AMERICAN FOOTBALL

New coach for the offensive line of the German national team is Gerald Olszewski. The 42-year-old native of Dortmund, until the last season in the same function for the Berlin Adler in the GFL, and one of its active periods especially in the dress of the Dusseldorf Panthers even the best offensive-line players in the German Football ever were active. At the peak of his career as a player were his achievements so impressive that it led to individual awards, the attack line players have an absolute rarity. So in 1992 he was the German Footballer of the Year, was third in the same year when the election Düsseldorfer Sportsman of the Year and 1995 for best European player of the World League of American Football elected.

He had to thank for this, along with the sheer physical strength and his charismatic presence and a very strong game intelligence, which on his actual responsibilities as a player of the offensive line gave out. Quite logically, there was an early step into Trainermetier, which he already parallel to the player career 1991 at the Dusseldorf Panthers unfold. Until 1998, he coaches the offensive line and engaged at times also on the board of the association. Olszewskis expertise used later by the Giants of Dortmund, where he started in 1984 as a player and had their head coach in 2000 and 2001.

When later in 1991 as an NFL Europe World League of American Football started Olszewski belonged only to the first four European players in the squad were the Frankfurt Galaxy. After his move to Rhein Fire, he was at a time when the daughter of NFL league actual operating times for the European players still had the absolute exception, consistently master player. From 1987 to 1995 he was self-evident even to the presence of the national team and played all positions on the offensive line, also called the center and long snapper for Punt and Field Goal Game trains.

The commitment Olszewskis for the national team is also a return - with the best prospects for both sides. "We are extremely happy that we managed to Gerald Olszewski in the coaching staff to get our team," says AFVD President Robert Huber. "He speaks the language of the player, because he is on the field pretty much everything has experienced. And he brings nearly two decades of experience as a trainer and in the administrative field as well. "

The national team is in preparation for Euro 2010, in Frankfurt will take place. The finale in the Frankfurt Commerzbank-Arena is the ultimate goal - the first step there will be in August during a preparation match in France be made. Much time remains for incorporation Olszewski is not - no problem, because the GFL and the national team he has in recent years, of course, intensely observed. "The offensive line of the national team is in excellent condition. The foundation is there. "

Olszewski sees his task not only to optimize the performance in the European Championship is limited. "We have, especially in the offensive line in the coming years in Germany a generation change." Together with Marshall Happe, the responsible director of the Competitive AFVD, Olszewski will therefore work on concepts such as the training could be intensified. "I think we in the national team coach must also coaches in the clubs to help promote the players. Our commitment is required throughout the year, not only in the training camps of the national team, but throughout the year in active dialogue with the club coaches of all leagues down to the Landesliga. "