elements, e.g., players group, announcements, etc.
Use the QR code to join the community, and feel free to ask any questions of the team in the various groups in the community. A dedicated rookie group is available for all new players to ask questions and share information as needed.
League Registration
Before you start training with the club, you are required to register with the American Football Ireland (AFI) league for insurance purposes.
We can manually register you through the registration form at the top of this page, or if you'd prefer to register yourself follow the steps below.
To complete this registration yourself:
- Open your browser and navigate to the AFI League Registration website via this hyperlink.
- On the home page, select the New Member sign up icon (highlighted below)
- Enter your details on the subsequent sign-up page
- Once complete, review and complete the relevant Agreements & Opt-ins options
- Once your profile is set up, you can update your profile details (option 1 below), and you can select the Wexford Eagles from the My Clubs tab (option 2 below)
- Search for and select the Wexford Eagles from the club list
- You should now see the Wexford Eagles listed in the My Clubs tab of your profile (option 1 below). Next, select the membership tab (option 2 below)
- From the membership tab you will have a few options to select from. Select the relevant option
- For new players, select the Athlete Membership option. You will then be presented with the various membership options.
- Full Contact:
- As you start in full contact senior American football, you can select the Trial Membership (option 1 below). This will allow you to participate in team training sessions for 3 months. Before playing a league game, you are required to complete the AFI 1&2 Divisions Membership 2 weeks prior (option 2 below).
- Flag:
- Select option 3 if you are going to play flag football only.
- Select the relevant membership (option 1 below), select Add (option 2 below) and you should be presented with the Wexford Eagles club information in the information box. Select the check mark (option 3) and then hit Finish (option 4).
- You will then be asked for Confirmation before being taken to the payment page.
- Once payment is completed, your membership(s) should be visible on your profile page.
