The excitement is building as I get ready to leave for Madrid on this once in a lifetime coaching experience. I have never kept a blog on any of my travels before but have decided that doing so will be a great way to (1) share this experience with others and (2) organize and digest my thoughts, ideas, and reflections during 10 days of learning and sponging off some great coaches. I doubt I will have much free time, but am going to try my best to post everyday. So - what exactly does this trip entail? I will be traveling to Madrid, Spain with a group of 15 coaches to watch and learn from coaches and players at some of the top clubs in the world and to see how they go about their work. The trip has been organized by the Masters in Coaching Program at Ohio University - I am not enrolled in the program but I believe that all the other coaches in the group are. My friend and former teammate (and then coach) at McGill University, Marc-Andre Maillet kindly invited me along a few months ago. I jumped at the chance. For 10 days, we will be based at the National Training Center for the Spanish Football Federation (Sefutbol) - staying in the Hotel Sefutbol (pictured below). This is where the players selected for the Spanish National Teams (Men's, Women's, and Youth) come to live and train while on international duty. During our stay we will be observing Academy and 1st Team training sessions at Real Madrid, Getafe, Atletico de Madrid, and Rayo Vallecano. We will also have Q & A sessions with a few of the coaches. We will be attending a La Liga match (Atletico de Madrid vs. Rayo Vallecano), watching some Academy games, and doing sightseeing in Madrid including a stadium tour at the Santiago Bernabeu. Some members of the group, including myself, have been lucky enough to secure tickets for the UEFA Champions League Semifinal 2nd Leg - Real Madrid vs. Manchester City which sits nicely poised at 0-0 after yesterday's 1st leg. I have never been to a Champions League match before, and to attend one at the home of the most successful club in world football will be something truly special - bordering on religious for me! I'm really looking forward to being fully immersed in this soccer environment and surrounded by other coaches of varying backgrounds. Despite my obsession with the game, I have not spent much time around professional teams and I am sure that a lot of what I see will be new to me. I am probably most looking forward to seeing the training sessions. Of course, I'll be eagerly jotting down any new exercises that I see, but I am more interested in the 'big picture' ideas that I will bring home. What is the general format of a training session? How much does it vary Academy vs. First Team? What is the teaching style and methodology and how do the players respond to it? Can't wait!
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Jeremy HurdleSoccer coach from Philadelphia traveling to Madrid for 10 days with a group of 15 coaches to experience the coaching and soccer culture at some of Spain's finest clubs.
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