In tonight's program we focus on Coach education and coaching. Coach education is the greatest single influence (for good and sometimes not so good) in our game. Good coaching, good coaches and mentoring those that want to coach is absolutely essential to the development and growth of the game
We look in two places – here in the ACT , with a candid peak at one PL club that took the whole FFA development thing into serious competition. By contrast, we listen to a fascinating discussion between several US Women’s Professional Soccer League Coaches, courtesy of Amanda Vandervort of Soccer Science, as they talk about the women’s game in the USA and how they got into coaching. We need a lot more women football coaches in our game.
Here in the ACT, Capital Football has by comparison to past years, maybe decades, massively increased the number our of people in our football community undertaking courses of instruction in the current coaching methods required to support the FFA’s national football curriculum and national football development plan. If you want to influence the game, influence the coaches. We must continue to do all we can do to educate, support and mentor our Football coaches, from the local Under 9, the Under 15 Div 3, all the way through to our Premier League teams.
Coaches need access to training resources at every level of the game and in this respect the FFA must do more – the FFA’s S2S coaching support system, or perhaps the Football NSW’s Global Football System, are just two resources that can be made available down to club level coaches at remarkable little cost to the game, but for enormous return to the game. The FFA should bankroll this support to every coach in the nation. A small cost for a big return and the most direct way to influence coaches outside of coaching courses. But it looks like clubs will have to take the initiative.
Pat McCann has been at the forefront of Coach Education in the ACT region and his work has made a real difference. High performance programs come and go and sometimes it sticks and sometimes not, and not always the best use of a Technical Directors scarce time and effort. Influencing coaches, that;s the thing if we want sustained and continuing change and development in the game.
Interestingly, Pat is the current Head Coach of Woden Valley FC Men's Premier League teams. In this capacity, Pat has brought all the new thinking into this club which was desperately in need of change. The messages he gives the young players mirrors the FFA new directions and it works. Similarly, Ed Hollis the Head Coach of the Woden Valley Women's Premier League does exactly the same thing for the female players. One Premier League club, one consistent and coherent approach directly in line with the direction the FFA is taking player development. Makes sense. Given the young age of many players in the club (male and female), the focus is on development almost as much as it is “winning”. How can it be otherwise. The players benefit, not by a big pay day, as this club like most others in the Premier League don't have a lot of money, but through development of their football talent in a Club setting. Doesn't get any better.
The Women’s Professional Football (soccer) game in the USA is incredible, but probably just as fragile as it is here in Australia. Our system of development for women players is different to the USA, where it is underpinned by the fantastic Women's College Soccer programs. Some of our young female players are currently on College Sports scholarships to play in the US College Soccer Leagues. We have nothing like that in Australia. In this interview, we listen to the following WPS coaches talk about their game in way that makes perfect sense to anyone following the game in Australia. The coaches participating are:
- Emma Hayes, Chicago Red Stars Head Coach
- Pauliina Miettinen, Sky Blue FC Head Coach
- Lisa Cole, Boston Breakers Assistant Coach
- Denise Reddy, Chicago Red Stars Assistant Coach
- Nicci Wright, Washington Freedom Goalkeeper Coach
- Anne Parnila, Sky Blue FC Assistant Coach
Alas, something put the electronic zap on my interview with Pat McCann at Capital football’s offices and the sound quality is not as it should be, so you may need to persevere, but I assure you the content is worth it. I'll see what I can do do improve the recording. This interview will not be broadcast till the sound quality is improved.
The Soccer Science interview was done on Skype. But its all good to go.
So kick back, glass of Christmas cheer to hand, headphones on and listen.
Download the Pat McCann interview here:
The Amanda Vandervort interview with the US WPS coaches is here:
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