So it turns out they get Winter here in Sweden. Who’d have thunk it!? 🙂

On Saturday I attended our 2nd team match in the afternoon. It had been raining a bit when I walked into the sports hall. When I walked out a couple hours later it was snowing big, fat, wet flakes. It’s the first of the white stuff we’ve seen in Svedala where I’m at, though they’ve had some up north already.

Fortunately, I had just made a very well-timed parka purchase – literally on my way to the gym. I didn’t know about the weather when I put it on after the match ended to start my walk home, but I quickly snuggled in when I saw the 15+ minute walk I was facing. It kept my upper half quite warm. Jeans don’t do much to keep out the wet, though, so my legs were freezing by the time I got home.

There wasn’t much in the way of accumulation on Saturday, but by the time I got up on Sunday morning things looked a bit different.

First Svedala Snow

I didn’t even bother going out on Sunday. Figured it was a good day to spend indoors.

When I did finally go out on Monday morning it was an experience I haven’t had in a few years. There was ice everywhere. It wasn’t overly cold – at least not with my new parka and years of living in New England – but I don’t recall it getting that cold during my three Winters in England. I definitely didn’t have to worry about slipping on all the ice while I was there.

And so begins coaching Sweden in earnest. We have our first northern away match coming up on Saturday.

I can only imagine how my player from Atlanta reacted to it all. 🙂

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John Forman
John Forman

John is currently the Talent Strategy Manager (oversees the national teams) and Indoor Performance Director for Volleyball England, as well as Global Director for Volleyball for Nation Academy. His volleyball coaching experience includes all three NCAA divisions, plus Junior College, in the US; university and club teams in the UK; professional coaching in Sweden; and both coaching and club management at the Juniors level. He's also been a visiting coach at national team, professional club, and juniors programs in several countries. Learn more on his bio page.

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