Hopefully I'll make sense this time, but I am still adjusting to the time change and lack of sleep. Despite our exhaustion, the excitement of the first day kept me awake and pumped for the coaching course. Six coaches total, three from our main club FCBarcelona LA Penya, one from our Virginia club, and two from FCBarcelona Arizona including yours truly.

The course is held at the Barcelona Facilities and offices just within walking distance from our hotel and the glorious Camp Nou (FCB's Estadi). As you walk down the hallways of the offices, pictures of Barcelona's history decorate the walls. Everything from legendary players and historic championship moments. On the other side are executive offices with the FCB badge on the glass.

Our instructor is the Technical Director of the FCBEscola who works directly with the coordinators and coaches to plan the curriculum and practice sessions for the Escola. He is an impressive 26 year old with a Bachelors degree in Physical Therapy, a Masters in High Performance Sports Management, and 3 years coaching experience in the Escola. This first day was an introduction to the FC Barcelona and FCBEscola Philosophy. We were shown some of the main exercises used in both the Escola and Academy which we were able to practice shortly after at the Escola Facilities at the Miniestadi FC Barcelona right behind the stadium. The fields and facilities were amazing and all I could think about was what if we had facilities like this back home??

We were finished around two oclock and had a late lunch break before heading right back to view the FCBEscola in action as the first 8 teams practiced using the same sessions we just learned earlier but with different objectives or variables. After about an hour and a half they finished up right as the second age group showed up for practice doing the exact same sessions as the first group. Amazing, impressive, and organized I am realizing that I have a lot of work to do when I get home. Great fields and weather comparble to San Diego in the spring it appears like it may be a tough week and I may need more time to get used to it ;)