This week’s niche sport is only worthy of the title on this side of the Atlantic. The Cambridge University American Football Team, the Pythons, are still in the process of submitting their Half Blue application – but what’s niche about this team is not so much the blue as the red, white and blue. Talking to the Pythons team, they seem determined to make this the year for the American Dream in Cambridge.

While they are less known, it seems our traditional blues could learn something from the Pythons. Last year, they achieved a winning record of 7-1, reaching the National Championship Playoffs and ranking 13 in the UK. Most importantly, they smashed Oxford in the Varsity fixture.

This year, however, the club efforts are being directed more than ever towards recruitment, with many experienced and talented players graduating at the end of 2014. Unlike most university level sport in Cambridge, therefore, the Pythons are offering opportunities for anyone to join, irrespective of experience. A strong committee is allowing the Pythons to grow the team in all areas, including recruitment, training, facilities, publicity, sponsorship and alumni engagement and all tied in with improved branding and a new kit design and potential Blues Status. With all this, it seems the Pythons’ days as ‘niche’ may be numbered, with a plethora of advertising including leaflets, business cards, posters and banners all being rolled out this year to make sure everyone in Cambridge catches wind.

On top of this, there have been increased efforts to make Facebook, Twitter and Youtube presences more active, with more photos and videos of new players getting involved and all the big plays and hits you’d expect from American Football. The success of this push remains to be seen, but the future looks bright, with the Pythons already receiving emails from several freshers about playing before even arriving in Cambridge.

The start of Michaelmas, however, was when recruitment took off. Pythons were present at lots of college Freshers’ Fairs and had stalls throughout the University Freshers’ Fair. Unprecedented levels of interest buoyed team spirits throughout the two days with almost 500 people signing up.

New developments are not just off-field. This year, returners ran the first ever pre-season training sessions, allowing players to get back into the swing of football before season.

It’s not just returners whose training has increased, and this year’s Introduction to Football Sessions were specifically designed for players completely new to the game. There was a hefty turnout, with over 50 people coming over the first three sessions. Although many were novices, the team spoke to Varsity about how impressed they were with the players’ demonstration of the intensity the sport demands. The sessions comprised an hour of position specific drills in order to teach technique and basic rules, and then half an hour of touch American Football; the latter0.being a chance for players to show off some of their raw talent.

Even in light of the high turnout at these sessions, the Pythons are still looking for more people to join the squad. The good news for those who have dreamt of donning those iconic shoulder pads and helmets, therefore, is that the team have not yet closed their search for new players. They are also keen to point out to new recruits that they are one of the most successful of Cambridge’s sports teams in recent years.

Looking ahead, there is a ‘friendly’ scrimmage – in name, not nature, we are told – against Anglia Ruskin in two weeks which will be the first time new players get some actual game experience.

A fortnight on from that is the first game against Oxford Brookes, on the 16th November, who are reputed to be a very competitive team. Most importantly, the 30th of November sees the Pythons take on Oxford in the Varsity game. It’s being held at the CURUFC home ground, Grange Road, and promises to be just as exciting a spectacle as the more traditional offerings like rowing or rugby.