BBC--  As one powerhouse rushes forward, a burly opponent comes in for a tackle: the Turk flooring the American.

But as the Koç Rams American Football team enjoy their weekly practice, the rivalry is amicable - unlike that between their two countries.

The relationship between Turkey and the United States is in deep crisis.

From Syria to human rights, foreign policy to the 2016 attempted Turkish coup, the disputes between the two seem endless.

They even suspended the granting of visas to each other last year: a new low in bilateral relations.

"For me personally it creates some anxiety," says John Booker, the American coach of Koç Rams.

"The leaders of both countries have quick triggers in terms of temperament, as shown by the visa ban, so when you have two individuals like that you can't predict what's going to happen tomorrow or the next day. If things get really bad, I can always go home."