Girl power in American football: head coach Nadine Nurasyid

The sports scientist and athletics trainer had previously been active in the coaching staff of the men’s teams for several years. The fact that she is the first woman ever to be the head coach of a professional football team in Germany is not a big deal for her as a “woman”.

“It was something special for me because it was my dream to get there someday,” said the 35-year-old. After climbing the career ladder so quickly, the step to the top in November 2021 was something “big.”

From player to head coach

Nurasyid only started with American football at the age of 27 in the Munich ladies’ team. Until then, she had only followed the game as a spectator and understood little of the complexity of what was happening on the pitch, she says with a laugh. “I couldn’t say – is it the offense on the field or the defense.” As an active player, Nurasyid reached the women’s final of the German championship with the Munich Cowboys Ladies in 2018.

Since she only got into the sport late, it was clear to her relatively early on that “I can’t do it for many decades now.” That’s why she started coaching relatively early and realized “that it’s something I like and enjoy.”

As a head coach you are responsible for everything

In 2018 she was initially in GFL2 as defensive coordinator and DB coach with the Straubing Spiders. From November 2018 she supported the Munich team in the area of ​​defensive backs in the GFL. In the 2021 season, she was responsible for defense as defensive coordinator and played a major role in the team ranking among the top 3 in defense in Germany.

From the position as defensive coordinator, where you are involved in sports, as head coach she now has “the responsibility that you bear for the big picture.” Also for the entire coaching staff. “At least on paper we are 24 men’s coaches,” says Nurasyid. It is a big challenge “that everything works as it should.”

The fact that the boss is now a boss doesn’t matter to the tough guys. “I haven’t heard any stupid sayings from the players or the coaches,” says offense coach Simon Bramberger.

Nurasyid: “You are measured by your success”

What makes her different from her male colleagues she “can’t quite grasp yet”. Or say “where the big difference lies.” She definitely brings a different perspective. She is also “super happy” that there is now a sports psychologist on the coaching staff.

However, she makes it clear that there is no bonus: “It doesn’t matter whether you’re a man or a woman, you are measured by your success”, the advertised goal for this season is a play-off home win. The start of the season is at the end of May. By then she wants to be ready with her team.

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