More than 30 delegates representing 17 countries and four continents attended the third IFAF technical Conference and the annual AFCA Convention in Orlando, Florida from January 8-11. 

The International Federation of American Football's focus on game development continued in the Sunshine State from Monday to Friday as a group of Japanese coaches arrived to receive training from elite coaches from the United States as part of the IFAF Education Development Program.

The IFAF Technical Conference featured a series of presentations, breakout sessions and discussions aimed at establishing player pathways and long-term athlete development.  The sessions also considered the role that modified versions of the game of American football can play in increasing youth and junior participation in the sport. 

Features presentations were Long Term Athlete Development (Bob Swan, Canada), Development Modeling and Player Pathways (Jim Messenger, Great Britain), Player Progression Development Model (Nick Inzerello, USA), Modified Games (Jim Messenger, Great Britain / Paul Manera, Australia), EFAF Coaching Development Program (Paul Vincent Miraval, EFAF), IFAF Education Development Program (Michael Preston, IFAF) Train the Trainer (Mac Kaneuji / Shinzo Yamada, Japan), and National Team Programs (Jan Jenmert, Sweden).

"We received a wealth of positive feedback that will help keep our direction focused on the requirements of our members," said IFAF Managing Director Michael Preston.  "The delegates who attended were able to share best practices and ideas on how they can increase player participation with fellow IFAF members, all for the good of the game internationally.

Countries represented at the IFAF Technical Conference were Australia, Bahamas, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Guatemala, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden and the United States.

On Monday and Tuesday the delegates enjoyed an opportunity to browse the exhibitor hall at the 87th annual AFCA Convention in Orlando after attending an International Session featuring four guest speakers.

Current Team USA head coach Chris Merritt opened the session by recalling his experience of coaching with the Hamburg Blue Devils in Germany before returning home to coach at Christopher Columbus High School in Miami and within USA Football's junior national team program.

"No matter where you go in the world to coach the game, there is one element that never changes and that is the passion that people have for the game," Merritt told the audience.  "There are cultural differences and adjustments that you have to make in football terms, but the passion for the game remains unrivaled the world over."

Japan junior national team head coach Takao Yamazaki focused on his coaching philosophy in leading his nation at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio, where his team captured the bronze medal this past summer.  Coach Yamazaki shared some of the plays that were key to Japan defeating Germany and Mexico and how staying true to Japanese ideals and discipline helped keep his team focused on the task at hand.

NCAA Assistant Director Glenn Terry provided international coaches and administrators in attendance with useful information and resources on how to address eligibility issues for international students who wish to study and play American football in the United States.

The morning's final speaker was Paul Manera, who realized his dream of playing in the United States at the University of Hawaii before returning home to give back to the development of the sport in his native Australia.

Manera explained how from humble beginnings in the Australian Outback he fought against the disappointment of at first not being academically eligible to play at an American junior college to persevere and eventually make the grade both on and off the field. 

"I believe that everything I had to go to through was so that I could then educate people at home how to succeed," explained Manera, who now helps players to focus on the game year-round through a series of unorthodox training methods that make the process enjoyable and simple.

This week more than 20 Japanese coaches will follow the Japan Federation of American Football 'Train the Trainer' program that is encompassed within the IFAF education Development Program.  The group is receiving theory instruction and inspiration from established American coaches Tom Bass and Larry Canard.