Assembling a sensational body of work as one of Great Britain’s most influential women in American football, Phoebe Schecter has risen to unprecedented heights. The calendar year of 2017 may prove to be the time that the rest of the sporting world catches up to her greatness.
Such impact has extended into sterling play on both sides of the Atlantic. From the outset, Schecter competed with Great Britain’s entry at the IFAF Women’s Worlds in Vancouver, British Columbia, marking their debut on the game’s biggest stage.
Team Great Britain waves the Union Jack in a salute to the crowd at the 2017 IFAF Women’s Worlds
Originally from the American state of Connecticut, Schecter began playing five years ago when she moved across the Atlantic to Great Britain. Since then her career has grown by a quantum leap.
Starring as a linebacker for the famed Birmingham Lions, Schecter also broke the gender barrier by gracing the gridiron for a men’s team based out of Straffordshire. With the number 16 adorning her jersey, she was also bestowed the privilege of serving as one of Team GB’s captains, testament to her impact as a prime time player.
“Team GB is very lucky, in the sense that it is filled with natural leaders. The fact that I have been able to be Team Captain, is that much more of an honour, due to the natural leadership skills of my teammates.
Leading by example, with passion and fire on the field, comes easy, as I love my team and this sport.”
Phoebe Schecter donning the Great Britain jersey (Image obtained from Twitter: @buffalobills)
Since the 2013 IFAF Women’s Worlds, along with the positive impact of the Women’s World Football Games, the game continues to grow on a global scale. Undoubtedly, Schecter has been influential towards said growth. Of note, the opportunity to compete for the gold medal at the 2015 European championships signified one of the hallmarks in her career, also signifying how the game has grown exponentially in Great Britain,
“Without a doubt! We have had over a 300% increase in interest since then and that is still growing! Thanks to the NFL, Jacksonville Jaguars and BAFA’s Touchdown programme, this sport is now able to start at grassroots.”
A significant aspect of Great Britain’s ascent to gridiron prominence was emphasized by the fact that they competed in the bronze medal game. Competing against Mexico, who were also making their IFAF debut, it brought a tremendous sense of achievement for Schecter.
Just as important was the sense of redemption in defeating Finland, avenging a hard-fought loss in the gold medal game of 2015.With Ruth Matta rushing for 71 yards on 9 carries, while co-captain Jo Kilby went through the air with 103 passing yards, including a pair of touchdown passes to Jessica Anderson, the result was a 27-21 triumph, capturing a victory in their IFAF debut.
Team Great Britain enjoys postgame celebration at the 2017 IFAF Women’s Worlds
“To be honest, my favourite moment was beating Finland. It was a revenge match, that we have been prepping for since January, but mentally, since we lost to them in the Euros. We fought tooth and nail for our win against them and I am so proud of the team, staff, and our supporters for carrying each other through.”
As the 2017 edition of the IFAF Women’s Worlds signified the first ever contested on North American soil, it ran parallel to Canada’s sesquicentennial celebrations. The chance to be part of such a historic time only added to the feeling of achievement and celebration for Schecter.
“Being out in Vancouver was a brilliant experience. I loved being with my team, watching athletes play and coach football. It’s a rare experience to be engulfed in such a situation as that, and I shall always remember it.”
Of note, Vancouver proved to be prologue for another exciting gridiron milestone in Schecter’s career. Prior to the launch of the NFL preseason, it was announced that she was given the opportunity to take on the role of an intern coach on defense with the Buffalo Bills, one of four recipients of the Bill Walsh Coaching Fellowship.
For hardcore fans in Western New York, who have definitely appreciated Schecter’s enthusiasm for the game, it is also a unique brush with history. Of note, she becomes the first European woman to serve in an NFL coaching internship. Worth noting, she was a participant at the Jacksonville Jaguars UK Coaching Academy.
Schecter at the 2017 Buffalo Bills training camp (Image obtained from: Image obtained from: http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/40928845/this-is-phoebe-schecter-britains-first-female-nfl-coach)
It also marks the second straight season that the club features a woman on its coaching staff as Kathryn Smith served as a special teams quality control coach in 2016, becoming the first full-time female member of an NFL coaching staff. As a side note, Kim Pegula is a co-owner of the Bills, quickly becoming one of the league’s most respected women.
Perhaps more impressively, Schecter was not the only woman in Vancouver with an NFL connection. In addition to numerous women who have competed at NFL facilities as part of the Women’s World Football Games, Dr. Jen Welter, an alum of Team USA served as Australia’s head coach.
While Welter made history as the first alum of the IFAF Women’s Worlds to serve in such a capacity, bringing her international career full circle, she also spent the 2015 preseason in a similar internship with the Arizona Cardinals, also working on defense. Kate Sowers, a member of the gold medal winning US squad is making her mark during the NFL preseason, part of the San Francisco 49ers staff.
The idea that all three of these groundbreaking women, along with the number of Canadians (such as Alex Black, Carly Dyck, Lisa Gomes and Jaime Lammerding among others) that have participated at the WWFG in seasons past, all intersected in Vancouver only adds to the magnitude of such an event. Destined to be a watershed moment for female sport in Canada, the magic of the IFAF Worlds was accentuated by the world-class presence of women such as Schecter.
“All quotes obtained first hand unless otherwise indicated”
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