I haven’t had much to write about regarding my team. We have a three week break before our next game, and I decided to give the boys a week off. We needed this time to get ourselves a mental recharge and obviously to heal some bumps and bruises we have incurred. I definitely needed the break as I have a total staff of 3 guys (including myself) and have had a lot of the work fall on to my shoulders. This has been a part of my education as a brand new Head Coach, and may be in another post down the road I will talk about how the staff of my team became so low. It’s not as exciting as you might think, but it also sheds some light on some challenges you will face when you coach over here.
This brings me to my topic: WHY I THINK COACHING IN EUROPE IS A MUST FOR YOUNG COACHES. Alright so maybe it isn’t a must, but I really believe that young coaches could benefit from a year or two in Europe. I have mentioned a number of times, but American Football is a growing sport world wide. For example, did you know that the American Football World Championships will be played this summer in Austria? This will be the third time this event will be hosted by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF), and as the event gets closer I’ll try to post some information regarding this great event. Now this is just a small example of how the game has grown. It hasn’t grown to the point to where we are going to start seeing the NFL draft dominated by the European player, but I do know that more and more EU kids are getting funneled into the United States to play college ball.
Coaching in Europe is a great way to sharpen your teaching skills. You will have all types of players with different skill sets, players who are very good, players who have ability but are raw, and guys that have never played before. They all offer a different challenge, but the rewards are just as satisfying. I also have found that the work you put in is appreciated by the players. No one gets rich coaching football in Europe, and the players know that as well. They know that you are putting in a lot of work that isn’t rewarded through large compensation (similar to the U.S.). But what makes these players different then say the average High School kid is that the kid takes for granted that you are there everyday, while the European player appreciates that you are there to work with him.
The other area that I think a younger coach can benefit from is from learning to coach from a leadership role. This is my first Head Coaching job, but I had been an Offensive Coordinator for a few years prior to getting my shot. I have learned A LOT in my short time here, and I think the experience has been invaluable. Everybody is going to make mistakes, I certainly have. I can go through a laundry list of ways I can improve as a Head Coach and the season isn’t even over yet. However, I believe that the mistakes that I think I have made aren’t as magnified as if I was coaching in the States. Media coverage of games isn’t what it’s like in the United States. The fans aren’t there to heckle you. Basically you don’t get second guess all that much or criticized for the decisions that you make in game/season. Trust me I have made some interesting decisions, but I have been able to reflect on them without being told how stupid I am. You still will face criticism, but it’s a learning experience that anybody can handle and prepare you for future jobs. Now not everyone will get the opportunity that I have gotten, but I believe that a young coach who wants to climb that ladder can learn a lot being a coordinator over here. You have to learn how to install an offense/defense on limited time (two practice days a week), which forces you to focus on what you want to be good at. You will also get valuable experience calling a game, and making some of those hard in-game decisions.
Now I will admit that coaching in Europe is not for everyone. There are certain things that some people wouldn’t be able to handle, things that still drive me crazy but I have learned to cope with. But that is a post for another day. But if you are a guy who just graduated or am looking for something a little different on the coaching front then I do recommend coming over here to Europe. It is a great experience from a football point of view. You will also get the opportunity to travel to places that are truly remarkable, and experience different cultures, food, and of course beer!
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