Join Panthers Juniors - interview with the Head Coach

On 08.10 there will be recruitment to the Panthers junior football section. Tell us briefly who are you looking for?

We are looking for players born in 2003-2007 who would like to try their hand at American football. All the better if the players have a past in other sports, but if they have never trained, they are also welcome and we cordially invite them.

This year's junior season is in full swing - tell us what the process of preparing completely new players for the competition looks like?

Preparations of new players will start in October. First, we will start with a few theoretical meetings to introduce the players to the essence of sport, as well as the basic rules and regulations, and after a few weeks we will go out on the field and in practice we will polish the newly acquired football knowledge.

You are the Head Coach of the section, will you present us the profiles of the position coaches who prepare the Panthers youth together with you?

As the head coach, I am also responsible for the offensive formation of our team, assisted by the receivers coach Przemysław Banat and the offensive line coach Murilo Machado. The coordinator of the defensive formation is Przemysław Lewszyk, and his position coaches are Szymon Romanowski (DBs - third line of defense), Marcin Gawroniak (defensive line) and Tomasz Kiszka (LBs - second line of defense).

Each position has its own position trainer and thanks to this we can transfer knowledge in the most optimized way. In addition, Damian Kwiatkowski, a motoric preparation trainer, is responsible for the physical preparation of our players.

What type of tests can recruits expect? Will strictly football skills be assessed?

First of all, we will assess physical conditions and motor skills. We will be testing 40 yards (40 yards dash), broad jump and exercises to test the ability to stop and go quickly, as well as change directions at full speed. I mean 3-cone drill and 20 yard shuttle. We explain the rules of all tests directly on the field, so you do not need to prepare for them in advance (although it is very welcome!).

What to take with you for tests?

For tests, recruits should bring sports shoes (preferably cleats), sports clothes and a bottle of water.

And what next? Let's assume that the player has passed the tests - does it mean that he must come to the first training session fully equipped with football equipment - first of all, a helmet and a pad?

Absolutely not. The first training of new players takes place in a non-contact form and without equipment. At the very beginning, we want to focus on assigning players to the appropriate positions and teaching them techniques characteristic for a given position. There will be time for helmets and pads. As a club, we have equipment that allows new players to train and play without incurring additional costs.

What are the section workouts like? How often and where are they held? What do players learn? In what formula do they prepare for the game?

All our trainings take place at the Olympic Stadium in Wrocław. Depending on the preparation period in which we find ourselves, football training takes place 1 to 3 times a week. The closer to the season, the more strictly football trainings there are. In addition, our players train in the gym and perform motor training on the field, under the watchful eye of coach Damian Kwiatkowski. Workouts at the gym also take place in the Olympic Stadium complex, where the club has its own space equipped by Hammer Tech with the highest quality training and regeneration equipment.

Head coach of the Panthers Wroclaw junior section is Milosz Mackow, a longtime Panthers player.