American football: Highland head coach appointed to Scotland coaching team
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Highland Wildcats head coach Ben Senior will lead a strong north of Scotland contingent into the Scotland Under-19s American football training camps starting this weekend.
Designed to give players the best possible opportunity to create a future for themselves in the sport, the next couple of months will see the teenagers heading to a handful of training days and two matches.
Senior will be a big part of the coaching staff, having been named Scotland’s offensive co-ordinator for the camps.
He is not alone in representing the Highlands though, with 14 players among the 70-strong pool – and a number of other coaches and volunteers getting involved in supporting roles, including daughter Jaya and wife Lisa.
“I got offered the offensive co-ordinator role, and I snapped it up immediately,” Senior said.
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to lead Scotland into battle and put some points on the board against some very tough opposition.
“It’s probably more than anyone that is in the Highlands, and in a lot of these younger teams, could possibly dream of.
“There are a lot of guys there who didn’t think they would be there, even at a lower coaching level. It’s a massive achievement, and I can’t wait to get started.”
Scotland’s opponents for their two matches are due to be announced tomorrow, but much as those will be opportunities for the players to impress, the camps as a whole are also a chance for Senior to learn from other coaches.
“Guys from the GB programme will get scouted by European clubs, and Canadian and American teams, so if they want to do it this is the best chance they have to go off and play at a professional level,” he said.
“Coaches from Premiership teams, universities, under-19s and under-16s are pooled together to share their resources, so we get to develop as coaches as well as developing these young players.
“I have the chance to work with these coaches and learn from them, and share some of my knowledge as well. We have been talking already and we have all learned a lot from each other before we’ve even had a practice camp.”
