The correspondent of FIRST Goal attended the training of the Finnish Wolverines and learned from players, coaches and team employees several entertaining football stories.

Four rooms. FIRST GOAL Visiting Helsinki Wulverins

The stories of people in amateur sports are often much more interesting than in professional. Moreover, in such specific sports as American football in Europe. People come to him in different ways, often completely incredible and leave behind the most unexpected traces.

When I was going to meet in Helsinki with the American legend of Finnish football and the players of the team trained by this legend, I intended to make a small essay about sports in Finland and how American players live here. Instead, I received four amazing life stories that stubbornly did not want to take shape in one article.

They never developed. This article consists of four different stories of four different people, each of whom told me a little about football and his path in this sport. They are connected by one, perhaps the most family-oriented and socially responsible team in Finland.

The first story. Legend. When I see that the quoterbek is doing something wrong, I run out on the field

When you begin to be interested in modern Finnish football, name Robert Johnson It pops up by itself. Then he pops up again. And again. Once again. In general, it is impossible to circumvent his figure. “He made a very serious contribution to the development of American football in Finland,” says Kvoterebek and captain Helsinki Wulvers, Yanne Lechtinen. – The ration game has changed dramatically after Rojo brought the US university football elements to it. I do not think that before his appearance there was at least one team using the Air Raid fall.

Robert Johnson began a football career in Texas, where he spent three seasons for the team of Texas Text University, and in 2005 he was recognized as “the best attacking newcomer of the Big Dozen Conference. After graduating from college, he moved to Finland, where he spent most of his career.

“How did I end up in Finland? This is a very, very long story. But if in a nutshell, then after the college (“Texas Text”) I did not work out with the NFL, and I decided to continue my career here. Of course, you can’t earn much money here, but it is enough to be full and have a roof over your head, and, in my opinion, this is quite cool. ”

Helsinki Wulwehrus head coach Robert Johnson-member of the Glory Hall of Touchdown Europe, winner of the Ifaf League, two-time MVP Mapal League, five-time winner of Maplboula

Robert Johnson won Maplbowl five times, twice recognized the most valuable player of Mapal League and set many of her records, most of which still remain unsurpassed.In 2014, he became the winner of the League of the Ifaf League as part of Helsinki Rustez. In 2013, the TouchDown-Europe hall was included in the Glory Hall (the Hall of Fame includes American players who made a serious contribution to the development of football in Europe). Robert Johnson is not like a modest person, but even his individual achievements consider his partners in many ways:

“Of course, the difference between American and European players is significant. In the United States, this is the most popular sport, everyone wants to play football, children begin to study already at 7-8 years old. There are much more people who want, there is someone to choose from. Hockey and Sokker are more popular here, so the best athletes are engaged in these sports. But not everyone can break into the top hockey leagues, and then the guys who want to play other sports come to us.

But in fact, the main reason I became the most valuable player in the league is not the difference in the class, but the fact that I had very good partners. This is the only way to achieve something in this game. There is safety in numbers. When talented guys are next to you, you try to help them, develop their talents, and then you yourself develop with them. This is the only reason I became MVP. ”

Johnson managed to play for many teams: Porvooo Batchers, Helsinki Rustez, Cuvola Indiances, Elephants Rasiasting (Italy) and Turku Trojance, where he was injured last year, after which he decided to finish his player’s career and began engage in coaching work.

“Wulwehrus” gave me a great opportunity, ”he says. -I like that this team is very family-oriented and instills the right values, it is constantly growing and developing. More children are engaged here, and in general there are more players than in other clubs. Therefore, I decided to work here.

“I have been working as a head coach for the first year, and, of course, it is very difficult for me to switch. But I get used to it a little. Sometimes I see the guys on the field and I think: I, perhaps, will try to show them by my own example. Especially when I see that my quoterbek is doing something wrong, I often run out onto the field: “So, look, this must be done like this.” It is difficult for me to stay on the edge and train without going out on the field, because I have been playing football since the age of eight. It is really difficult to switch.

The main thing that I try to teach children is hard work and the ability to be a leader. No matter how they play – bad or good – football will not always be their main occupation. I am trying to instill them skills that will come in handy in the future. If you learn to be a leader on the field, you can be a leader at work and in any other place. I draw their attention to such things: “Are you able to lead the guys for yourself? Are you listening carefully, what do they tell you? Do you pay enough attention to details? All this will come in handy in the future. When football is over and they will have to work or go to the army.

I try to teach them that stubborn work can be achieved. That perfection can only be achieved by constant training. That not a single opponent cannot be underestimated. That on the field you need to go prepared both physically and tactically. All my coaches taught me this, and now I am learning others. ”

Team training in a closed training arena in Helsinki

“If we talk about an adult team, I am trying to teach them how to play smartly, to understand partners and opponent. The quotas or, for example, protective beaks need to understand the game not only in their own position. I teach them how to play in other positions so that they understand what the rest of the players do, understand the task of every person who is on the field. If they understand what the rest think about, they will win.

Of course, there are many difficulties. I used to not understand how some players can skip training. Football should not be engaged in one or two days a week. To play football, you need to train five days a week, and this requires dedication and dedication. This game needs to be studied a lot. And if you started to study, you will have to give yourself to this. But now I understand that the guys have families, work, and one thing that they come to training after a hard working day shows their desire and dedication. So, if someone can’t come, I try not to run too much on them. Simply, next time they will have to work out both training. ”

History is second. Captain. In other US leagues, I could well play

Kvoterbek and captain Helsinki Wulwehins Yanne Lechtinen. Photo: FSC Media

“My parents are Finns, but I was born in California, where they studied at the university in the 80s,” says the Kvutterbek team Yannah Lechtinen. -After graduation, they decided to stay there, so I spent the first eight years of my life in California, very close to San Francisco. Then we moved to Helsinki. I did not play football in California, but here, in Finland, I began to miss him. So I started playing football and hockey at the same time.

Here all this is at the level of clubs, not like in America. There, of course, you also do after school, but in the framework of the school itself, but here everything is different. Actually, as in other sports, as in hockey: there is a men's team, and there are children's teams with it, so if you want to play, you go there.

When I moved to Finland, it was necessary to be at least 14 years old to start engaged in contact football, and before that it was possible to play only in the Futball flag. I did not want to play the football flag, so my father and I decided to create a couple of youth teams in Helsinki, especially for children from seven to fifteen. Players were mainly my school friends or hockey players who wanted to play something as interesting in the summer.The process of creating and spreading children's football across the country took several years, but it took hold pretty quickly. Luckily, Finnish football organizations recognized the importance of children's teams almost immediately, so children's leagues continue to grow and develop. Now everything has changed, many people start playing at the age of ten or even earlier. We have leagues for children from 7-8 to 14-15 years old. In the future, these guys, who played football from an early age, will become the basis of adult teams, and football in our country will continue to develop. Without children's teams and young players, there is virtually no future for the sport (especially in such a small country like Finland).

Why Wolverines?

“I started playing for the Roosters and then… For example, Robert is one of the reasons why I decided to change the team. He then played with the Roosters (their main quarterback is almost always American). I had no chance of taking his place in the starting lineup: Robert is six years older, he had college experience, and I grew up in a completely different world. It is very difficult for a Finnish quarterback to break into the first team there. I don't blame the team for anything, the value of a good quarterback is hard to overestimate, and they do what is best for them. In general, even before leaving for college, I moved to the Wolverines, and then it was easy for me to return here.

But working on the same team with Robert helped me a lot. He really pushed me to go to college. I wanted to do it, I was wondering what I can achieve in this sport. Just at this time, Robert completed his studies in the USA and began to play here. I played with him on the same team, we started talking, talking about the college, he explained a lot to me and taught me a lot. I was supported by other coaches and my family. In the end, everything worked out, and I recovered to college.

Did I dream of the NFL? Anyway, I was interested to know what I can achieve. My goal was to play in the NCAA and see what happens. As a child, you always dream of the most serious achievements. So of course I was thinking about the NFL or the CFL, but those leagues are a very small percentage of the players, so… I wasn't good enough. At least for the NFL. But I think in other leagues in the US I could play well.

About performing in North America

“I played in college leagues in the US and Canada. Football in Europe and North America is very different. Here it is an amateur sport. Semi-professional. I have another job, I am the account manager of the Premier Car track. I think almost 100% of players in Finland don't earn anything from it. On the contrary, we ourselves pay the team. In Finland, Sweden, Norway – yes, in all northern European countries, a very small part of the players get something from their teams. American players get something for their work, but it's more like… paid vacation.They get an apartment, access to the gym, food, some money … But, of course, this is not even close to what players in America earn.

If we talk about the game itself, then the main difference is speed. It’s even difficult to explain, just the game itself is faster, you should think faster, you should do everything faster. It seems that the field itself is less there, although, of course, it is the same size. I think in many ways the case is in the coaches. In Europe, almost no one has so many qualified trainers for each position. Most players do not pay attention to small details, they simply do not know these details. They do not know how to do something really right or how to do it quickly.

There are many coaches in Wulverins, but there were more in college. In addition, we are an exceptional team here, we have more coaches than in other teams. I think there are only a pair of clubs, besides us, there are coaches for each position or group of players on the field. ”

The command of the team on the field before the match. Photo: FSC Media

About family values ​​of the team

“Our team is really like a family, and we try to involve the players close and friends in various team activity. Last year, we conducted a family training, where relatives of the team members could try to go through everything that players go through every week. The team takes care of players, and players help in preparing games, attracting sponsors and training children's and women's teams. I take part in children's summer camps and training of our youth team and train the queenerbeks of the youth team of Finland (up to 19 years old). Many players are engaged in coaching in women's and children's teams.

As the captain and leader of the team, I try to be a good example for the guys both on the field and outside him. Now I am preparing a summer camp for young quoters from 8 to 19 years old, but some details have not yet been worked out to the end, so I’m not ready to talk about it with confidence yet. ”

About Russian football and the Finnish national team

“I know little about Russian football. But somehow I played against the Russian youth team, and by the way, we lost. It was ten years ago, early in the spring of 2006. We had a friendly game of Helsinki, it was cold (-5 or -10 degrees), wet snow was walking. We lost because our attack was very poorly disposed of the ball. The Russian team made many interceptions, and the positions on the field did not leave our defense a chance to pull out the game.

Even in our youth team, Anton Mikhailov plays. More recently, he played for the youth team of Russia. As far as I know, he showed himself very well and helped his team win the tournament. ”

History is the third. Legionary. I want to get to the NFL, but only after the Russian army

“I was born in Finland,” says Linbecker Helsinki Wulwehins and the youth team of Russia Anton Mikhailov. – As a child, I played hockey, but threw it when I started playing football. I was 11 years old, my best friend and I played Madden, and he suddenly said: Anton, let's try to play in fact? We looked on the Internet, where the nearest team and the next evening went to training. Initially, I was the earlyninbek, played for three years in this position, but received a fracture of the ribs, I almost could not move for a month, then I didn’t train for two or three months, and then it was difficult to stay in the same position, so now I play in defense, in positions Linbecker. Now I’m training with a youth team three times a week and already playing for the main team, resting from football only on Sundays. ”

Linbecker Helsinki Wulwehins Anton Mikhailov. Photo: FSC Media

“I was even invited to the Finnish national team, but, of course, I could not play for them. Now I was invited to the youth team of Russia, I will soon go to the fees (By the time the material is released, the fees have already passed – approx. Ed.). In general, I'm going to go to study in the USA. I want to get to the NFL. But this, of course, after the army. My grandfathers served in the Russian army, dad served, I want to follow in their footsteps, so in June or July I will also go to serve in the Russian army. After that I will go to college. I want to professionally engage in American football, as I can. Well, if it doesn’t work out, I’ll go to work in their specialty. ”

Yannah Lechtinen: “I saw Anton in the game and I can say that he has potential, motivation, and a serious attitude to sports. I hope that Anton will manage to fulfill his dream and play in the USA! He is a young guy, and if he now makes all the necessary efforts, then nothing is impossible. If I were in his place, I would try to constantly set small intermediate goals on the way to a big dream. If you do what you should do, everything else can work out by itself. ”

The story is fourth. Mother. Marcus plays football in Texas, and I continue to work in the team

All my communication with the team was organized by a wonderful woman Rinta Tassi Rinta. She sent me five informative letters in response to one short question. She sent me my own articles so that I learn more about the team. She invited me to use her photos, even before I thought to ask her about it. She coordinated and gathered everyone from whom I wanted to take an interview. She does not receive anything for this work. What's the secret? She answers, smiling: My son is just playing in this team.

Rinta Tassi and her son Marcus. Photo: Riitta Rinta-Tassi

“My son Marcus began to play at the age of 10. True, at first he sought permission for six months. A neighboring boy began to engage in football and told us about this sport. Marcus was then engaged in hockey and a juker – I was familiar with these sports, but I knew nothing about football.Once he brought me a notebook with homework, the exercise needed to finish offers. One of them began: “I am sad because …” Marcus finished the proposal: “I am sad because my mother believes that I am too small to play American football.” After that, I could no longer say “no” to him. I called the coach and found out how to get to training. Before that, I worked as a manager of the hockey team where Marcus played, but when he stopped engaged in hockey, I moved to Wulwehins. After working in the hockey organization, I understood what and how to do it, so it was quite natural for me to begin to help it with another team. I began to photograph and write articles about the game and about the team. At first, I could write almost nothing about sports itself, because I never dealt with it. Now Marcus is studying and playing football in Texas, the USA, and I continue to work in the team. ”

On the values ​​of the team and working with children

Wulverins is a very family-oriented team. We are open to everyone, many people work in the team, although their children have already grown up, stopped playing football or moving to other clubs. We help players whose parents experience financial difficulties, we try to make their children continue to play football. And we do everything to make the cost of classes for the players minimal.

We work a lot with youth, try to promote the team on social networks, sometimes we attend schools and hold joint events with other sports. We often send ready -made articles in the media to attract more attention to our sport. Although, most children still come to the team when they learn about her from their friends.

There is a place for all children, including those that are “more”, we are always happy to welcome them in our team. This sport teaches them to work in a team, take care of their partners, work hard and develops leadership skills. In addition, it helps to develop social skills, since there are many players in the team, and they need to constantly communicate with each other and coaches. During the games, families are gathering together, we always need their help to organize such events.

Many parents are worried about injuries, but according to statistics, football is far from the most dangerous sport. Collisions occur in any game and in some even more often than in football, for example, in basketball and a jukera. And they do not use protection. We always monitor the physical condition of the players and devote a lot of time to working out the right technique to avoid injuries. We also monitor the nutrition of players so that children and juniors always have enough energy for games and training.

We try to teach the guys to be athletes. But we teach them and other vital things, for example, respect for others.I think in this direction we are ahead of the rest of the teams.

Yannah Lechtinen: “For me, this symbolizes the family, brotherhood, unity and strength. Such a tradition was in most teams in which I played both in Finland and in North America. ” Photo: FSC Media

About attracting spectators to the stadium

We use social networks and our website. In addition, our games are quite popular. Wulverins play at the stadium in the city center, which is more convenient than others, so we can attract more people. Now we are working with universities and colleges to attract students to our games, this is one of the areas that I am engaged in. We interact with other sports. The broadcast of Super Bowl on television also helps to attract attention to our sport.

The popularity of matches is highly dependent on the city, the team and what it does to attract people to the stadium. At the Games of Vaasy, most people are gathering – about two thousand. On ours – from 400 to 700 people. In Turku – from 700 to 1000, in hayioki – about 1300.

I worked with Turku Trojance on the final game of the youth championship (up to 17 years old), and we did not have a single free space. Of course, there was a small hall for 400 people, but it was a youthful championship. We were very glad that so many people came to watch the game.

Helsinki Wulwehins talisman at the stadium during the game. Photo: FSC Media

About attracting sponsors

Usually, when I come to the company and invite them to become sponsors, I talk about the fact that this is a sport that is open to everyone, no matter what growth and size you can come, try and find a suitable place, so this is very Social sport. I tell you that we are developing leadership qualities, social skills, discipline in children, they constantly have to take care of their teammates. This is both true, and what they want to hear in large companies. They are ready to support the team that supports the right values. In addition, this is international sport, children learn English, they learn to communicate in another language and communicate with other teams at an early age.

Now it’s hard for us to attract serious funding due to problems in the economy. But we try to embody our values, we try to take care of our society, even completely poor families can bring children to training, so to some extent we can say that we are a socially oriented team. Just the other day, one large American company decided to become our sponsor, according to them, precisely because we are doing things useful for society. This is the most important thing for us. We are socially responsible and always and are glad to everyone. Even if companies are not ready to become sponsors, we invite you to watch our games and bring our customers with us to just have fun, and we can tell them a lot about the game. This is also a type of joint work.

Some companies do not even ask to post their logo on the site. They want to remain unknown. Some of them ask us to take a photo where their logo is visible or write an article that they could use. Some help specific players. They support one player and write materials about his achievements.

We try to work with the media interested in our sport. We do a lot of things for them: we write articles and reviews, because they do not have the opportunity to send reporters for games. I do a lot of such things for our children's teams: I take pictures, take interviews, write articles and send them all this. And they can already choose something from this and use for their own purposes. I do not mind, because I do it just out of love for sports. This is what I do here. But this is a hard work, for which people are needed who are ready to give their time and effort for free.

Perhaps in Russia it is worth trying to attract American companies to cooperate. This is, after all, American football. I am doing this right now – I am trying to attract American companies to cooperate. They can write articles on web pages that they support American football in Russia. I used to work in an American company, sometimes guests from the United States came to us, and when they heard that my son was playing American football, and I work in a team, there was always a reaction: “How? It is amazing! What do you get for this work? “Nothing, my son is just playing there” “Oh, it's so cute! And so great! This is really important to them.