Meet Phoebe Schecter: Five Questions with Youth Inc.'s Flag Football Ambassador

Phoebe Schecter a is British-American NFL analyst for Sky Sports, a former football star as a player and a former coach for the Buffalo Bills. She is Youth Inc.’s flag football ambassador. Born with dual citizenship to an American father and English mother, Phoebe moved to England in 2012 at the age of 22. An accomplished equestrian, she became one of the first members of the Great Britain women’s national American football team and later became its captain.

We asked Phoebe five questions about her youth sports experience, life lessons, and more.

1. What is your favorite youth sports memory?

My favorite memory was when my old PE teacher put me on the boys basketball team when I was in 6th/7th grade. She didn't care what other people thought, but she knew I was good enough to compete on that level. Mrs. Murphy taught me so much about self confidence, belief and resilience. 

2. Who has been the most influential person or coach in your life?

My most influential coach was someone that came into my life later in my career. Coach Wayne Hill taught me about how to be a great player on the field, but his commitment to players off the field is what really made an impact. He truly lives by the Teddy Roosevelt quote "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." Coach taught me how to send the elevator back down and to see the bigger picture, whilst understanding on the field that technique beats scheme every day.

3. What’s one lesson you’ve learned through your sport that has shaped your life?

Flag football has taught me so much about being completely my authentic self. I have always felt that who you are on the football field is who you are in real life; as a teammate on and off the field, from a character standpoint, and just learning to love yourself with all of the quirks that make you, you.

4. What advice would you give to your 10-year-old self?

I would tell my 10-year old self to embrace my independence, courage, curiosity and passion as it will bring you on an adventure bigger than you ever could have imagined.

5. What is a motto or belief that you live by?

I learned this quote when I was in middle school from one of my teachers. "Nails are the excuses that build the house of failure." It constantly pushes me to be better and face things that I may consider to put off, so I can strive to be the best version of myself.

More from Phoebe Schecter

Check out Phoebe's conversation with NY Jets Club Flag Football Assistant Coach Victoria Burgarella about the growth of flag football in schools, the importance of advocacy for the sport, and the role of parents and coaches in supporting young athletes. Watch it here.

Learn more about what Phoebe is up to with the 2028 Olympics here.

Schecter, a former coach for the Buffalo Bills, talks about women in the NFL here:

Learn more about her journey here!

For more from Phoebe Schecter, follow her on Instagram, X, and LinkedIn.