Coerver Co-Founder Alfred Galustian Talks About the Importance of Skills Development in Young Players and the Training of Coaches In this Specialist Area of Football Knowledge

In this program we have a long "fireside chat" with Alfred Galustian about Coerver's most recent addition to its formidable Football offerings - the Coaching Diploma in Youth Development. The program just completed in Australia was the pilot program for the World!

Alfred Galustian is sort out by the Clubs and Coaches at the highest levels of the game around the world. The FFA has engaged Alfred to assist in the preparation of the FFA's Skills Acquisition Coaches, who will deal with the best of the best in Australia at age.

When asked what he thought of the world Cup, Alfred's reply was short, but said it all - based on data collected by FIFA, Australia was third most physically capable, while Spain (the eventual winners) was not in the first five nations for the same characteristic. The rest of this short form analysis went unspoken, but with a knowing grin, you may just detect in his voice. Kinda says it all. Which brings us all the way back to the FFA's National Football Curriculum and the National Development plan, and Alfred Galustian's role in skill acquisition coaching. Coerver are already there!

When Alfred Galustian talks, its always worth listening too!

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Mens Federation Cup 2011 - Round 1

Round 1

Saturday 12 March 2011
Pool A
Canberra Olympic v Canberra City Hawker  3pm
Belconnen United v White Eagles Hawker 5pm
 
Pool A & Pool B
Woden Valley v Tuggeranong Woden Enclosed 3pm
Cooma Tigers v Monaro Panthers  Woden Enclosed 5pm

Sunday 13 March 2011
Pool B
Weston Creek v Queanbeyan City Hawker 3pm
Goulburn Strikers v Canberra FC Hawker 5pm

Women's Federation Cup 2011 - Round 2

This Thursday evening at Hawker Enclosed we have two fixtures to brighten the week.

Gungahlin United FC face a stern test aginst the Woden Valley FC machine. Can't wait to see it! Then its Western Creek, premiers two seasons ago who play against Canberra FC, a team that showed some early good form last season, only to slide out backwards. Both CLubs have a mind to finish a lot higher on the table than the previous season and this game will provide us with some very early indication of the relative strengths of their playing squads. Not to be missed!

Thursday 10th March 2011



Pool A
Gungahlin United v Woden Valley - (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 6pm)

Gungahlin United squad: 1. Haley Riley (gk), 2. Cristal King, 3. Kiley Green, 4. Liana Madaffari, 5. Malin Jornholt, 6. Emily Carnevale, 7. Laura Sofoulis, 8. Joanne Lee, 10. Brittany Tulley, 11. Chloe Gash, 12. Gabby Ciardullo, 13. Grace Tosic, 14. Caitlyn Taylor, 15. Dianne Wilson, 16. Sally-Anne Tozer, 17. Celia Brown


Woden Valley squad: 1. Tatiana Curic (gk), 2. Stephanie Coates, 3. Bronte Carlin, 5. Meg McLaughlin, 6. Erin Frewin, 7. Grace Field, 10. Georgia Yeoman-Dale, 11. Rebecca Watts, 13. Emma Thornton, 14. Krista Hagen, 10. Ashleigh Palombi, 12. Ellie Raymond, 16. Jaline Hoek, 17. Siena Senatore, 18. Elle Crossman

Unavailable: Isabella Boag-Taylor (ACL reconstruction), Jennifer Walsh (groin), Hayley Hinde (ankle), Kadee Hollis (back), Sophie Kochinos, Christine Walters, Kelsey Perry, Sally Rojahn, Catherine Brown

Pool B
Canberra FC v Weston Creek  - (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 8pm)

Canberra FC squad: 1. Tahlia Davidson (gk), 2. Monique Solar, 3. Rhianna Goldstein, 4. Alice Churchill, 5. Ashleigh Sykes, 6. Najwa Allen, 7. Erin Clout, 8. Ashlea Bryant, 9. Grace Gill, 10. Connie Kanaridis, 11. Jennifer Bisset, 12. Regan Hart, 13. Sam Venables, 14. Amy Dunn, 15. Georgia Ghirardello, 19. Georgina Stewart, 20. Maddeline San Francesco (gk)


Weston Creek squad: 1. Luisa Marzotto (gk), 2. Josie Russell-Brown, 4. Jessie Pritchard, 5. Nicole Somi, 6. Becky Roche, 8. Amanda Aurousseau, 9. Rachel Crittenden, 10. Laura Jones, 11. Lauren Garrity (gk), 12. Sophie Travis, 13. Sarah Crittenden, 21. Claire Stephens, 22. Kristy Babington, 18. Eliza Borucinski, 15.Kellie Lambert, 24. Kearyn Ferguson

Children In Sport - How Much Is Too Much and What Are The Risks?

Sourced from the British Journal of Sports Medicine - Paediatric exercise specialist Denis Caine discusses some hot topics concerning children in sport.

Football is demanding more and more of our young players, particularly if they show some early ability and their parents are keen to see them do well in the game. The development programs, winter competitions, summer competitions, joined as they are for many by an overlapping Futsal season, just about covers the entire calender year these days.

The intention / desired outcome of development programs in football is to engage the young talented players in many more contact hours and games across a year, while upgrading the quality and expertise of those that conduct these programs.

But where do you draw the line? How much Football is too much? Many parents with children keen on football ask these questions.

They talk of the 10,000 hours to produce a player, beginning at 5 years of age and we have can seen just how effective these regimes are from a technical standpoint when we watch  Japanese or Korean youth teams play in Australia. We marvel at the quality of the Singot Primary School every Kanga Cup, knowing as we now do, that this school specialises in Football and the boys train every morning before school. These countries have a far more sophisticated infrastructure in support of football than we offer in the ACT at this time.

It would be interesting to know what they know, when it comes to how much is the right amount at what age and how to deal with injury at these tender ages. This information that is a bit hard to find. Parents often fly by the seat of their pants, on one hand feeling obligated to ensure their child gets the opportunity ot be as good as they might want to be, while on the other, seeking balance across life experiences and most importantly, ensuring the child does not experieence serious injury. Sadly, we see too many young players particpating with all sorts of injuries and strapping, enduring pain  / discomfort when they should not. Too oftne their time in the game is short. Coahes who refuse to play injured young players often feel the cricitism of parents, anxious for their child to be noticed and valued as a player. Adult concepts and expectations seem to impose themsleves on children in Football. It stops being fun of you get injured.

FIFA has an excellent document on injury prevention in the girls / women's game (references by the NPL  - see older posts). Elements mentioned int his study arise in tonight's program.

The children between the ages of 8 to 12 years are the target of high levels of technical development - skills acquisition. They require very specific, and carefully structured training, because so much growth occurs in this period of time and so much damage can be done that has long lasting effects. They go through a further growth spurt in the early teens, which further complicates things. The FFA makes mention of this notion in their National Development Plan, in the context of selection of talented players, which can be hindered by what is referred to as the "Age Relative Effect". But the analysis seems to stop at this point.

So how much is enough training, at what age and when?

Football is played from top to bottom of the age groups in juniors / youth by girls and boys. They often play in the same team, some play up levels beyond their age, in search of the level of resistance that coaches or parents feel will sustain their development, enhance their development or make them more competitive for selection in representative teams. Parents often become very agitated if their child is not selected in a "div 1 " team, as though this is the end of their child's Football world.

So how much is enough? What is the appropraite level of resistance. Who decides? When is the risk too great?

You would think that this sort of thing is the meat and bread of a Techncial Director at member Federation and Club levels.
In this program, we have a very interesting discussion on injury in sport among jnior and youth sport, as the Paediatric exercise specialist, Denis Caine, brings us across some of the latest research.

This program is a must for parents and coaches.

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Gungahlin United FC Womens Premier League Team Make A Spectacular Entrance to Womens Premier League!

The new addition to the Womens Premier League this season is Gungahlin United FC. And what a start it was! A Federation Cup victory!

A resounding victory over Tuggernanong United FC (6:1):

Gungahlin United 6 (Brittany Tully 18’, Marlin Jornhole 41’, 58’, Laure Sofoulis 63’, Gabby Ciardullo 75’, Dianne Wilson 88’) Tuggeranong United 1 (Freyja Jacobsen 20’)


Coach Bruce Green danced a gig, mumbling something about "margaritas" that evening, the players looked as happy as they did relieved they had got past thier first test in Prmier League and the Club delighted. So they should be, it was a terrific start to what promises to be a strong first season effort.

Be in no doubt, this result surprised everyone I have spoken to among theother clubs in the PL competition. If you had been at the game, you would acknowledge that Gungahlin United played in very good style for most of the game. simply overpowering Tuggernanong United in the second half, dominating possession and making the best of nearly every opportunity.

Their performance on debut was a much stronger effort than either the hapless Brindabella Blues FC (now defunct) or Tuggernanong United FC debuts in season 2010. On this first game form, they seem certain to improve and that couldn't be better for the Womens Premier League.

And with a certain style that points to good club admisntration, the following appeared from teh Club on the Capital Football website:

Gungahlin United is pleased to announce the Captains chosen to lead our inaugural Women's Premier League squads for season 2011.
The following players named have displayed to their coaches not only in the trials and training conducted in the WPL process, but also in previous years in the various teams they have represented - the qualities needed to Captain the 3 brand new teams that will be making their mark in Women's Premier League for Gungahlin United.
Co Captains for 18WPL are Brigette Berry and Chelsea Lemon. - Co Captains for WPR are Cristal King and Chloe Gash. - Co Captains for WPL are Kiley Green and Laura Sofoulis.
Congratulations ladies on your appointments, Gungahlin United FC wishes you all the best in the season ahead.


Gungahlin United FC is the ACT Football's "sleeping giant", with a formidable presence now in the Mens PL with PL16 and PL18 teams, and now a full complement of Women's PL teams. They are awake and starting to move!

And this is only the beginning for this club.

When Coach, Club Administrators and Players All Get On The Same Wavelength - Magic Things Happen

Sourced from http://www.a-league.com.au/default.aspx?s=newsdisplay&id=39226

Victorious Brisbane Roar players celebrate winning the A-League minor premiership.

The Club, the Coach and the Players all have to work in synchronisation if supporters are to see the best the Club has to offer in a season. Same for us at community level.
The massive turn around by the A League club, Brisbane Roar in season 2010/2011 is nothing short of astonishing. The previous season saw them on the brink of collapse, a new and very experienced coach was appointed, a deliberate and massive turnover of the playering roster was undertaken, not a whole lot of money to be going on with and that's before a ball is kicked in the competition.

There is a lot of lessons to be learned from the Brisbane Roar campaign this season that can be applied to your club.

There have been a couple of savage blowups among our Clubs in the off- season and in particular, one Premier League club. These unhappy times usually follow a lack of success the previous season. People leave declaring the club is "stuffed". Well, how could it be any other way when these all so important people depart??? But clubs soldier on and thank goodness they do. There is always another season. When the finger pointing has stopped and no one is interested in listening to the tiresome gossip eminating from the disenchanted departees, the club repairs and rebuilds. This can be done in a season, as seems to be the case with Brisbane Roar. Other times, particularly in community based football, it may take a few years.

No one gave Brisbane Roar a hope at the start of the season - now look where they are. They are a smart bunch up there in Brisbane.

A great Football story that resonates at every level in the game.

This short article (excepts from) captures the essentail elements.

Chemistry key to Roar success

Saturday, 5 March 2011
by Liam Daly, Sportal

A quality starting 11 and proven Hyundai A-League stars certainly aren't taken for granted by the Brisbane Roar, but coach Ange Postecoglou says an all-round team chemistry has been the key to their 2010-11 success.

The Professional Footballers Association named seven Brisbane players in their team of the year, and on that statistic alone it would be easy to assume that the quality of their roster has been responsible for their record-breaking, one-loss season. ......

But for Postecoglou (Coach), the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. Offseason recruitment – and the Roar did plenty, bringing in 12 fresh faces – was more than a star search; it was a calculated mission to find complimentary talent.
 "It's a little bit different (to picking a rep side)…with a rep side, sometimes you don't know if the chemistry's right. It's not just about having the best players," said Postecoglou.
 "Sometimes, in terms of your recruiting, you fall into the trap of just going for the players who are good players, but do they necessarily fit into what you're doing."
 "Our chemistry has been good all year, and that's the key to our success, it's not so much just having the quality of players we do have. And we do have great quality throughout our squad, but the chemistry's right."

"They all play our style of football and they all react well to one another, and I think that's the key for us." .........


"The big thing for us is that everyone's ready to go, and as we've proven quite consistently this year, and even in the last game, it's not just a matter of who starts, it's a matter of who comes off the bench that makes a big difference, and we've been better at that than all other clubs," he said.

"....... we've been good all year with people coming off the bench and contributing to the side. I'm sure come grand final day, we're going to have the 15 or 16 blokes who are selected ready to go and ready to make a contribution."

Capital Football and ACT Club Teams at the Bathurst Proctor Park Ladies Challenge

The Nearpost Local roving reporter, Simon Kravis has once again provided us with an excellent summary of this Football event. We were all well represented by the teams from the ACT. Should be more of it!

Capital Football Under 16 Girls team at Proctor Park Ladies Challenge, Bathurst Feb 2011

Capital Football (CF) and ACT Junior CLubs entered teams in the Under 14 and Under 16 competitions at the Proctor Park Ladies Challenge Cup held at Bathurst over the weekend of 26- 27 February this year.


The competitions were well-subscribed with 16 teams in the Under 14 competition and 17 in the Under 16. As well as the two Capital Football teams, Woden Valley entered a team of mainly under 14 players in the Under 16 competition as preparation for participation later this year in the Dana Cup in Denmark.

All other teams were from NSW.

The two CF teams both played in competitions above their age group, being mainly comprised of players under 12 and under 14 years old. Despite being matched with teams of players mostly two years older, both CF teams provided stiff opposition to teams of bigger and faster players and finished second in their respective groups. The tournament also exposed players to the more physical style of play found outside Canberra.

The CF Under 16 team had their first game against Albury-Wodonga, who dominated the game with speed, strength and anticipation and kept the play almost entirely in the CF half on a slow, well-grassed pitch. However, a stout defence from CF meant that Albury-Wodonga only won 1-0 after a goal from Zoe Corbett, who picked up a loose ball in the penalty area and slotted it home. CF goalkeeper Freya Brent did well to keep out a number of stinging strikes, and defender Hiwot Johnstone managed to obtain possession from attackers from all angles as though by magnetism.

Springwood used their pace advantage in the second game on Saturday and went ahead early in the first half when Jasmine Hewlett outran the defence in the centre and slipped the ball past the goalkeeper. However, CF regrouped and Springwood defence gave CF much more time on the ball. A strike from Hiwot Johnstone went just high and CF frequently had possession with four players just outside the penalty area. However, CF were unable to find the net and Springwood took the game 1-0, despite being outplayed for much of the game.

The first game on Sunday was against Wollongong team Balgownie and was slow to start with neither team taking the advantage and both playing off frequent turnovers in possession. Balgownie were the more collected team in the second half. Both teams had chances and the CF goalkeeper Georgia Doble was frequently saved from dealing from with an unimpeded strike after Balgownie breakthroughs by the speed and efficacy of CF defender Millie Mallinson and the game ended in a 0-0 draw.

CF started strongly against Griffith, their final opponents on Sunday, and were rewarded half way through the first half when a cross from Jay Williams was not cleared effectively by the Griffith defence and was tapped home by Maddie Whitall. However, Griffith had the better of the remaining play. CF keeper Freya Brent managed to keep a clean sheet against sustained pressure and CF took the game 1-0.

The Under 14 CF team first played Central Coast, who went ahead through a goal from Jaymie Fressard into an empty net after a collision with CF goalkeeper Jilly Scott, who was replaced by Ali Cook. Sam Roff equalised for CF soon afterwards and CF came out strongly in the second half but soon conceded a penalty, which Central Coast sent wide. A free kick about 30 yards from the Central Coast goal was taken outstandingly by goalkeeper Ali Cook, who floated the ball into the far top corner of the net to give CF a 2-1 lead which they held to the final whistle.

Sutherland Sharks were much tougher proposition, dominating the play from the outset. They went ahead through Rochelle Borromeo and Demi Koulizakis into undefended goals after defensive errors to take a 2-0 lead at half time, which they extended to 3-0 in the second half after Charlotte Reba trickled the ball over the line from a defensive melee. Sutherland’s Madison Farmer almost added a fourth goal after a blazing 40 yard run from the half-way line, but energetic defence from CF kept out any further goals.

In their two Sunday games, CF prevailed 6-1 over the local Cowra team, and held Griffith to a 1-1 draw in tightly fought game.

The Woden Valley team in the Under 16 competition drew 1-1 with Southern Branch, lost 5-0 to Macarthur Rams, won 3-0 against APIA and won 1-0 against Northbridge to take 3rd place in their group.