FULL TIME Edition 1 April 2010 Dear North West AFCA Member, Welcome to season 2010 and the first edition of the revamped North West AFCA newsletter “Full Time”. As you may or may not be aware that previous NWAFCA executive Andrew Johnston has accepted a full time role with AFL Queensland/Gold Coast Football Club as their NEW Gold Coast Academy Manager and has since relocated to the Gold Coast. I have recently been appointed as Andrews’s replacement and am looking forward to working with you all closely after assisting Andrew in his role over the past 5 years. I trust that you have received and are enjoying a Rob Wileys “AFL: Coaching for the Future” DVD which was recently posted out to you. I would like to encourage all of you to take up as many of the initiatives presented to you by the NWAFCA committee throughout the year, particularly the FEATURING “NWAFCA Coaching Seminars” and “Coach of the Month/Year Awards”. What is AFCA? In closing, I am looking forward to another successful year in the North West/Calder Region and wish all of you and your fellow coaches all the best for 2010. Coaching Kids With Flair— Regards, Nathan Buckley Len Villani From Little Things Big Community Football Development Manager Things Grow—Jimmy North West/Calder Region Bartel UPCOMING EVENTS Team Talk AFCA SEMINARS Tackling & Evasive Skills Seminar presented by Melbourne Storm Tackling Coach The S.P.I.R Method Tony Adams (Date: TBA @ Highgate Reserve, Craigieburn) Rucks-Backs and Mids Seminar Night presented by Richmond FC Coaching Staff AFL Flavour including Brendon Lade, Justin Leppstich & Wayne Campbell (Date: TBA— Coburg Football Ground) Drill of the Month NWAFCA Coach of the Year Night Calder Cannons News Date: Monday 23rd August Venue: Windy Hill FG, Napier St Essendon NWAFCA Executive Officer: Len Villani Tel: 9350 7407 Fax: 93505551 E-Mail: [email protected] Page 1 2010 NORTH WEST AFCA COMMITTEE Dear Coaches, Summer training always presents problems with grounds and heat President: and last summer was no different. The beginning of footy in the Marty Allison North West Region is always exciting with all footy teams itching to commence. The first of our coaching seminars was fantastic with Executive Officer: Western Bulldogs assistant coach Paul Williams and champion player Len Villani Lindsey Gilbee demonstrating and teaching coaches across North West and Western Regions the finer points of kicking. Two more seminars are planned so keep reading these newsletters because Committee: when we receive confirmation, we will advertise here in the next edi- Frank Johnson tion. I certainly encourage all coaches to access these seminars or go Kevin Quinn to the AFL Vic website and access the Coaching resource section. We Mick Overman welcome Len Villani as our new NWAFCA Executive Officer and I en- Phil Hawkes courage all coaches to contact Len at [email protected] if you Rocky Iannello need any coaching resource. A number of accreditation coaching Eddy Cattapan courses is in progress for coaches in the North West Region with sen- Rob Beatson ior level finalised. If your accreditation has just or is about to expire then you will need to contact Len Villani very quickly. I strongly urge you to be accredited as a coach as NWAFCA supports all football leagues to ensure all coaches of all teams from all clubs are accred- ited. Sanctions against your team may be applied by your league for coaches who are not accredited. Professional development is vital if you are to be the best coach you can be and consequently optimise your player’s development. I hope you enjoy the first North West AFCA Newsletter for the 2010 football season. Regards & have fun while coaching, Marty Allison Pg2 WHAT IS AFCA? OBJECTIVES The objectives of the organisation are as follows: a) to organise and co-ordinate the most ex- tensive coach education program to enable all coaches to achieve a minimum Level 1 Accreditation under the guidelines of the Australian Coaching Accreditation Scheme. b) to enable coaches to be professionally recognised by the public, media and admin- istrators. The Australian Football Coaches The Association is administered c) to maintain a register of accredited Association (AFCA) Victorian under the umbrella of the Foot- coaches at all levels of football in Victoria. Branch was formed in December ball Victoria Development (FVD). d) to act as a reference point for coaches to 1987, with Allan Jeans as the in- FVD is the development arm of access research, resources and innovations augural president. Between 1996 Football Victoria and links with in Australian Football and coaching in gen- and 2002, David Parkin held the Victorian metropolitan leagues, eral. position of Chairman presiding the Victorian Country Football e) to formulate and disseminate relevant over a 10 member executive League (VCFL), Victorian Ama- coaching information (verbal, written and committee. In 2002, Stan Alves teur Football Association (VAFA) audio-visual) to all members of the Associa- was elected into the role as and various government agen- tion. Chairman and is currently serving cies. f) to enable coaches to establish networks this role. within their peer group. 8 GOOD REASONS FOR JOINING THE NWAFCA 1. Level One Re-accreditation eligibility: 5. Victorian Coach Of The Year Awards: Level one coaching accreditation expires after 4 years. The Victorian branch of AFCA selects outstanding indi- If you are actively coaching and have been a member viduals for his or her dedication and service to the sport of AFCA over a four year period this will automatically of Australian Rules Football in the categories of Auskick, make you eligible for Re-accreditation. Once Re- Junior, Youth and Senior levels. All winners from the accreditation you will receive a new four year accredi- Northern Reign Coach of the Year Awards are eligible for tation of level 1, 2 and 3. State coach’s awards. 2. National Coaching Update: 6. Coach Education: 3 issues each year offers articles of coaching Victorian An accredited program of coach education course is pro- and National information (meetings, special topic vided to all coaches. Level One coach education offers course, annual conferences ect). Members have the an introduction to coaching – role of the coach, planning opportunity to submit articles for publication. Adver- training sessions, organisation, skills and drills, fitness tisement provides information on equipment, books, for football etc. These courses are age group specific, videos and football programs. tailored to the need of coaches and players they are 3. Region Coaching Newsletters: coaching. As the coach continues to develop his or her 3 issues each year offer articles on coaching, skill de- coaching, Level Two and Three courses are conducted to velopment, motivation, drills, all with a local flavour. advance their coaching knowledge. Members are encouraged to submit articles drills and 7. Coach Update Program: skills for publication. A variety of seminars and workshops are provided on a 4. North West Region Coach Of The Year Awards: regional basis to continue the updating of coaches All year AFCA members are eligible to be nominated knowledge and understanding of new developments in for coach of the year awards in Auskick, Junior, Youth the rules of Australian Rules. and Senior levels for the North West Region. Coaches 8. Coaches Information And Resource Centre: are recognised at the Coach of the year dinner and Access to a coaching video and a book library is avail- successful coaches are eligible for State coach’s able to all members. Information and advice is also awards. available on current resources and equipment. Coaching Kids with Flair: How To Harness The Natural Flair In Your Young Players? Nathan Buckley Picture it. A young player According to Buckley, coaches should also work on a has just arrived in your player’s decision-making so they know when to go for team. He’s skilful and can the big play versus when to play the percentages. ignite your team with some of the flashy things Decision making is about exposing the young player to he does. But sometimes different game-based situations at training. Knowing his flair gets in the way when to kick short or long… where to run… picking the and instead of doing the best option when under pressure… These decisions are team things; he goes for best developed through game based scenario drills. that high flying mark or tries for the goal of the Most coaches base these drills in different areas of the year when there are better ground. For example, a coach may design a stoppage team options available. drill in the defensive 50m area so his players can prac- tice how to defend and bring the ball out. What do you do? Encour- age the flair knowing that As Buckley told us, “It is important to ensure the player it can inject life into your plays to the circumstances of the game. Some players team? Or rein it in and are certainly capable of pulling this off more often than encourage more team ori- not. You may as the coach, give some players a hand in ented play at the expense of that player’s creativity? developing that flair and help them make better deci- sions, and maybe you have to reign a few others in. It’s My search for the answer to this question took me to Ade- a definite balancing act in the art of coaching.” laide for the AFL Coaches Conference where I was lucky enough to speak with Collingwood legend Nathan Buckley. # 3 – Work On Their 1%’ers I asked Buckley whether a young player’s ability to do Nathan’s unique standing in our game means he needs no something special can improve his chances of being introduction.