Austin Development Camp - Firsthand Experience of Floorball at a High Level

The camp will be led by Calle Karlsson, USA Floorball President, and Vince Faso, USA Floorball Director of Referees and member of the US Men's National team since 2006. To get a grip on things we have talked to Vince Faso.

What will your role be during the camp?
- As one of the chief organizers of the camp, my role will be to help explain and run the drills and scrimmages, as well as address any questions about USA Floorball's ongoing mission to support the growth of Floorball in the United States, Vince Faso reveals.

A floorball development camp in Austin, what should the participants expect?
- While the camp will be accessible for players of all skill levels, participants can expect a camp that focuses on drills and tactics that will help them improve their game. They will also get a sense for what is expected at the higher levels of floorball competition. The camp will also be used as a scouting tool for USA Floorball to expand the pool of players for its national teams.

How important do you think this kind of event is for floorball in the states?
- A uniquely American Floorball style has been developing slowly in the past 15 years, mostly thanks to Europeans who come to the US and introduce the game of floorball to friends and colleagues. This camp is an opportunity to give American players firsthand experience of floorball at a high level that players can take back to their clubs and continue to develop.

Will there be any events other than the camp and SWIFT?
- The evening of Thursday July 31 there will be a Floorball mingle at one of Austin's famed BBQ restaurants. Time and location to be announced. Also I'll be running a mini referee clinic Friday evening at the Austin Recreation Center, the location of SWIFT. Approximate time will be 7-9pm, it will be free. It's geared for the folks reffing the tournament, but can be great for those looking to brush up on their rules knowledge. We will also be addressing the recent IFF rule changes that came into effect July 1^st, he continues.

When is the last day to sign up for the development camp?
- While signing up as early as possible allows us as organizers to more accurately plan out the camp we will happily accept registrations the day of the event.

What if you can only make it for one day, can you sign up anyway?
- Yes! We'd love to have you for any amount of time.

For some player the goal is to develop while some aim for the national teams. What do you think is great about being a member of one of the US National Floorball Teams?
- On a floorball level, the opportunity to play with incredibly talented players from all over the world, and be coached by an experience coach is a unique experience. After only a few practices and scrimmages you see your own skills and abilities rise, and gain an appreciation for the type of hard work and dedication that goes into becoming a top athlete. On a personal level, few experiences can match the feeling of standing in a USA jersey next to your teammates as the Star Spangled Banner plays. Also there really is magic in the air when you score a goal in an international competition and your teammates rush off the bench to tackle you, Vince Faso concludes.

You can find more information about the camp here. You can also email Vince Faso for more information or to sign up for the referee clinic.