The International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Coaching Development Tour, with support from USA Football, will reach approximately 300 youth and junior-level football coaches in Denmark, France, Great Britain and Sweden from June 21 to July 6.
USA Football has selected six American football coaches – three from the collegiate ranks and three from US high schools – to further strengthen the sport beyond the United States. The 300 European football coaches, who will receive the benefit of the instruction, represent roughly 6,500 football-playing European youngsters aged 6-18 years.
‚This is an exciting tour that will further strengthen the understanding of a truly international sport,” said IFAF President Tommy Wiking. ‚All six of these coaches were hand-selected for their ability to teach the game. Thanks to their work, hundreds of European coaches and thousands of players will further advance their football knowledge and enjoyment of our sport.”
USA Football Executive Director Scott Hallenbeck said: ‚The best way to enrich football on the grassroots level – whether in Paris or Pittsburgh – is to provide coaches with resources to become quality instructors and mentors. With the help of our six standout collegiate and high school coaches making this football journey, we are establishing the game’s standards and best practices in all corners of the world.
USA Football is proud to partner with IFAF and national football federations in Denmark, France, Great Britain and Sweden. These 16 days of instruction will greatly benefit the youngsters who love playing football and who represent its future.”
2008 International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Coaching Development Tour details:
June 21-22: Two-day IFAF Coaching School in Amiens, France, incorporating classroom coaching theory and on-field instruction
June 23-25: Provide instruction for football coaches and players of the French National Team while they train for the European Junior Championship at the French Sports Academy (Amiens, France)
June 27-29: The U.S. contingent will make several coaching presentations in Leicester, England, at the British American Football Coaches Association (BAFCA) Convention, attended by approximately 150 football coaches
July 2-3: Two-day IFAF Coaching School in Copenhagen, Denmark, featuring classroom coaching theory and on-field instruction
July 5-6: Two-day IFAF Coaching School in Stockholm, Sweden, featuring classroom coaching theory and on-field instruction
The IFAF Coaching Development Tour will be chronicled at usafootball.com.
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The six American football coaches leading clinics in four European countries from June 21 to July 6 were selected based on their mastery of teaching the sport’s fundamentals.
JIM BARNES, Head Coach, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL
In eight seasons as head coach, Barnes has guided the Vikings to three College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin titles and participated in two NCAA Division III playoffs. Overall, Barnes has a record of 97 wins against 36 losses (.722). The Vikings have earned two conference championships in the past three seasons.
CLAYT BIRMINGHAM, Defensive Coordinator, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Menomonie, WI
Birmingham enters his second season as UW-Stout’s defensive coordinator. A former standout defensive back at UW-Stevens Point, he has coached on the Division I, II and III college levels. He spent the summer of 1998 as the head coach of Stockholm’s Swedish National Championship team, leading the team to an 11-3 record. The Sturgeon Bay, Wis., native was part of USA Football’s Senior National Team coaching staff last summer, which led America’s first national team in an IFAF competition to a gold medal at the 2007 IFAF Senior World Championship.
TIM BRESLIN, Offensive Line Coach, DeMatha Catholic High School, Hyattsville, MD
Following 10 seasons as a member of the Georgetown University football coaching staff (1993-2002), Breslin has contributed as the offensive line coach for one of America’s most successful prep football programs at DeMatha Catholic High School near Washington, D.C.
ADAM DORREL, Offensive Coordinator, Northwest Missouri State, Maryville, MO
Dorrel has helped lead the Bearcats to three consecutive NCAA Division II championship appearances. In his four seasons as a full-time coach at his alma mater, Northwest is 48-9 (.842). The program will enter 2008 with 21 straight wins in conference play and with a 17-game home win streak. Like Birmingham, Dorrel was part of USA Football’s gold-medal Senior National Team coaching staff which won the 2007 IFAF Senior World Championship in Kawasaki, Japan.
JIM ESPOSITO, Offensive Coordinator, Northern High School, Dunkirk, MD
A 30-year coaching veteran, nearly all on the prep level, Esposito enters his first season at Northern H.S. this fall. In leading Pautexent High School in Lusby, Md., for six seasons earlier this decade, Esposito guided the Panthers to a 42-21 (.667) record. The Washington Post named him its 2001 High School Coach of the Year.
GREG HORNING, Offensive & Defensive Line Coach, Northern High School, Dunkirk, MD
A master at teaching the game’s fundamentals, Horning has had spectacular success on youth and high school coaching levels. Leading the Huntingtown (Md.) High School freshman program for three years, his teams posted a 24-2 (.923) record. He attributes his success to strong communication with players and their parents along with providing his players with structure and discipline to succeed in football, a game rooted in teamwork.
