USA gave Jamaica a few tips

This past week we could find USA Floorball Executive Director and General Manager of the Men's Team Adam Troy goalie coaching Jamaica Floorball President and Men's Team reserve goaltender Jason Daye.

As the Jamaican Men's team are short on goaltenders president Jason Daye will be stepping up as a reserve goaltender incase one is needed. Being new to the role he has been looking for whatever help he can find. Since both currently reside in Uppsala, Sweden the choice soon fell on USA Floorball member Adam Troy.

- One of the guys running the team Jason practices with contacted me about coming out and giving Jason a few pointers. We have worked together in the past so I thought it could be fun, says Adam Troy.

Troy has been a goaltender on the USA Floorball national team for several years and also has a long history as a goalie coach,  having been goalie coach for among others for current Swedish National Team goaltender Viktor Klintsten.

- It is tough to step in and try to learn how to be a floorball goaltender but I gave him the best tips I could.

Was there every any thought that you shouldn't help him? You will be facing each other shortly in Canada.
- There was never any doubt. We are both part of the floorball community in large as well as the Americas.  It is important that all teams can give it their best effort and come as prepared as possible. Besides we are both part of the Americas and we have to give each other what help we can, says Adam Troy.

Both teams are working on the final preparations for the coming qualifier. The U.S. team is working on the final scheduling issues and hope to have everything set shortly.

How are the preparations looking for the Jamaican team?
- It's looking good! We are still tying up some lose ends with sponsors but expenses is always a big challenge.  The guys are excited and they are putting in a lot of training, so it's good, says Jason Daye.

The U.S. team has a clear goal. To qualify for the coming World Floorball Championships in Sweden but what goal does the Jamaican team have?
- For me personally as president it wouldn't be a realistic goal for me to say that we are going there to win or to qualify but yes of course that should be the ultimate goal. But for me personally it is really about us getting to go there and participate.

And what are you expecting from the Qualifier?
- We expect to raise awareness among the bigger sports in Jamaica. Show that we can go overseas and try for qualification and also to get our players inspired by the game and to really catch the fever. And for us it is a measuring pad. This is what we will use to measure where we are now and how far we need to go and what we need to do to reach there.

Today we have seen a little example of cooperation between countries in the Americas. What are your thoughts on the Americas in general?
-  I think it is amazing! For us it is like we have three teams going to the Qualifier. The Americas is a family and floorball is a family. It really is a players sport and the players are also the organizers. Canada and Jamaica have a very good relationship and the US, I mean we have an amazing relationship and that, I think, makes floorball different from most sports, concludes Jason Daye.

Soon it will be time for USA Floorball and Jamaica to meet on the field as the kick-off the World Floorball Championship Qualifier in Markham, Canada. They meet on the 31 of January in the Cornell Community Center at 19:00.

The qualifier contains the three teams from the Americas, the U.S., Jamaica and hosts Canada. Two out of the three teams will qualify for the playoff round of the World Floorball Championships that will take place in Gothenburg, Sweden in December, 2014.

More information on the Qualifier can be found here.