Football coaching in California!!! (pre trip)

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Not long to go now! An experience of a lifetime awaits me in the land of the free. I have been offered a football (soccer) coaching job in Northern California with a great reputable company called UK international soccer camps. The base of where I'll be coaching has yet to finalised but I have been told I will either be in San francisco, Sacramento or San Jose. Any of these places is cool with me, as long as I get to teach and show the kids why football is called the 'beuatiful game'.

I was originally offered a job over their this summer, but I turned it down as I hadn't had any real coaching experience. I didnt want to go out there feeling as though I didnt no what I was letting myself in for. I now boast over 60 hours worth of coaching experience over here In London, Well actually Crawley in West Sussex but no-one knows where that is!!! I have been coaching half term school soccer camps, coaching ages 4-16. Each age group has there positive and negative aspect about them. The younger ones tend to listen really well but become easily distracted, the older ones are opposite. It might be different with different coaches. I'm sure the kids In America will have their unique attributes. I now feel that I have the minumum amount of experience to be able to coach in a confident manor over there. It was great to get another offer for a job this autumn (fall), this time an opportunity I just couldnt say no to, an opportunity I am relishing.

This blog is just a brief summary of how I'm preparing for my impending adventure. I will update either daily or weekly once I arrive. I had to travel upto London to the US Embassy to apply for a working Visa, it was like going through security at an airport!!! I was searched about 50 times, told I wasn't allowed a phone inside, then searched again, all your personal belongings have to put in a clear bag. A very uneasy experience at the best of times! But it has to be done I guess. As long as I got the go ahead to work in the States, that's all I was worried about. (Not that I have anything to hide or worry about!!!!)

Well after around two hours worth of questions and filling out forms, my visa was granted! It arrived via post, attached to my passport within a week. The first major step to the States.

The next thing to do was to get all my paperwork organised and sent to the companies HQ for their records, that finally got done!!!

The next thing to cross off my list was to figure out how to get their ofcourse! Well I thought about sailing across the Atlantic in a dinghy, then cycling through the whole country, I soon thought 'nah' I'll just fly!! Abit quicker I think. Before I went ahead to book my flight, a couple of my friends suggested they would love to meet me out there after my contract finishes with the company, I also put the idea to my girlfriend. They all jumped at the chance, Can't blame them really!!!! But I get the hint that their only coming out to see the country and not me!!! haha. Either way, I booked my flight and fly out 18th September and return 18th November. A lovely two months im sure it will be. The friends are meeting me In LA and we are planning to go on a little roadtrip to 'Mans great playground' LAS VEGAS BABY! to have a flutter and to celebrate, maybe even the odd beer and flutter aswell......

I have since also emailed The David Beckham academy In LA to enquire whether or not it wouild be ok to be shown around the site, maybe to make contacts and to gain new ideas on how to coach. We shall see if they reply. Fingers crossed.

Now I'm here writing this, and I have to say the trip is beginning to fill me with both nerves and excitement all at the same time. It's only natural to feel nervous as I will be travelling 4000 miles, half way around the world all on my own, and not knowing anyone at all. That thought in itself is a great motivator for me though as it gives me the opportunity to live independently, to think for myself, to make my own decisions and more importantly to try something I no I love and that is working with a football. My girlfriend is behind me every step of the way, but I no she's going to miss her hunk of a boyfriend!!! Who wouldn't!!!!

My flight is only two weeks away, I will probably write a quick note the night before I travel to express how I'm feeling, I no I'm only away for two months but it will be the longest I will have been away from home all on my own. The main focus now is getting people out for my leaving party this friday!!!!! A few beers and kebabs are in order I think!!

My adventure begins 11.30AM September 18th at London Heathrow Airport.....Bring it on!!! SOCCER!!!!!!

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Comments

[Marshmellow]

Marsha
I just figured out how to get to your Blogs. I am a challenged American. I am so happy for you. This is what you want and you are doing it. Keep in touch. I would love to see you again. Marsha