In 1987, our founder was one of the two original founders of 'The Down Under Bowl' in Australia. This event created an annual American High School Football Competition held on the Gold Coast. Over time, it grew to become the largest invitational football program outside of the USA. New sports were added to the program, and thousands of high school athletes from football, cheerleading, wrestling, baseball, and other sports were invited to participate in an invitational either in Australia or New Zealand, representing their state.
In 2023, America Downunder relaunched the program and expanded our sports offerings to include soccer, volleyball, golf, and pickleball. We assembled a champion team in the USA, Australia, and New Zealand dedicated to providing a new and improved experience for athletes from our USA High School State Teams.
Are you ready to live your dream?
When the Downunder Bowl first started I worked as a tour guide with the rest of our family. This was an amazing experience and I loved meeting our USA guests. As a keen athlete in the past that got to play sports in other countries, I have seen what the opportunities of playing sport and traveling internationally can do for our youth. The Downunder experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel with your State Sports team, play competitive games and discover Australia and its people. America Downunder to me is a perfect fit for showcasing American athletes to explore and play their sport representing their state.
As one of the two original New Zealand based founders of the Downunder Bowl in 1987, I really loved this program from day 1 and the people we interacted with from all over the USA. We moved over 38,000 very happy athletes and supporters during my time. In 2024, some 37 years later, I am now the Founder of America Downunder, relaunching the business with new partners and looking forward to showing our USA Athletes and supporters the best of Australia. I am excited to see this program provide opportunities and change lives as it is truly a wonderful experience and a lot of fun to be a part of.
During my early 20s, I dedicated two years to missionary service in Perth. As part of my service, I had the opportunity to coach a gridiron team and later returned as a player coach for the Perth Broncos. Years later, I had a fantastic experience touring Downunder with the Downunder Bowl. This led me to join the new ownership team for 2024 and beyond. With over 20 years of coaching experience, I thoroughly enjoy working with athletes and prioritizing their personal development. I am responsible for all facets of the football program.
"Coach Cro" - Greg Croshaw has won National Championships at the Junior College Level, Sent over 300 players to 4-year Colleges, and over 34 players to the NFL. I am pleased to head up the recruitment of Coaches and Athletes for the America Downunder Program and change young lives.
I have traveled extensively and am passionate about providing unique team travel opportunities for our youth to participate in. Based in the United Kingdom, I am perfectly placed to offer support to our UK and European teams that want to travel and compete in the USA or Downunder.
I love ensuring all of the aspects of the office are looked after. I enjoy providing support to the team and taking care of the office tasks for this great business. I will be overseeing the office processes and procedures and providing the essential paperwork to our athletes and supporters.
Our team has years of experience in taking athletes Downunder and to the USA for an experience that is life-changing. All aspects of your tour are planned well in advance, and we have a team on the ground in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the United Kingdom ready for you to show up and enjoy the journey. Our team of State Coaches has years of experience and is well-known in their state. The America Downunder team tailors our tours to provide an exceptional experience that you will never forget. Our network of contacts across the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and the UK will ensure your team has access to the best games, experiences, and facilities available, while our detailed approach will ensure your tour is hassle-free and, most of all, FUN.
When the Downunder Bowl first started I worked as a tour guide with the rest of our family. This was an amazing experience and I loved meeting our USA guests. As a keen athlete in the past that got to play sports in other countries, I have seen what the opportunities of playing sport and traveling internationally can do for our youth. The Downunder experience is a once in a lifetime opportunity to travel with your State Sports team, play competitive games and discover Australia and its people. America Downunder to me is a perfect fit for showcasing American athletes to explore and play their sport representing their state.
As one of the two original New Zealand based founders of the Downunder Bowl in 1987, I really loved this program from day 1 and the people we interacted with from all over the USA. We moved over 38,000 very happy athletes and supporters during my time. In 2024, some 37 years later, I am now the Founder of America Downunder, relaunching the business with new partners and looking forward to showing our USA Athletes and supporters the best of Australia. I am excited to see this program provide opportunities and change lives as it is truly a wonderful experience and a lot of fun to be a part of.
During my early 20s, I dedicated two years to missionary service in Perth. As part of my service, I had the opportunity to coach a gridiron team and later returned as a player coach for the Perth Broncos. Years later, I had a fantastic experience touring Downunder with the Downunder Bowl. This led me to join the new ownership team for 2024 and beyond. With over 20 years of coaching experience, I thoroughly enjoy working with athletes and prioritizing their personal development. I am responsible for all facets of the football program.
"Coach Cro" - Greg Croshaw has won National Championships at the Junior College Level, Sent over 300 players to 4-year Colleges, and over 34 players to the NFL. I am pleased to head up the recruitment of Coaches and Athletes for the America Downunder Program and change young lives.
As an Athletic Trainer who has worked with young athletes, I am thrilled to be involved with this amazing company. Through years of corporate and administrative experience, I look forward to bridging the gap between our administrative team, the athletes, and their supporters.
Josie is passionate about all things social media! She enjoys helping businesses thrive online through engaging content and strategic campaigns. Her love for sports, and being a former high school athlete, she is excited to share this great opportunity on social platforms.
Married to my wife Stephanie for over 20 years and have two daughters, Gracie and Lexie. I played football and competed in track and field, going to state in track. Key accomplishments include coaching athletes to the Minnesota State High School and breaking records, and coaching teams at DownUnder Sports for six years (three years in football and three years in track and field). Coaching is my passion, and DownUnder has been a trip of a lifetime.
Shawn Jones is a coach with a proven track record for developing young talent. Shawn coached Track and Field at Southern Utah University and has been instrumental in developing athletes for Track and Field, Softball, as well as many other sports for 24 years. Shawn is a Softball Umpire and umpires major tournaments in the USA. He currently works as the Running Back/Receivers Coach, as well as a speed and conditioning trainer for the Eagles. As a former NFL player, Shawn’s extensive expertise and passion for sports make him a valuable asset for players wishing to achieve their full potential and advance their sports career in positive ways.
For many years, Schakara has proudly led athletes on the life-changing journey Down Under, fostering growth on and off the field as they compete at an international level.
As a Mental Strength Coach, she specializes in helping athletes harness their focus, confidence, and resilience to perform at their best under pressure. Her coaching philosophy emphasizes not only physical performance but also the mental edge needed to succeed.
Schakara is a National Champion Coach in the Patriots Division, a testament to her dedication, leadership, and commitment to building successful teams. As the Head Coach for Team Colorado, she is honored to guide the next generation of athletes through this incredible opportunity, inspiring them to achieve greatness on the track and beyond.
Schakara looks forward to helping athletes make memories, break limits, and represent Colorado with pride on the global stage.
