Leagues vary throughout Europe allowing between 2-6 Americans on the team roster, and between 1-3 on the field at any given time. So the question has been raised to me many times recently, how many import players is best? A question that is constantly debated throughout Europe. Does it raise the talent level of the national players by having bigger, faster, and more experienced players at practice and facing off with them in the games; or if given the opportunity to play maximum reps will the national players develop quicker. We could teach kids to swim by simply throwing them into a pool, but that develops an immediate risk of them drowning. The players here in Europe need to have a model at first. They need to learn from skilled and battle tested player/coaches that can give them the general knowledge as well as the tips and tricks that will enhance their play, all the while playing and gaining their own experience.
Let’s set up a hypothetical European club that practices twice a week for 2 hours and meets once a week for 1 hour to develop strategically and with skill building. Assuming that you have recruited players that can also coach their position, with one import player the national players get about 80 hours of practice time and 40 hours of meetings in a 5 month season. When you’re allowed just one player the vast majority of the time it will be a QB, so what development does the defense get? Okay, let’s add a second import. We’ll sign a line backer to help increase the defenses ability. This has given our club 80 hours of practice and 40 hours of meetings for a wide range of skills on offense and defense. This is a substantially positive scenario for a club that wants to develop their national talent. Watch what happens when you add a skill player. Most Americans have experience playing both offense and defense from a skill standpoint. A WR/DB can increase the practice hours to 120 and the meeting hours to 60 for both the offense and the defense if he splits his time. He also can get specific with the type of instruction that is being offered to the national players. Therefore, with 3 players even though you take away 3 spots on the field for locals, you can have general and specific instruction and strategy implementation for both offense and defense that with minimal time demands of the players can allow for almost 200 hours of development each year. It also goes without saying that the players do not need to play both sides of the ball to coach both sides of the ball.
Having been involved with 3 clubs in 3 separate nations, my experience is that the number of imports always depends on the club and what fits their individual needs. Some clubs with better youth programs require less influence on the field, but need more coaches; while others need better players to fill into spots to make the team competitive and raise the excitement level of the game in their community so that one day national players can fill those roles. I have to admit that any import player will obviously take away spots for the national players, but the influence that you get for that cost can have long lasting effects on your club. To give a broader perspective on this topic, For the Love of the Game has had the privilege to hear what influential people throughout Europe have to say on the matter.
Alex Grande - L'Hospitalet Pioners (Spain) General ManagerJoe Sturdivant - Catania Elephants (Italy) Head Coach/Safety
Stan Bedwell -Kragujevac Wild Boars (Serbia) Head Coach/QuarterbackEric Marty - Bologna Warriors (Italy) Quarterback
Rick Rhoades - Graz Giants/Team Austria Head CoachIvan Zivko - Danube Dragons (Austria) Head CoachI’ve developed a small set of questions that each person has graciously answered, hear what the involved say and think of how you would handle it.
Question 1: Does it raise the talent level of the national players by having bigger, faster, and more experienced players at practice and facing off with them in the games; or if given the opportunity to play maximum reps will the national players develop quicker?
Eric Marty: From a development standpoint it really depends on how good of a coach and how accommodating individual imports are. Some imports are not used to or interested in coaching, or are selfish or uninterested in helping their teammates improve. Other guys help alot, especially the players at their positions in technique and football IQ. Imports are absolutely paramount in introducing european players to high caliber football. Euro DB's playing against American QB's have much more a challenge then when they play other non-import Qb's. You could go across the board, but in short it helps the development of euro players.
Rick Rhoades: I do believe that the import players give the national players a standard of play that is a great guide for them to learn from. As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words", and the best picture that European players can get, generally speaking, is from the import players that they play with and against.
Ivan Zivko: Both ideas are valid. Right now our Austrian players are getting better and the difference to imports is getting smaller. Time of the domestic players would always be helpful. On the other hand imports like Sean this year are showing us the difference!
Alex Grande: Well, to answer this question we should decide first if being a good player is a matter of aptitude (athletic conditions) or attitude (mentality). I would say that in Europe we have many good athletes with natural conditions to play football. The most difficult is to find people with the willpower necessary for practicing 3-4 days a weeks, workout in the gym, accepting the discipline and concentration necessary in the game, etc. That’s one of the reasons we bring imports here. All national players want to play like the Americans do. We always say, ‘to play like an American, first you have to practice like an American’. And an American will have always at least 10 years of advantage practicing. So, at the end, they have to take the roll of being models of what a football player is. Of course, there’s no better way to show a national player his limitations than facing off with an American player. We say too, ‘if your able to block one play an American defensive lineman, you will be able to black a national just with one hand.
Joe Sturdivant: The talent level of the national players is definetly raised by having more import players at practice. Competition in my opinion always brings the best out of someone. In Europe, I find a lot of the problem is there is no competition for a position. So the only way for National players to feel like they should get better- is to go against bigger, fast, and more experienced players at practice, so they can see the benefits of competiton. I think football players are the breed to not like getting beat, so if an import comes in and works over a national player, that national player will start trying emulate the import player on and off the field. Having an import player at each position on the field ex: ol, wr, rb- Would naturally put experience in those position groups- in my opinion this would give visual examples to those national players in that group. Its one thing for a coach to talk and try to teach how to do it, its another when someone can show you how to do it.
Stan Bedwell: I definitely believe that having imports raises the level of domestic players. Not only do they get to face more skilled and experienced players in practices and games, they also get to soak in knowledge from them.
Question 2: At which point do you feel that you are taking away positions on the field for national players by bringing more Americans?
Rick Rhoades: I think the only thing that comes into play, in my experience, is when there is an over abundance of dual passport players. Haven't really seen that much. I liked it when we had a total of 6 imports (3 on the field at a time) allowed in Austrian play. To me that was a good number and provided a good balance.
Ivan Zivko: Personally I like to reduce the amount of players in Austria and Europe. I dont see the need for that. I like to give Austrian players a chance. Plus it is a financial issue.
Alex Grande: We normally bring American players to fill free spots, both because there’re few players on that position or because we need a key player for it. We also think in the kind of game we play. We like passing game, so we normally don’t bring running backs, because we have players with the aptitude-attitude necessary for that, at least for the domestic championship. If we had a national player with really good progression in any position, we will never sit him. But this that’s really difficult, especially for the key positions.
Joe Sturdivant: I feel like football is a capitalist sport, only the strong survive. I feel like in some places that I've played, if you show up you survive and start at your position. This leaves very little personal development and self-evaluation for starters on European teams. I feel like if there were 5-6 imports per team, each position group would have an experienced player at each position showing the national players how to get better. But, this all depends on what the team is trying to do. I feel like the European teams need to make a decision, "do we do it for fun" or "do we do it to win," because I've never had fun losing...at anything. If this is just a hobby- then yes American imports take away from national players, but if teams are in it to make money and win championships there is only one way to do that, bring in the best players possible.
Stan Bedwell: Once you get more than two Americans on the field, things can get tricky. It's good to have experienced leaders on the field with college/professional experience in the states, but you do not want to be a team that is dominated by imports. I see too many teams where the import QB is throwing the ball to the import WR 75% of the time. I don't agree with this. While the Americans should be standout players on the field, it's a team sport and I'm a firm believer that all players should be utilized. Championships should be won by the strength and ability of your domestic players.
Eric Marty: I think the way the AFL does it is best. 4 imports - 2 on the field. 9 players on each team must be national players and the best teams have the best 9 national players (not the best 2 imports) but also unlike the IFL American players stay fresh and don't play 150 snaps a game which drags down the quality of play and often puts 3 imports on the field at a time.
Question 3: In your experience, do imports help the national players get better, or do they simply make the team better with their own play?
Ivan Zivko: Mainly they help us out as players on the field. A lot of imports are learning things in Austria. On the other hand there appearance and emotions is carrying on to the own players.
Alex Grande: It depends on each American player. I would say that they (almost) always make the teams better with their play. It’s just a matter of the difference of level they have comparing with the national players average. But they will only help them to get better if they keep their American player ‘attitude’ during all season, and don’t fall in to the national standard rhythm.
Stan Bedwell: As a whole, I'd say yes to both. Of course the imports make their respective teams better. As far as making the national players better, you have to look at it on a case-by-case basis. Some imports come in and do a great job coaching and really work to develop the domestic players. Other imports are coming to just play football and have a good time. In my opinion all Americans should be counted on to do extra work off of the field (film breakdown, game planning, promotions, individual work with teammates/coaching staff, etc.) because they are the only ones getting paid in most situations.
Eric Marty: Good imports make their teams better, their teammates better, and are positive members of their team off the field... But good imports can be hard to find.
Joe Sturdivant: In my experience, with the guys I've been around : Brad Guidry, Chris Osborne, Brandon Langston , Deante Battle, Robert Johnson- all these imports have dedicated themselves to helping their teams by stepping up as coaches. I feel like Americans have had great coaching in the past- and We like to win- only way to win out here is to no out play the other team's Americans but raise the level of the national team players around us. The Americans usually cancel each other out- leaving it to who has the best national players. But, this all depends on the Import players you bring over. If a team does good research on the players they bring over and talk to their past coaches. They will know the type of guy they are bringing over. Lets say a team can bring over 6 imports- and you can play 6 on both sides of the ball. Lets say just 3 of the 6 truly care about the team and are willing to step up and help coach. You still have 3 coaches added to your staff. I feel like the best teams in Europe win because they have the best coaching staffs. This includes the imports.
Because football in my opinion is a game of the mind- if you cant be at the right place at the right time then you will never make a play. If Europe really wants to make their leagues stronger they need to tap into the import market, there are so many US guys not playing football right now that have NFL talent or post college play talent. These guys have valuable knowledge. Make these leagues professional leagues. Raise the level of the talent pool. The national players will get better- they will see the reasons behind- film study, weight training, technique and why its so important. I was never big, fast or strong...but I always found my way to the right place at the right time. As a player/ coach here in Catania- I try to teach that every day- train your mind along with your body.
Rick Rhoades: I think that most Americans that come over here have a desire to help spread the game in a positive way. When this is the case, they are excellent teachers and ambassadors of the game.
As you can tell these professionals have a lot of experience with being or bringing imports, or both. What is interesting is that while their responses contradict at times, they all generally have a consensus around the idea that import players and coaches raise the game play in European leagues. How many to bring? Well that remains to be debatable.
The Crusaders found a Black Knights squad that was teeming with enthusiasm upon entering Tingvalla on Friday night. The Knights had playoffs on the brain, that's right... Playoffs! Playoffs! With a new import to go with their already developed leader in QB Cody Ladutko, and a recent return at WR this team was ready to roll. Unfortunately for them, so were the Crusaders and the Crusader faithful in downtown Karlstad on a Friday night. The Crusaders jumped to a 15-0 lead early in the first quarter after the defense came out with virtually nothing to offer the team from Orebro. QB Eli Cranor punched the first score in from 2 yards out and hooked up with Fredrik Eklund on a deep scoring try which reminded me of one of my favorite childhood films in which Benny the Jet hit a flyball directly into the mitt of Smalls who was standing in left center with his glove in the air. Eli launched right in front of our sideline. Fredex was streaking well past the defender but the ball seemed to be just a bit too far, as he urged for a few extra full speed paces he looked forward and away from the ball for that split second before the ball lands within a receivers arms. As he looked away he reached out and the ball hit him right in the hands. If a pass had ever been thrown on the target it was this one. Fredrik hauled it in and smoked the defense all the way to the score zone. Two more scoring strikes were granted by the Orebro defense in the form of a 20 yard catch and run by WR Robyn Juhlin and a slant route from Cranor to Eklund with time expiring at the half. Juhlin, pictured at the top, at just 17 years of age is developing outstandingly fast and can rival the likes of Sweden's top ball handlers. 
A dual sport athlete himself, it's not a surprise that his increased role in the offense has him scoring consistently from game to game. One touchdown was added by the Knights in the form of QB Cody Ladutko taking matters into his own hands and scrambling for the short TD run and another long scoring pass from Sweden's top duo before the affair was settled at 35-6 for the home squad.
