On International Trips, Coaches Should Learn as Much as the Players

It’s easy to think of a sports trip as being just for athletes. New drills, new opponents, new experiences. But at Off the Groove, we know travel is just as valuable for coaches—it’s a chance for them to learn new strategies and perspectives from their international coaching peers. That’s why we prioritize coach development as much as athlete development when crafting our itineraries. 

Here’s how: Before a trip, we ask each coach to send us game footage from three matches that show their team’s strengths and weaknesses. We ask for footage of a match where the team dominated play, one where they struggled, and one where it was really back and forth. Our network of European coaches reviews the footage and writes a detailed report. Together, we decide where the team needs growth and what can be emphasized during the training sessions abroad.

Sometimes, our coaches and the visiting coach don’t totally agree on what to prioritize—and that’s actually the beauty of it. A soccer coach from Spain might see different patterns than one from the U.S. A French tennis coach might have a fresh perspective on footwork. Instead of clashing, these insights complement each other, broadening the learning for everyone involved.

The result? Players improve on the field, and coaches return home with new tools, philosophies, and perspectives. It’s a win-win.

That’s the OTG promise: Our trips don’t just shape better athletes. They also give coaches the rare chance to step back, reflect, and grow alongside their teams.