Well, the trip to Zuchwil was interesting as four of us jumped (or jammed) into a car. Troy Baker (offensive line coach from Bienna Jets), Stephan Puliver (tight end coach who just played a game for the Thun Tigers), Michel Spitznagel (the National head coach) and myself all got in for the hour long trip.
It wasn’t a compact car … but it wasn’t big either and three of us aren’t small people either. Then there is the luggage! We would be gone for about a week – so you need stuff!
I had only met Michel previously … but, I had sat with Troy at the Thun game. We got along fine and to this day I see Stephan and Michel regularly while in Switzerland and Troy and I occasionally will correspond.
Stephan was the long time Thun Tiger head coach who I worked with for several years …Michel was the head coach of the Bienna Jets as well as being the National team head coach.
I’ve been really lucky with the number of people I have met while coaching football overseas. I am fortunate to have friends all over the country. It’s been fun!
The training camp itself is very impressive …a few soccer fields – we were not allowed on two of them, a large rec pool outdoors, indoor pool, ice hockey arena, tennis, weight room, meeting rooms, dining hall and dormitories.
Great set up. I stayed in one dorm with the players. Well, someone had to keep an eye on them. It’s funny – none of the other coaches really worried about that. I guess being from the US there is no way we would let a bunch of 18-19 year old guys on their own!
But really the Swiss coaches weren’t concerned about any problems that might arise?? Interesting.
One thing I couldn’t figure out – there were no showers in the dorms. But there was a shower / locker room right next to the field? Not sure who designed this or if it was just a Swiss thing.
But, really a nice center for training.
Apparently there were several athletic sites similar to this throughout the country. I have been to two others in the country – at Ticino for a Sound Mind Sound Body Camp that we organized ourselves and Willisau for a joint Junior and Senior National team camp.
There are also another elite camp that is located in Bienna/Biel. One thing for certain there are certainly training centers available to the athletes.
The first night we coaches got together to map out our practices and general idea about the camp. It was way different than I was used to – everything planned to the last detail.
Well, not so much with this camp. It was pretty free wheeling – not so organized. But, we got through it and I learned a lot … some of the ideas I was thinking I kept to myself. Glad I did, because I learned pretty quickly that coaching in Europe (Switzerland) was going to be done differently.
But, I have learned over the last several years that there is a method to the “European madness!”
Well we were supposed to start practice at 9:00 AM and as the the time rolled around about half of the team was there ready to go. Others were half dressed and putting on different pieces of equipment and shoes etc. Several others were strolling across the field from the dorm without a care in the world.
No one said a word! Not a single comment.
Well, shit – the SAFV paid my ticket and housing (well that’s another (mis)adventure in itself.) We had to get moving with practice.
I told the young coach in charge of he stretch and warmup – to get the guys who were dressed moving. He asked what about the other guys? I did say exactly what was on my mind … “Screw” them let’s get started. (There is a stronger word the “screw” that I actually did use.)
The other coaches were wondering what to do about the other guys who weren’t dressed. I reiterated what I had told our stretch coach. If they can’t be on time – they get left behind!
I did yell at the left over players (It was at least half the team). Told them to get their collective “asses in gear!” Afterall they were disrespecting their teammates by wasting their time.
Well, we got to practicing and although the organization was similar to the US – the pace was really slow and the athleticism wasn’t like the US. But, that was to be expected in my eyes.
However, there was little coaching being done – not that the coaches weren’t capable – it just seemed like that was how it was done in Europe (or maybe here in Switzerland). Very few corrections and there were certainly a lot of things going wrong.
One thing painfully bothersome to Me was the lack of overall effort and hustle displayed by the players. I did stop the practice and implored the defense to give more effort and pursue the ball!
I’m not sure they understood the concept of pursuit and chasing the ball till the whistle blew. I just started yelling “Run …run … run as the ball carrier would run through the line.
Really I’m pretty much talking about the defense. But, the offense had their own set of problems. A QB would throw a completion and the receiver would quickly stop and throw the ball back to the line of scrimmage instead of “finishing” the play by running another ten yards or so.
Things you take for granted … but sometimes just didn’t happen!
Well we made it through our training and prepared to travel to Amsterdam for competition. But, we would stop in Basel along the way and workout against the Basel Gladiators.
Right around now … (mis)adventure was starting to peak over the top of the practice fence.
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