Coaches From Italy Gaining Coaching Experience At Six Division III Schools

Six coaches from Italian American football club teams have spent valuable time this summer serving as volunteer coaches with six NCAA Division III colleges in the United States as part of the Global Football International Coaching Exchange initiative.

Global Football matched the Italian Football League (IFL) coaches with NCAA Division III college partners who have traveled overseas with the Texas-based company in recent years, giving the visitors an opportunity to enhance their coaching skills on the gridiron.

They will in turn transfer that knowledge to help develop players in Italy.

Global Football President Patrick Steenberge:

I am thrilled to hear from our clients across the NCAA Division III programs to learn how happy they have been with their visiting coaches. This idea came about during a post-game conversation in Rome among with Jeff McMartin of Central College, the Roma Grizzlies head coach and myself. When I took the concept to Fabrizio Cuppelini of FIDAF (Federazione Italiana Di American Football), we figured out how to make it work.

The key element was the welcoming nature of the college programs here in America, and a huge thanks goes out to those visionary men. We are all eager to see this grow, impacting the sport worldwide in a positive manner.”

 

Coaches participating in the Global Football ICE program

Coach	Club Team	Position Coached	D-III College	Coach
Roberto Rotelli	Dolphins Ancona	Offensive Coordinator	Wartburg College	Rick Willis
Mattia del Monte	Dolphins Ancona	Strength & Conditioning	Ohio Northern	Dean Paul
Mauro Salevmini	Seamen Milano	Offensive Line	North Central	Brad Spencer
Sergio Scoppetta	Lazio Marines	Running Backs	Central College	Jeff McMartin
Dario Leone	Lazio Marines	U16s Head Coach	Elmhurst College	Ron Planz
Simone Drago	Lazio Marines	Quality Control	John Carroll University	Tom Arth

Central College head coach Jeff McMartin said of the recent visit of Lazio Marines running backs coach Sergio Scoppetta’s visit to Pella, Iowa:

Sergio did a great job and was a good fit for our program. He is a smart and observant coach. He spent countless hours learning all about our system and style of play while he was with us. He is also a good person. Everyone associated with our college and football program enjoyed spending time with Sergio. I hope we will have the opportunity to work with him again.

It was such a positive experience that we have extended an invitation to other members of the Lazio coaching staff to visit Central College and work with our coaches. The week with Sergio was a huge success. Go Marines!

Coach Scoppetta said:

There are many big differences between American football in Italy and football here in the United States. Here they have professional-level teams, but we only have club teams in Italy.

The rosters aren’t near as big, only about 25 people per team in Italy. We do not have as many meetings and coaches as American football here.

Global Football will continue to provide coaches from Europe and later from other countries around the world with the opportunity to participate in the ICE initiative. Later this month, coaches from the East Kilbride Pirates in Scotland will benefit from visiting Hanover College in Indiana, after hosting Hanover for a game and clinic this past May.

International clubs and federations that host future Global Football events will have an opportunity to nominate coaches to come to the one of their traveling schools, to spend a period of time integrated as an observer coach on that team’s football staff. The host school will provide housing for the overseas coach and will involve the coach in all football-related activities from the practice field to the classroom to game day.

In 2016, Global Football has a potential 12 spring tours and games to nations including: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland and Panama, allowing host clubs’ coaches to have an opportunity to participate in the ICE initiative in August 2016.

To learn more about Global Football visit their website.