49ers bringing smiles to Melbourne

The San Francisco 49ers are making their presence felt in Melbourne well beyond the football field, connecting with local students, educators, families and fans through a series of community events ahead of their game in Australia.

On Monday, September 7, the 49ers hosted local students and educators for a day combining flag football with STEAM education programming. Students took part in interactive engineering and design lessons before approximately 200 young people headed to the field for flag football skills and drills. The event gave Melbourne students an opportunity to experience American football while incorporating science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics concepts.

The organization also partnered with NFL Flag Australia to hold a professional development session for local teachers, providing educators with resources and instruction designed to help introduce flag football into their schools.

Former 49ers Jesse Sapolu and Joe Nedney joined students and teachers at the event alongside the Gold Rush cheerleaders and team mascot Sourdough Sam.

The 49ers' community outreach continued later in the day when Pro Football Hall of Famer Bryant Young and former defensive lineman Ian Williams visited The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. Young and Williams were joined by Gold Rush and Sourdough Sam as they spent time with patients and their families, adding a service component to a week filled with football activities across Melbourne.