MEET THE COACH: Rico Romano 🇨🇭 APHC Camp 2027

Rico Romano brings again, for the second time, extensive international experience and a deep understanding of powerchair hockey to the APHC Camp coaching team.

His coaching journey started with the Iron Cats Zürich, where he progressed from coaching their third team to leading the first team: a role he has continued for almost a decade. Since late 2022, Rico also led the Swiss national team, guiding the squad through a long-term international development process.

That journey reached its highest point in 2026, when Switzerland became World Champions. After reaching the summit of the sport, Rico stepped down as head coach of the Swiss national team, but continues his coaching work with the Iron Cats and is now bringing his experience to APHC Camp once again.

Rico’s coaching style is structured, tactical and very hands-on. He wants players to understand not only what they should do, but how their individual decisions connect to the team’s overall game plan.

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🧠 Rico in his own words

QUESTION ONE

‘How would you describe your coaching style in three words?’

For Rico, good coaching means understanding what players need, providing structure and helping them find the tools to develop their own game.

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QUESTION TWO

‘What is your strongest coaching quality?’

Rico enjoys building an understanding of how the different pieces of a team fit together. His focus goes beyond individual actions: he wants players to see how their decisions influence the whole team.

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QUESTION THREE

‘What should players leave camp with?’

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💡 One thing Rico wants players to think about

One common issue he sees is when players lose sight of the team game plan. Individual decisions can be useful, but hockey ultimately requires players to work together and understand how their actions fit into the bigger picture.

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Why should international players join APHC Camp?

For Rico, the international environment is a major part of the experience. Players get the opportunity to play and learn alongside high-level athletes from different countries, exchange ideas and experience different approaches to the game.

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Meet Rico at camp

Rico doesn’t only teach from the sidelines. During training, he regularly gets into a powerchair himself to demonstrate situations and experience the game from the players’ perspective.

And at Camp 2027, he won’t only be your coach: he’ll also join the action as a player. His role at camp is first and foremost coaching, but expect a very hands-on approach, plenty of tactical discussion and a coach who is not afraid to get right into the game with you.