20110318: Coach Henriksen gives us an overview of the 2011 season
Q: In Mid-April, Show travels to Sweden to face the Västerås Roedeers. Why play against the Roedeers?
A: There are many good reasons to play a quality team like the
Roedeers. I've been watching them for the last couple of seasons. They're an
interesting and ambitious organization, and their offense features a player
that I consider to be among the best homegrown QBs in Europe, in addition to
some playmakers that make them an explosive offense. They also have a solid
defense. For us, it's a good test to see where we stand against a team that is
probably comparable in quality to the top two-three teams in Norway. We also
get to play 11-man football instead of 9-man, which gives us a further
evaluation of where we're at. In addition the Roedeers will travel to
Stavanger in 2012, which is an excellent opportunity to promote the sport in
our local community.
Q: Offensively and defensively - any big changes from 2010?
A: Yes. Defensively, our coordinator [Kamran Fatehi] will always mix it up depending on the opponent. Offensively, we stick with the same terminology, but there are a lot of changes nonetheless - especially in the running game. Our main priority will still be to be able to move the ball in several different ways, and to get all our playmakers chances to show what they can do with the ball in their hands.
Q: American football is a small sport in Norway. Is it a growing sport?
A: It is certainly receiving a lot more media coverage than it did 15 years ago, even if it's the NFL and not the local league getting the brunt of that attention. Hopefully it will lead to a bigger fan base for american football in general, which in turn will bring more players to the practice fields. It's definitely a growing sport in Stavanger; having 70 people on the field during our 'Rookie Day' showed us that. Our roster has also grown significantly from 2010 to 2011, and practice attendance is higher than ever. Nationally I think a lot will depend on how the federation spend the small resources they possess. I think it's important to focus more of the attention into the grassroots here, rather than whatever happens on the other side of the globe. American football in Norway is definitely in need of people with leadership, marketing and communication skills in key positions if the sport is to grow.
Q: Any thoughts on the other teams in the league this season; Kristiansand Gladiators and Tønsberg Raiders?
A: The Gladiators matched us pretty well last season. They have plenty of talent, and I think bringing in a paid full-time coach at this point is a good move by them. I expect them to be a solid team. The Raiders need a bigger roster and more talent in 2011 than in 2010 to be competitive. They have some players that I'd gladly have on our team, so they are not without talent - that is not what I am saying. It's just that they need to highlight that talent better, and have a supporting cast that means their best players don't have to play every down on offense, defense and special teams.
Q: What does the future hold for the AFC Show senior team?
A: I think we need to focus on the season ahead, and evaluate in August. I've always said we need to average 25+ players per practice to even consider playing 11-man. So far in 2011 we average 28 per practice, so we're on the right track in that regard. But it still needs to be better practices, better effort, better teamwork and more work on the organizational side of things as well if we are to be a solid club that can challenge for championships and compete at the international level.
Q: So the 1st Division is not out of the question for 2012?
A: Nothing is out of the question for 2012. It depends on what we as a club want to accomplish. It also depends on what options are out there. Unfortunately we are in one of the most under-developed league systems in the world, so it's a question of whether that's worth being part of, and what the alternatives are. We want to be a part of making the sport grow in our region, so it's important that we don't lose sight of that.
Q: Offensively and defensively - any big changes from 2010?
A: Yes. Defensively, our coordinator [Kamran Fatehi] will always mix it up depending on the opponent. Offensively, we stick with the same terminology, but there are a lot of changes nonetheless - especially in the running game. Our main priority will still be to be able to move the ball in several different ways, and to get all our playmakers chances to show what they can do with the ball in their hands.
Q: American football is a small sport in Norway. Is it a growing sport?
A: It is certainly receiving a lot more media coverage than it did 15 years ago, even if it's the NFL and not the local league getting the brunt of that attention. Hopefully it will lead to a bigger fan base for american football in general, which in turn will bring more players to the practice fields. It's definitely a growing sport in Stavanger; having 70 people on the field during our 'Rookie Day' showed us that. Our roster has also grown significantly from 2010 to 2011, and practice attendance is higher than ever. Nationally I think a lot will depend on how the federation spend the small resources they possess. I think it's important to focus more of the attention into the grassroots here, rather than whatever happens on the other side of the globe. American football in Norway is definitely in need of people with leadership, marketing and communication skills in key positions if the sport is to grow.
Q: Any thoughts on the other teams in the league this season; Kristiansand Gladiators and Tønsberg Raiders?
A: The Gladiators matched us pretty well last season. They have plenty of talent, and I think bringing in a paid full-time coach at this point is a good move by them. I expect them to be a solid team. The Raiders need a bigger roster and more talent in 2011 than in 2010 to be competitive. They have some players that I'd gladly have on our team, so they are not without talent - that is not what I am saying. It's just that they need to highlight that talent better, and have a supporting cast that means their best players don't have to play every down on offense, defense and special teams.
Q: What does the future hold for the AFC Show senior team?
A: I think we need to focus on the season ahead, and evaluate in August. I've always said we need to average 25+ players per practice to even consider playing 11-man. So far in 2011 we average 28 per practice, so we're on the right track in that regard. But it still needs to be better practices, better effort, better teamwork and more work on the organizational side of things as well if we are to be a solid club that can challenge for championships and compete at the international level.
Q: So the 1st Division is not out of the question for 2012?
A: Nothing is out of the question for 2012. It depends on what we as a club want to accomplish. It also depends on what options are out there. Unfortunately we are in one of the most under-developed league systems in the world, so it's a question of whether that's worth being part of, and what the alternatives are. We want to be a part of making the sport grow in our region, so it's important that we don't lose sight of that.
Coach Henriksen is the head coach for the AFC Show, and is in his 3rd year in the position. Here are his answers to some of the questions that have come up during the 2011 preseason.
Q: The preseason is well underway. What are your expectations for the
2011 AFC Show team?
A: I expect us to be competitive in every game we play. I expect us to have better practice attendance as we continue to build a good club culture, and I expect us to be improved based on the amount of returning players and incoming players with quality attitude and skills.
A: I expect us to be competitive in every game we play. I expect us to have better practice attendance as we continue to build a good club culture, and I expect us to be improved based on the amount of returning players and incoming players with quality attitude and skills.
Q: AFC Show is playing a preseason scrimmage against the Larvik Lions. What do you hope to get out of that?
A: It will be our first action against an actual opponent in 2011, so it's going to be a good test of where we stand this early, what we need to work on, and so on. The Lions is a new team, and it's great to see a team in Larvik again. The scrimmage will be played as 9-man football, and our goal is to get every player on our roster involved in the action, regardless of the outcome. The scoreboard is of little interest in a scrimmage.
A: It will be our first action against an actual opponent in 2011, so it's going to be a good test of where we stand this early, what we need to work on, and so on. The Lions is a new team, and it's great to see a team in Larvik again. The scrimmage will be played as 9-man football, and our goal is to get every player on our roster involved in the action, regardless of the outcome. The scoreboard is of little interest in a scrimmage.