National
From left, Nathalia Goncalves da Silva, Julianna Santos Correa and Rachel Jacob d'Albuquerque, of the women's American football team in Brazil, practice on a field in Flamengo in Rio de Janeiro. A growing number of Brazilian men and women are embracing the game.
From left, Rachel Jacob d'Albuquerque, Nathalia Goncalves da Silva and Julianna Santos Correa run a drill in Flamengo. The women's team held its first fully equipped game in November 2011.
Otavio Rotichman, coach of the men's team The Fluminense Imperadores, instructs Denise Chagas Mendes, 31, of the women's American football team in Brazil, how to hike a pass properly during a practice on a shared field in Flamengo. The field they rent is a public practice park, for which they must pay $200-300 reals. "These girls are totally new to the team," Rotichman said. "We just had a try-out this year. We are glad to have them. As the big team that we are, we have to have them."
Nathalia Goncalves da Silva, 18, motions to another member of the women's football team to begin a drill during a practice late Wednesday night in Flamengo.
Rachel Jacob d'Albuquerque prepares for an interview after practice one day in Flamengo.
Denise Chagas Mendes, 31, catches a pass during a practice on a late Wednesday night.
Loan Felisardo (89) and teammate Samuel Nascimento (31) run a wide-receiver drill during a practice in Flamengo one Wednesdy night during their off-season.
Felisardo and Nascimento belong to one of three teams in Rio that play full-contact football.
of 8
i
