Kasper Skyum might be a new face at the helm when Denmark travels to Kristianstad to take on Sweden this weekend in the opening game of the IFAF U19 European Championships, but his presence has been strong in the national team since 2007.

Kasper has made the natural progression from playing for his country to joining the coaching staff and now taking over as head coach. His most immediate task is to beat Sweden since such success has proved elusive the past three times the Scandinavian rivals have met at the junior level. They kick off at 2pm CET on Sunday, March 31, at the Kristianstads IP.

“I think from a tactical and a technical point we can give them a fight, but what I saw the last time we played them is that we kind of ran out of energy in the in the last part of the game,” says Kasper.

In the 2023 tournament, the Danes surrendered a ten-point halftime lead, eventually losing 31-17 to Sweden at the semifinals stage.

“There is some truth to the mental aspect that we need to bring the fight to them and understand that it is a four-quarter game, and I know we can play with them,” added Kasper. “We proved that last time and just ran out of gas.

“We always try to kind of manage the team around the best players. We have some carryover from last year, but if what we did last year wasn’t good enough, we will try something different instead. We’re going to be more player centric than scheme centered, so we really need to understand what our players can do. If we have three really good receivers, then we’ll make sure that the scheme is developed around those guys.”

During more than 16 years within the Danish American Football Federation (DAFF), Kasper has worked his way up from being a youth position coach while still playing at quarterback for the men’s national team where he was later the offensive coordinator for six years. But the sport that is now such an integral part of his life almost passed him by when he was younger.

“I was actually big hater of American football from when two friends in school would be talking about it,” he admits. “I was kind of trash talking that it’s boring but one night I got home from soccer practice and my dad was watching NFL. Then he explained the rules and when I got to understand what it was about, we started playing the Madden football game. Then I fell in love with all the details, the physical aspect and the technical, and watched my first Super Bowl in 2004 with the New England Patriots.”

Before long, Kasper was playing with the Copenhagen Towers, earning national team recognition and now in addition to being a member of DAFF and coaching he is an NFL commentator for Danish television. His coaching philosophy goes beyond teaching x’s and o’s and striving to win medals.

“For me the national team has to be a set up where you bring clubs together as well as players,” says Kasper. “It is the only place where we don’t have different club colors. We can do something in regard to making to breaking down boundaries and barriers between clubs and making sure that the players understand that you might be against each other in some games, but in general we’re trying to evolve the sport of American football through the national team.

“You can come from a little club and maybe only play eight or nine-man football, but you can earn a place on the national team. Every player has received a phone call from me to tell them what it is we’re trying to do. Understand that we want you both because you’re a great player but also because you’re a great person and maybe you can give something back to the other players.

“It's been a real eye opener for me how some guys tell me that they weren’t sure they were going to prioritize the national team, but we’re changing their minds, explaining that being a part of the team is important.”

The 2024/25 IFAF U19 European Championships will feature the continent’s top teams competing in two groups this year, followed by a round robin tournament in 2025 to decide the gold medal winners. Denmark will face Germany, in addition to Sweden in Group B, and could go on to face Italy, France, Finland, or reining champions Austria if they reach the second phase.

A point of debate is whether coaches prefer this format that features games played home and away during a two-year cycle, or the more traditional tournament-style event played in a single venue.

“I can speak to this from both points of view because I work within the federation, so I know what goes on behind the scenes, and also as a coach,” says Kasper. “I personally like the tournaments because what we’re really trying to do is create these experiences for the players. Within an amateur sport there’s something great about being in that atmosphere. I’ve been to Spain for a couple of weeks playing, I’ve been to Italy, and I can remember so many great stories. So, I think the kids lose that experience.

“But I also understand the setup has changed and we still get to travel but just with different challenges and experiences and for a shorter amount of time. I know there’s a lot of things that go into the cost of being at a tournament.

“However the games are played, we will continue to build the culture and prepare the team and make sure that everybody is in line with what we’re trying to do, so that ultimately we can win.”

That next targeted win comes on Sunday as Denmark aims to finally turn the tide against Sweden.

Photos: Mikkel Bo Rasmussen / 1st Down Photo