If you enjoy my content and want to express gratitude, I would be so happy if you made a contribution towards my Argentina trip in the summer of 2021. The plan is to go there for four weeks and look at everything football, development, coaching, and culture. Any amount helps. I won't be upset if you ignore this message, as I produce this content purely for the enjoyment of it. Here is the link: http://fnd.us/c1en5f?ref=sh_98yL48
In contrast to my usual off-topic ramblings, I’m going to
try and be as helpful and matter of fact as possible.
The allure of coaching abroad is strong. There’s many
reasons why we do it, ranging from a sense of adventure, to looking for
opportunities. We can gain a lot from coaching in different countries, and I
can attest to that, having learnt another language and gained a wife.
Professionally, it has brought me new insight, qualifications, perspective, and
a whole range of coaching experiences and challenges I could not have
experienced back home.
It can be hard, but nothing worth doing comes easy. Leaving
friends and family, adapting to a new culture, a new language, new weather etc.
can be daunting. It’s worth it, even when it doesn’t work out as planned. You
can be vulnerable, and I’ll try to go into detail on how to best prepare
yourself for what’s ahead.
Know Who You’re
Working For
Technology has improved massively. This is a great advantage
to us when seeking opportunities in strange lands. Do your research on your
employers. It’s possible to check some of them out on sites like Glassdoor,
where former employees leave candid reviews, talking about all sorts of issues
from pay to atmosphere and cohesion. They’re honest, and quite telling.
LinkedIn is another good one. It allows you to see the experience of the people
you will be working with, and can allow you to contact some of them and ask
questions. A couple users on LinkedIn contacted me back in the day, and I
talked them out of signing up for a scam.
Many clubs and organisations abroad are franchises.
Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram will show you a lot of good information. Is it
a franchise in name and badge only, or do they have guidelines and a curriculum
sent from the parent club? You may think it’s great to be associated with a
large European club, but do they really follow the principles of that club, or
are they just some grafters in club tracksuits? From social media, you can
check out the facilities, the level of the players, what the training looks
like, and even what the parents think via their comments and reviews.
Living
Arrangements
Where you will live and who you will live with can often be
deal breakers. The coaching might be good, but if you’re stuck sleeping on your
boss’ sofa, or living with unpleasant housemates, this can really affect your
enjoyment. Try and get clear answers on this, and pictures if possible. Many
companies in North America have you staying with host families, and for every
dream family that spoils you rotten, you have an equal chance of being stuck
with a family you can’t stand.
You will need your freedom and your own space. The job is
stressful, and that is exacerbated by having few outlets. Back home, your
family and friends help you unwind and reset. They will not be with you abroad.
Which part of town will you live in? This impacts your social life. As coaches,
we work unsociable hours, but you still need to find ways for you to have fun.
For me, I try and join a team to play football with, I find a gym, and I buy a
guitar. Those things are what help keep me sane when working abroad and
isolated. Think about what it is for you, and if you can have access to that in
your future work environment.
Transport
How will you get to and from work? Some companies in the US
have you car sharing. They do this to save costs. If you’re stuck with a group
of non-drivers, this means you might become the default chauffeur. This adds
hours to your day, and can sometimes have you stuck with the fuel bill. Car
sharing also makes it hard to socialise, and go on errands. If four of you have
a car between you, it becomes difficult to manage things like going to the
supermarket and hanging out with friends.
Some companies won’t give you transport, and in some
countries, this severely inhibits your freedom. Anyone who has been to the
suburbs in the US knows public transport is so rare, and everything is spread
out, making walking impossible. In other countries, public transport can be
useless, unpredictable, or dangerous. Make sure to check this out. The employer
may tell you that you’ll be fine, as you will get lifts everywhere, but do
consider how much this will impact your ability to get around in your spare
time, and how many hours it will add to your day, being dependent upon others,
and not being able to move around on your own terms.
How Will You Get
Paid?
It’s not likely that working in football will make you rich,
and if you’re in it for those reasons, the kids are better off without you.
Still, we need to eat and to live. Too many companies pay peanuts, and in some
cases, keeping you poor is a way to keep you subservient, as you are not likely
to book your own flight home and get out of there.
Each country is different, and some pay monthly, weekly, or
every two weeks. Definitely find this out so that you can budget for the first
amount of time there before receiving a pay cheque. Many employers will tell
you, to help you swallow the pill of low pay, that “things are cheaper here.”
You’ll hear things like a three course meal is £4, and a taxi into town costs
£2. Sometimes that is the case, but as a coach, we should always have an eye on
the future. Ask questions to yourself like “will I be able to save enough for
the next coaching license?” A good rule of thumb will be that if you were to
spend no money whatsoever, you should be able to afford at least one return
flight home per month. Ideally, it should be closer to two. If not, I’d be
sceptical that they’re keeping you poor for a reason.
Many companies don’t just pay you, but will in some cases,
sort out certain utilities too. Find out what this is, or that monthly salary
that might originally seem decent, will quickly become depleted when you’re
paying for gas, electricity, water, phone, internet, and transport. The good
employers usually take care of most of that for you. The packages often include
a return flight for each contract, and some will even pay visa costs.
Some companies won’t tell you this, but they will expect you
to buy things related to work. They’ll talk about getting it back via expenses,
though some can deliberately make this an excruciating process. “We’ll cover
75% of your gas receipts” but will then do everything they can to delegitimise
your claim. And don’t take this for granted, but ask what equipment they will
give you. It’s sadly not uncommon for coaches to be given two shirts to last a
whole week, even in sweaty countries, and not have any balls or cones.
Philosophy
Any coach worth their salt knows that there must be some
kind of scheme of work. We’re too far progressed into our football journeys to
just be making it up on the spot. Working with others who have completely
different philosophies to you might not be something you can reconcile. Working
for someone who doesn’t even have a plan to begin with can be even worse.
Ask questions about the methodology, style of play,
curriculum etc. Ask how they ensure quality control, to make sure all coaches
are working together to achieve the same goal. If they can’t answer these
questions coherently, it might not be the best football environment for you.
I’ve made that mistake a couple of times, and you feel helpless.
All coaching experiences should have you becoming a better
coach at the end of it. Ask what they are going to do to help you improve by
the time you have finished your contract. Is it the players you’re working
with? The colleagues you have? The company resources? Will there be regular
CPD? Are there opportunities to go on courses? If none of this is happening,
you have to wonder about their values. Just as we seek to make our players
better, we too must be striving to become better as coaches.
What Does the Work
Actually Look Like?
Five hours a day sounds great, until you realise there’s a
two-hour gap in there, and an hour commute either end, with no day off. Will
you be just coaching, or will there be admin and sales too? Will it be just
football, or will you be expected to teach other sports? Imagine flying halfway
around the world, as a football coach, to only coach one hour of football a
day, and the other hours being sports you know nothing about. Some companies do
dupe you like that, so be sure you know what you’re getting into.
How much of your work will be with U5s? It’s important work,
and we all need to contribute, but sometimes your whole day can be playing cops
and robbers, Shrek and Donkey, what’s the time Mr. Wolf? And preventing kids
from running to their parents, crying, and eating grass. Is that what you want
to do? What are the levels and ages of the teams you’ll be working with? What
does the training schedule look like? What are you doing in the off-season?
Another thing to ask is in regards to vacation time. You may
miss friends and family back home, or they may want to come visit, so you don’t
want to be inundated with work when they come. Or perhaps you’re like me, and
enjoy travelling and exploring. When can you do that?
Find out what the facilities are like too. Google Maps and
Google Earth are great for showing what polished websites don’t.
What Do You Need
To Know About Culture?
Sometimes the most fascinating part of the experience
doesn’t even relate to football. It can be amazing to be in a new place that is
nothing like your own. Try to ask about what are the most different aspects in
the country when compared to back home. Are there any customs or social norms
you have to be aware of? Are there any rules regarding religion, sexuality,
different treatment of men and women?
It's also very important to know this stuff, because if you
have any strong stances about certain issues, there might be a few countries
out there that you can’t stomach. How much adapting do you have to do? How much
do their rules impact your core principles? Can you make those compromises?
Culture also affects parental expectations and how the kids
behave. Will the parents be on your case? What are the motivations of the
players? What is it that British coaches typically struggle with when engaging
the kids from X country? Football is a very social game, and we have to be
aware of our audience, and also how we may be perceived. Some countries have
very different greetings to ours, such as hugging or kissing on the cheek. Most
locals will not be offended if you get it wrong, but learning their customs
will go a long way.
What language do they speak? Are there opportunities to
learn it? Are there some key phrases that will help you? Will there be the use
of a translator? What is the level of English? Coaches deliver messages, and we
have many ways of doing so. Knowing your audience helps you better shape and broadcast
your message. Sometimes, learning a bit of the language and trying it gains
some respect, and also makes you seem humble and vulnerable, such is the
learning process. If kids see you trying and struggling with something that is
easy to them, they’ll be more open about making footballing mistakes in front
of you. If they’re open, you can help them.
Make sure to be aware of safeguarding procedures in the
country. How will you be expected to communicate with kids and parents? Will
you ever be left alone with the kids? Some countries have no laws on this, and
do not require things like waivers for liability, insurance, and even taking
photos of players below eighteen without permission. It can put you in
uncomfortable positions, that would make most Brits shudder. Be clear on the
procedures, and don’t do anything you feel uncomfortable with. As a rule of
thumb, if it would feel wrong in the UK, don’t do it abroad.
What Is The Visa
Procedure?
When can you enter the country, and when do you have to
leave? Know your rights. Many companies make millions off of visa abuse.
Working without a visa means you enter as a tourist and earn money illegally.
The employer might tell you it’s easier this way and saves a lot of hassle, but
what it does is removes a lot of protections for you, and gives them a ton of
leverage. Having the legitimate right to work in a country means that the
government will protect you, by law. You are guaranteed certain rights, making
it harder for the boss to exploit you. This is vital, as this is where most of
the employment issues arise.
A lot of countries have two main requirements, which are to
have a bachelor’s degree, and have no criminal record. It’s not impossible to
work abroad without meeting these criteria, but it does become much more
difficult. If you’re young, and starting your journey, wanting to go abroad,
three years in university to get a BA or BSc, and at least a Level 2 (C
license) will open up so many doors for you. Get it over and done with in your
late teens and early twenties, and the world becomes your oyster.
Be A Good
Ambassador
Do your country proud. Don’t be a drunken womaniser,
engaging in debauchery. Sadly, many do. Being abroad means they are given a
little anonymity, and are free of accountability. You are not better than the
locals, no matter how stupid or backwards you think their customs are. As a
foreigner in their land, you stand out. A lot of people will know who you are,
and anything reckless you might do will likely find its way to your boss, or
even worse, the parents.
If you’re not serious about coaching, please don’t go.
You’re stealing a living, taking a job from someone else, and robbing players
of a real coach. There’s plenty of opportunities to work abroad via other
means, such as Camp America. It gives the rest of us a bad name when too many
illegitimate coaches flood the market. I’ve seen too many go abroad and think
they can get away with half effort, believing there is less accountability, and
that they can just go out on jollies and do coaching on the side.
Coaching is a serious profession. You’re part of a team. Not
putting in full effort, not pulling your weight, not being on the same page,
that’s not being a good team player, and pulls everyone else down with you. If
you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it abroad. Would you turn up to work
drunk? Would you make excuses to skip sessions? Would you skip preparation?
Would you let your personal life interfere with your professional life? The
players deserve our absolute best, regardless of which country we’re working
in. If you’re not prepared to give it, coaching is not the job for you, at home
or abroad.
If they don’t like you asking questions, you should be
suspicious that they are trying to pull the wool over your eyes. Do your
research, find out as much as you can, and if you’re hesitant, listen to those
feelings. Going abroad isn’t all bad, but like anything, we need to be
prepared. You can meet fantastic people, learn a ton, and gain whole new
perspectives on coaching, football, and life. The experiences make you rich.
And even if you only do one term abroad, and even if it is only short, you’ll
gain so much from it.
