2015 Season Information Booklet

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2015 Season

Information Booklet

About Rams Women

Welcome to Macarthur Rams Women’s FC Inc. Rams Women’s FC plays in the prestigious National Premier League (NPL) NSW Women’s 1 competition, the highest level of football in the State. Our home ground is Lynwood Park, Rangers Road, St Helens Park.

The Rams had a very successful season in 2014, with our First Grade team winning the premiership and Under 15s coming second in the premiership. Both teams played in their respective grand finals, with our 15s taking out the title, and First Grade runners up.

The Rams 1st Grade team boasts a number of highly successful Matildas players, including Renee Rollason, Kylie Ledbrook, Danielle Brogan, Leena Khamis, Teresa Polias and Nicola Bolger. In addition, most players in the First Grade squad hold W-League positions. We are very privileged to have some of our 1st Grade players helping out during the season with training programs for our junior players.

The Rams Women’s FC Management Group

The 2014 Rams Management included Deborah Macdonald, John Murtagh and Petrina Greenwood. The Team brings a range of experience in key areas, including playing football at an elite level, business management, accounting and football club administration. The Management Group is supported by its Adviser, Rob Laws, who is President of the Macarthur Football Association, and past President of Rams Women’s FC.

It should be noted that the ‘Macarthur Rams Women’s FC Inc’ and the ‘Macarthur Rams FC Inc’ (mens) are two quite separate legal entities, with different management groups, constitutions and different coaching staff. Both clubs are supported by the ‘Macarthur Football Association (MFA)’, and both clubs share Lynwood Park as their home ground. (The MFA’s administration offices are also based at Lynwood Park). As the Rams men’s competition is played on Saturdays and the Rams women’s competition is played on Sundays, the two clubs don’t often cross each other’s paths. Nevertheless, both Management Groups liaise with each other for our mutual benefit. For example, we join forces to increase buying power when it comes to purchasing gear, trophies, canteen supplies, etc.

Coaching

Head Coach: Norm Boardman

This year we’re proud to welcome Norm to our club. Having held roles such as Technical Director and Coaching & Development Manager with Football NSW, Community Coach Education Manager with the Football Federation of Australia, along with his current role as Head Coach of the Western Sydney Wanderers W-League team, Norm comes to us as arguably the most qualified person in women’s football in NSW.

With his wealth of high-level coaching experience in women’s football, Norm will coach this year’s 1st Grade team, and will also provide an important oversight role for the club’s entire coaching staff. In doing so, Norm will play a crucial role in meeting one of the club’s objectives to provide ongoing skills development for both players and coaches.

Youth Technical Director: Richard Harrison

Richard brings to this role a wealth of experience as a high-level player and coach in both Australia and the UK. His qualifications include an Asia B Licence and FFA Class C Licence. Richard also brings to the Rams an enviable record of on-field experience, having played with teams such as Leeds United, Lincoln City, England University XI, Macarthur Rams 1st Grade and Picton Rangers First Grade. His coaching experience includes Leeds United Academy (UK), Derby County FC Academy (UK), USA Women’s Program (4 years), Macarthur Rams Youth Academy, Macarthur Rams Under 20s Men’s Coach, and Picton Rangers FC First Grade Men’s Coach.

As Youth Technical Director, in addition to supporting the coaches in all grades in day-to- day coaching needs, Richard provides another level of development by analysing individual players and working with them to improve overall technique. Richard is a crucial communication link between the Coaching Staff and the Management Team.

Under 13s: Sam Alessi. We warmly welcome Sam back for his third year at Rams Womens FC. Holding a Youth and Senior Coaching Licence, Sam was our Under 13s coach for the 2014 season and Under 12s coach for the 2013 season. Sam’s coaching experience includes Under 12s and 14s Girls and All-Age Ladies, as well as Under 20s and 1st Grade University of NSW Mens State Division 1 team. Sam also coached Bringelly FC for 7 years in the NSW Men’s Premier League.

Under 17s: Leah Blayney. With a Senior Licence qualification, Leah was our Under 14s coach in 2013 and Under 15s coach in 2014. She has an amazing wealth of playing experience including representing Australia, playing for Boston Breakers (USA), Eskilstuna United (Sweden), and Canberra United. Since her retirement from the international playing arena, Leah has adapted to a coaching role with great capability.

As the 2015 Club Championship points will be aggregated from 1st Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 17s results, Leah will play an important role in maintaining our club’s tenure in the National Premier League by ensuring that her team contributes to this year’s Club Championship table.

Coaching skills specialist: Rob Hutchison

Rob holds an FFA Senior Coaching Licence as well as an AFC Class C Licence. He’s been a professional coach for more than 20 years and a professional educator for more than 30 years. His experience includes: Coerver Academy 9 years (Coerver is a renowned global football coaching program with a focus on ages 5-16); Head Coach of the Western Sydney Academy of Sport Women’s Football program; NSW State Coach for 4 years. Rob’s successes include 4 Schools State titles, 2 Schools National titles and winner of the 2012 Group B National Junior Championships (undefeated).

Rob was our Under 16s coach in the 2013 season and Under 17s coach in the 2014 season, and we welcome him back in 2015 in this new and exciting role.

Under 15s: Rob Bradshaw

We’re proud to welcome Rob to our Club this year. He holds a Bachelor of Physical Education degree, as well as a FFA ‘C’ Licence. Rob played football as a junior with Nepean Federation and represented several State League clubs during his playing career

By day, Rob is a well-respected Coach in the Westfields Sports High School Girls Elite Football Program. He is also an Assistant Coach for the Western Sydney Wanderers W-League team.

In recent years Rob has held a number of high-level positions including Coach of the Sydney South West Representative Schools Senior Girls, and Coach of the Marconi Stallions Women’s Premier League’s 1st Grade, Under 14s and Under 16s teams.

We’re very fortunate to have secured Rob’s services as this year’s Under 15s coach.

Fees

Rams fees have been one of the lowest in the competition for many years, with many other clubs setting their fees considerably higher than ours. This year, fees have been capped at the same rate for all clubs in the competition, at $1,500. The fees contribute largely towards our highly experienced coaching structure, along with the increasing costs of players’ gear. Fees cover everything including referees’ fees, insurance, and the use of the playing field and training grounds. No other payment is required for the season. Payment of fees will be in three instalments as follows:

Instalment 1 - After selection at the information night (a week after trials): $500 Instalment 2 - Due when pre-season training commences (end of January): $500 Instalment 3 - Due before commencement of the competition (end of March): $500

Unless you make prior arrangements with the Club President, this requirement will be strictly applied: players will not be permitted to play in any competition match until their fees are paid in full. Before signing on with our Club it’s important to ensure that you’ll be able to make this commitment, in order to avoid disappointment for your daughter. If it is easier you can set up a direct payment to our account and start paying as soon as you are selected, to spread the cost evenly between the end of trials and March.

Players’ Gear

Players are provided with the following gear:

Training: shorts, shirt, socks and jacket, training ball (youth) & bag Match day: playing shorts and socks, tracksuit, club polo shirt

In the weeks following selections we will be sizing and ordering gear. Fitting and measurements will be held at the Clubhouse on dates to be advised.

Training gear must be worn to all training sessions, with no exceptions or additions (except for skins if a player desires). Players must wear their polo and tracksuit to games with good quality sports training shoes.

Training

Summer training will commence in the weeks leading up to Christmas. It will be 2 nights per week. We will break for a few weeks before commencing pre-season training in late January. Pre-season training will most likely take place on Wednesday & Friday nights - Youth teams from 6.00pm to 7.30pm and Seniors from 7.30pm to 9pm. This year’s training field is yet to be announced, however it will likely be Coronation Park, Minto.

The Season

Football NSW is yet to announce the commencement date for the season. The season usually begins in late March and runs until August, with the Grand Final in September. Every second game is usually a home game played at Lynwood Park, and alternate games are played away.

FNSW recently completed a review of the Women’s Premier League, and as a result the competition has been split into two leagues called National Premier Leagues (NPL) NSW Women’s 1, and National Premier Leagues (NPL) Women’s 2. We are in the top league, NPL NSW Women’s 1.

The teams playing in the 2015 competition are:

Macarthur Rams Central Coast Mariners Illawarra Stingrays Newcastle Emerging Jets Manly United Football NSW Institute Blacktown Spartans North West Sydney Koalas Sydney University Northbridge FC

As you can see from the list above, unlike local association competitions, clubs in the NPL Women’s 1 are based across a much wider area, so you can expect to travel some distances on match-day. 5

What you can expect from the Club

Rams Women’s FC has a family-friendly culture, with an emphasis on sportsmanship from both players and supporters. You will be part of a close and supportive culture where players and families are involved in Club activities during the season.

With an extremely high quality coaching staff, the Club places an emphasis on player development. We are committed to encouraging and training players to a level of eligibility for selection to Metro South, State, W-League and National teams. With many of our players having been selected to these levels over the years, the Macarthur Rams Women’s FC has strong links to these levels of elite football.

We have been working on a program specifically targeted at the development of our goalkeepers. In 2013 we worked with Davide Del Giovine (Sydney FC Womens Goalkeeper Coach) and in 2014 with Davide & our first grade keeper Trudy Burke. We hope to continue a high level of dedicated coaching to our goalkeepers in every team in 2015.

We will also provide the services of a physiotherapist/strapper to attend our 17s and senior games.

The Club aims to provide fair game time for all players. However it should be noted that we do not have a policy of promising equal game time amongst players or a certain percentage of time that a player will be on the field. Teams in the National Premier League are subject to the promotion/relegation system, depending on their standing on the Club Championship ladder at the end of the season. It is crucially important that our Club do everything necessary to remain in the top tier. For this reason, there may be critical matches during the season when coaches need to field their strongest players for longer periods. This may result in uneven match time for some players. However, with our coaching methods our aim is that each player receives sufficient time to develop within our program and achieve set targets.

The Management Group continues to bring fresh ideas to the Club, and your input and suggestions will be most welcome.

What the Club expects from you

As a player and as a parent, the transition from ‘park soccer’ to Premier League Football is a significant step. With the privilege of being selected to play at this elite level, comes a number of responsibilities and expectations upon you, that you should be aware of before you make this commitment. If your daughter is selected to play for Rams, you should seriously consider the expectations of the Club. 6

Players are expected to be proud to wear the Rams strip.

Players, parents and supporters are expected to show respect for the Club, its management, coaches and other players.

Players must be at training and games on time. Repeated incidents of lateness sends a clear message to the Club that a player and/or their parents are not ready for the commitment required at this level.

Training is compulsory for all players. Players may be excused from training if they are ill, however players who are injured but not ill, are expected to attend both training and games.

Parents are expected to support their children, other players and the Club in a positive way. Negative criticism of your child, another child or the Club is counter-productive, and can create disharmony within the team and the Club. Each member of the Management Team is approachable and welcomes suggestions and ideas on improvements to the Club’s administration and coaching. However idle gossip and destructive criticism that may cause damage to the Club’s reputation or to the morale of players and their families will not be tolerated.

Leave the coaching to the coach. The style of football played at the Premier League level is in accordance with the National Coaching Curriculum set by the Football Federation of Australia. This may be quite different from that which you’ve experienced at a park soccer level. For example, players are encouraged to play the ball out from the back and use the 1-4-3-3 formation, rather than over-relying on a long ball. This is risky, especially for young players, but it’s preparing them for the way the game is played at an elite level as adopted throughout Australia and overseas. Coaches in every club in the NPL Women’s Leagues have an agreement to adhere to this style. While your coaching from the sideline may be with the best of intentions, it may be contrary to what the Coach has taught your daughter, and this will only end in confusion and poor play. So please let the Coaches get on with their jobs, and refrain from coaching from the sideline.

The Club raises much needed funding from running the canteen and barbecue at each home game. This money assists our Club to provide the highest level of coaching and facilities in the competition. We rely on parents helping out during the day for their allotted time. The current arrangement is that we have one team per day hosting the canteen/barbecue, meaning that your team will get around 3 turns per season. This is not negotiable and is expected as part of your acceptance of a position at the Club.

Players and parents are required to sign the Club’s Code of Conduct. Serious breaches of this Code by a player, parents or their supporters may result in the player facing sanctions or being dismissed from the Club.

Competition Structure

In the 2015 season there will be 10 clubs in the NPL NSW Women’s 1 competition. Each club has 5 teams: Under 13s, Under 15s, Under 17s, Reserve Grade and First Grade. Games are played on Sundays. All 5 teams from one club play against all 5 teams from an opposing club on the same day. Each age group plays at the same time every week. For example, if this Sunday’s fixture was Macarthur Rams versus Northbridge, the game times are expected to be as follows:

Under 13s: 8:30 am Under 15s: 9:55 am Under 17s: 11.30 am Reserves: 1.05 pm Firsts: 3.00 pm

Please note that players must arrive at the field one hour before game time. Players are required to show their support for the Club and their fellow players by remaining at the field to watch at least the first half of the game following theirs.

Championships and Finals

Clubs in the NPL Women’s competition strive for three titles, in the following order of priority (highest to lowest):

• Club Championship • Grade/Age Group Premiership and • Grand Final - Championship

3 competition points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 for a loss.

The Overall Club Championship is won by the Club whose First Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 17s competition points added together at the end of the season, are higher than those of any other club. The Under 13s and Under 15s competition points do not count in the Club Championship. This enables coaches in these younger age groups to concentrate more on player development than on winning games.

The Grade/Age Group Premiership is won by the team that finishes the season with more competition points than any other team in its competition. This is commonly known as the ‘first past the post’ system.

After the last round, the teams that finished in the top 5 of their grade/age group play a series of Semi-Finals, Finals and then the Grand Final, or ‘Championship’.

Promotion and Relegation

Similar to the English Premier League, the NPL NSW Women’s competitions work on a promotion/relegation system. Football NSW is yet to announce how many clubs will be promoted and relegated each year, but it’s likely to be the clubs finishing last and/or second last in the Women’s 1 League facing relegation, and the clubs finishing first and/or second in the Women’s 2 League offered promotion. Rams Women’s FC has played in the highest level league in NSW since its inception, and like every club in the competition, one of our key objectives is to avoid relegation. Because promotion and relegation is determined by a club’s aggregate competition points, it is especially important that we do well in First Grade, Reserve Grade and Under 17s.

Tournaments

The pre-season usually includes participation by the youth teams in the Proctor Cup. This two-day weekend tournament is held at Bathurst each year in February and is a wonderful way for teams and families to bond before commencing the season.

Due to the number of games played, full team numbers are required and therefore attendance at the tournament by players is compulsory.

In the past players in our youngest grade have been involved in the Cheryl Salisbury Cup, which is held at Football NSW, Valentine Park, Glenwood. This tournament is run over 4-5 days. Football NSW is yet to announce arrangements for the 2015 Cheryl Salisbury Cup.

Sponsorship

We offer several packages of sponsorship deals within the Club. If you are involved in a business that would like to be a part of and support our great Club, we would love to chat with you about the sponsorship options.

Finally

Thank you for showing an interest in our Club, and best of luck for the trials. Should your child be offered a position and you accept, be assured that you’ll be joining a highly successful club with a strong tradition of sportsmanship, fair play and a commitment to the development of our junior players.