FCV Academy’s Strength & Conditioning coach, Joe Lindley recently has had the chance to work with the British Virgin Islands (BVI) national football team. He was invited to help the team during their trip to the Cayman Islands and their recent trip to Saint Kitts and Nevis. In this interview, he talks about his first call-up, how his experience at FCV helped him, and the excitement of coaching on the international stage. Read on to learn more about his journey and what he brought back to FCV from this unique experience.
I received a phone call from the BVI national team manager a week or so before the trip. They said, “We’ve got an opportunity. Our usual S&C coach isn’t available—could you fly out to the Cayman Islands to work for the British Virgin Islands next week?” I was like, “Yeah, absolutely!” It was a great opportunity—international football, for starters. The experience itself was invaluable, so I immediately said yes.
There are similarities between the two and the core remains the same. The way I conduct myself, my professionalism, and my standards were consistent, regardless of the environment. The squad I worked with was quite young, which was similar to FCV, where we have a wide age range. So, it was a nice transition.
Working in an international football academy like FCV has been hugely transferable for me. I’ve worked with international group of lads, including many from the Caribbean. That really helped me feel comfortable in the environment. I don’t think I would’ve adapted as easily if I hadn’t had the experience of working at FCV.
The games. There’s always that buzz on game day, and it’s the same here at FCV. Whether you’re playing or coaching, everything leads up to the game. We had about six or seven days of preparation before the first match, and it all culminated on game day. For me, it was the first time coaching on an international stage, and that felt special. It was almost like getting my first international cap as an S&C coach.
I was definitely apprehensive before the trip—it’s international football, after all. The main challenge was the day-to-day organisation, like scheduling and working around logistics. But upon reflection, my time at FCV and working in the sport had prepared me.
I learned a lot, but it also reassured me that my experiences had prepared me well. I also learned about organisation, like planning and backing my sessions. I had to provide detailed session plans and hand them to the gaffer. It was a new environment, but I’ve taken lessons from that experience back with me—to improve myself, the lads, and the other coaches at FCV.
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