When Phoebe Scheckter signed up for Manchester's flag football club, she did so because she was homesick. Little did she know that seeking the solace of her home would lead to making history as Britain's first female NFL coach.
“I moved here to work with horses in the Cheshire area,” said the 34-year-old from Connecticut.
“I missed home. It was a sunny December in Manchester. When I saw the League advert in Manchester, it felt like a sign.
“The combination of being homesick, wanting to make friends, being 22 years old, and living in a foreign country can all make you feel lonely at the same time. That day really changed my life because… Because that one decision to go to trial in Manchester led me to where I am now.”
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Phoebe impressed at the Manchester trials and eventually became a key figure in the British women's American football team, eventually becoming captain and leading them to the 2015 European Championship final. In 2018, she made history by taking her first coaching job at the highest level of American football with the NFL's Buffalo Bills.
He talked about his time with the Bills, which was a high-stakes, male-dominated environment. “In many ways, it's almost indescribable. I don't think anyone can understand what it means and how it feels until they actually experience it and are inside it.
“I'm there from 5:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day for six months straight. But when you're running an organization and everyone's so motivated, it's not just about yourself. You will want to be better for others.
“I remember coming back from Buffalo and it felt like my head was going a million miles an hour. That was the norm.”
Phoebe, who has settled in Holmes Chapel and works for Sky Sports as an NFL analyst, is also one of the driving forces behind the creation of Manchester's first women-only flag football league.
Following the success of the London Women's League launched by the New York Giants and Chicago Bears, Phoebe is working closely with the Bears to help girls aged 12 to 14 participate in the sport.
“At the end of the day, flag football has fewer barriers to participation,” she says. “It's five-a-side and the only flags you have to fly are belts and soccer balls, so we're already cutting costs. There are fewer rules than 11-a-side and it's a much faster pace, so it's exciting.
“Experiencing that in Manchester feels like a full circle for me. It was in Manchester that I first started playing American football and being able to introduce it to young girls.
“I wish it had happened at their age. I started when I was 22. I think it's incredible that they get that opportunity and the support is amazing. Confidence, I know for myself that sports gave me strength, so I want to give that to girls.”
The Women's Flag Football League was launched on Wednesday (April 24). In the first league, 100 girls aged 12 to 14 from across the region competed in two conferences of five teams each (10 teams total) over five weeks, with the winners being crowned champions on May 22. You will compete directly in a ship event.n.d..
The league began with a flag football session at Bolton School, where the girls received their official team kits from Flag Football League partner Nike. Participated in an NFL flag taster session and other fun skill-based activities with Phoebe Schechter and NFL flag coaches.
