My Collegue at the Nearpost National, Eamonn Flanagan is up to his neck in local football at the Majura FC Club. Terrific Junior Club with a big playing roster across the age groups, girls and boys.
Majura FC have done something I haven't seen replicated to anywhere in the ACT to anythin like the same degree of sophistication. Its the Majura FC electronic newsletter titled "Majura Pitch". It's sensational.
Go here for the current edition:
In fact, Capital Football could take a lead from Majura FC on this one, as could all the rest of us. Hell, the FFA doesn;t come close! The standard of publication by Majura FC, in the electroinc media is the way to go.
Well done Majura FC and well done Eamonn Flanagan!
Now - everyone else - lift your game and start communicating. For those that haven't yet done it, you could start by getting your websites up to date.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Capital Football Disputes and Discipline Process - Part 1
Broadcast on Tuesday, 27 April 2010 on 2xxfm (98.3mz) through the Australian Community Radio Network
This program examines the current Discipline and Disputes process used by Capital Football and the documents that govern all who play, coach, administer or spectate at Football in competitions or fixtures sanctioned by Capital Football. It’s a big subject, complex at times and too often misunderstood.
In this interview, Alasdair Grocock, the CF mens League manager talks about the CF D&D procedure and he knows it better than most because he has to administer it for the men’s league. Alasdair is a pragmatic individual, very experienced in football administration, he’s a referee, takes the time to think about the player’s perspective and I suspect, very hard to fool. The CF D&D processes are under review.
Download the Podcast here:
This program examines the current Discipline and Disputes process used by Capital Football and the documents that govern all who play, coach, administer or spectate at Football in competitions or fixtures sanctioned by Capital Football. It’s a big subject, complex at times and too often misunderstood.
In this interview, Alasdair Grocock, the CF mens League manager talks about the CF D&D procedure and he knows it better than most because he has to administer it for the men’s league. Alasdair is a pragmatic individual, very experienced in football administration, he’s a referee, takes the time to think about the player’s perspective and I suspect, very hard to fool. The CF D&D processes are under review.
Download the Podcast here:
Monday, April 26, 2010
Give Junior Footballers A Break
The following World Game Blog by Vitor Sobral touches on a very sensitive matter and one that has meaning for us in the Capital Football region. Have a read and see what you think. For all the comments on this article go to http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/vitor-sobral/blog/991447/Give-junior-footballers-a-break
Conside these matters:
22 Apr 2010
Recently I was reminiscing with a mate about the Brisbane club we both played for.
He is still at the club and as he was telling me how it was going, he mentioned that some of the players in the lower tiers of Brisbane football are getting paid.
I was shocked. Not only that players at this level are being paid but by some of the amounts, which are beyond belief. I felt sick.
By whatever means these clubs are getting the money, the last area it should be invested in is securing the club a few meaningless minor titles.
These are community clubs that exist to give the population a place to play football, to have fun and to socialise. Not to win trophies.
Conside these matters:
- Why are charges at Junior Clubs increasing and when do we acknowledge that $150 - $180 per season per child is just too much to pay to play the game?
- If the FFA wants to "develop the game" then it really has to minimise the particpation cost impact on familes at the grass roots level.
- Does our current Premier League structure assist Junior Clubs develop players?
- Why should financial charges be made to parents in order for their children to particpate in the Capital Football High Performance Program?
- If the FFA is as serious as they say they are about the development of junior football (where else do senior players come from to play for Australia?) then why don't they underwrite the cost of the HPP in each State and Territory?
- Are we losing players from the game at a young age to others sprots or no sport at all because the cost of playing descriminates against those families without disposable income to pay?
- Why should it cost a junior player a cent to play for an ACT representative team?
- Same again for Futsal?
22 Apr 2010
Recently I was reminiscing with a mate about the Brisbane club we both played for.
He is still at the club and as he was telling me how it was going, he mentioned that some of the players in the lower tiers of Brisbane football are getting paid.
I was shocked. Not only that players at this level are being paid but by some of the amounts, which are beyond belief. I felt sick.
By whatever means these clubs are getting the money, the last area it should be invested in is securing the club a few meaningless minor titles.
These are community clubs that exist to give the population a place to play football, to have fun and to socialise. Not to win trophies.
Friday, April 23, 2010
FFA National Curriculum Road Show heads for Canberra
This a must attend!
It's the first time that the FFA Technical Director has been to the ACt to hold a public forum on the National Curriculum, since the launching of the curriculum in the ACT at the AIS.
FFA National Curriculum Road Show heads for Canberra
All coaches in the ACT are invited to attend the FFA National Curriculum Road Show to be held next Wednesday the 28th of April at Deakin Stadium.
FFA National Technical Director Han Berger and National Assistant Technical Director Alistair Edwards will present theoretical and practical sessions on the National Curriculum and the 1-4-3-3 playing structure.
The Road Show is free and all coaches are welcome to attend. No pre-registration is neccesary.
Date
Wednesday 28th April
Time
Deakin Stadium, Grose Street Deakin
It's the first time that the FFA Technical Director has been to the ACt to hold a public forum on the National Curriculum, since the launching of the curriculum in the ACT at the AIS.
FFA National Curriculum Road Show heads for Canberra
All coaches in the ACT are invited to attend the FFA National Curriculum Road Show to be held next Wednesday the 28th of April at Deakin Stadium.
Date
Wednesday 28th April
Time
- Theoretical Presentation 6pm-7pm
- Practical Presentation 7:30pm-9pm
Location
Coaching Youth Soccer - West Ham United International Academy
I reckon this is one the most useful and concise explanations of youth player development I have read .
Every point hits the mark. If you coach in this zone in football you will recognise the simple distilled truth of it all.
Here's one except that may interest you and if you recall our interview qith the Head Coach of the Mens Football Program at ACTAS, it is a matter that is of vital interest to him - he must spend time fixing what others have not. What does the Head Coach of any Premier League club in the ACT do when his best player options have serious technical deficiencies?
"Once they move into secondary school (age 11+), the basic skills of control and passing should be strongly embedded. Unfortunately, that is mostly not the case and too much time is spent rectifying the problems that should have been taken care of much earlier."
This really is worth a read.
Coaching Youth Soccer
Tony Carr
Academy Director, West Ham United Football Club
Although individuals can be born with natural skills, it is only regular practice that provides the necessary technique to play the game well.
The years from ages 5 to 8 are absolutely vital because youngsters are totally receptive to everything you tell them, and they have not developed any bad habits. Up to the age of 11, is another crucial period. Throughout this time the emphasis should be placed on having fun and enjoy playing. Too much emphasis is placed on winning at all costs.
Every point hits the mark. If you coach in this zone in football you will recognise the simple distilled truth of it all.
Here's one except that may interest you and if you recall our interview qith the Head Coach of the Mens Football Program at ACTAS, it is a matter that is of vital interest to him - he must spend time fixing what others have not. What does the Head Coach of any Premier League club in the ACT do when his best player options have serious technical deficiencies?
"Once they move into secondary school (age 11+), the basic skills of control and passing should be strongly embedded. Unfortunately, that is mostly not the case and too much time is spent rectifying the problems that should have been taken care of much earlier."
This really is worth a read.
Coaching Youth Soccer
Tony Carr
Academy Director, West Ham United Football Club
Although individuals can be born with natural skills, it is only regular practice that provides the necessary technique to play the game well.
The years from ages 5 to 8 are absolutely vital because youngsters are totally receptive to everything you tell them, and they have not developed any bad habits. Up to the age of 11, is another crucial period. Throughout this time the emphasis should be placed on having fun and enjoy playing. Too much emphasis is placed on winning at all costs.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The Craft of Coaching
This is an excellent article by the National Coaches Assocition of America.
If you Coach, use the article as a template for self reflection. If you are a supporter or parent of a player who goes to games, use it too reflect upon your team's Coach, then figure out a way to help the Coach. But don't dump on the Coach becuase things may not being going well.
The Craft of Coaching
Many qualities and attributes are needed in moving players to new levels
Bill Beswick, renowned sports psychologist formerly of Manchester United and now with Middlesborough FC, has a saying which should inspire all coaches:
“A good coach is able to take a player where they have never been before and will not get to on their own.”
This in many ways gives meaning to what it is to coach and encapsulates the primary purpose of the coaching profession. This article explores coaching as a craft, a professional endeavor which requires pride of performance, acquisition of highly-valued skills and has an objective which is both enormously satisfying and develops an insatiable appetite for more.
At an NSCAA Academy a few years ago, a disgruntled graduate from a highly successful Division I college program said, “I didn’t learn one thing in four years of college; I haven’t improved since I left high school.” It was astonishing to discover how disenchanted this player had been with his college experience. He had played in several Final Fours, one of which his team won. It is clear that serious players want more from a coach than winning trophies. They want to prepare for the next level. They want to get better.
Many would argue that the ultimate acid test of a player is “What impact did you have on the game?” Surely the ultimate acid test of a coach is “What impact did you have on your players?”
If you Coach, use the article as a template for self reflection. If you are a supporter or parent of a player who goes to games, use it too reflect upon your team's Coach, then figure out a way to help the Coach. But don't dump on the Coach becuase things may not being going well.
The Craft of Coaching
Many qualities and attributes are needed in moving players to new levels
Bill Beswick, renowned sports psychologist formerly of Manchester United and now with Middlesborough FC, has a saying which should inspire all coaches:
“A good coach is able to take a player where they have never been before and will not get to on their own.”
This in many ways gives meaning to what it is to coach and encapsulates the primary purpose of the coaching profession. This article explores coaching as a craft, a professional endeavor which requires pride of performance, acquisition of highly-valued skills and has an objective which is both enormously satisfying and develops an insatiable appetite for more.
At an NSCAA Academy a few years ago, a disgruntled graduate from a highly successful Division I college program said, “I didn’t learn one thing in four years of college; I haven’t improved since I left high school.” It was astonishing to discover how disenchanted this player had been with his college experience. He had played in several Final Fours, one of which his team won. It is clear that serious players want more from a coach than winning trophies. They want to prepare for the next level. They want to get better.
Many would argue that the ultimate acid test of a player is “What impact did you have on the game?” Surely the ultimate acid test of a coach is “What impact did you have on your players?”
Observation - Match Analysis
I watch a lot of Football matches, sometimes I see what's happenning, other times the pattern is harder to identify. I know I have got a lot better at analysing the game, simply by watching a lot of games and forcing myself to look away from the ball during play and focus on aspects of play for periods of time. Patterns and habits emerge.
I watched a couple of PL games from Round 2 and the variation in opinions following each game were amazing - they ranged from the emotionally affected to unfathomable. Players play and they are always cetral to performance, just as they must always be first in line to take responsibility. Few opinions seeemed to be supported by any vestige of game analysis based a recording and recounting of elements of play acroos the game. Most were based instead on a mish mash of the old player not playing well, the odd massive error, criticism of coaching decisions and an unfounded bias against the playing system employed during the game. As though one thing is ever the answer - about as credible as the "lone gunman'" on Delaley Plaza!
But its a tricky business and people see the game differently and have different playing preferences and prejudices. Removing the subjectivity is linked very precisely to the careful observation and recording of match statistics. At the very serious end of Football, game analysis is an intergral part of coaching, team and player development, aided as it is now by technology.
I'm not sure how many clubs in our Premier League conduct game analysis in a coherent fashion, but it must surely be a development that's time has arrived.
Game analysis assits in bringing clarity to the game just played and informs the next.
This item (extract) is sourced from:
http://www.nscaa.com/
Observation - Match Analysis
To discover what the players need to practice, the coach must observe them play in a game. The game tells us what the players need. The observations the coach makes during a game will give the practice session a focus. Consequently, the soccer coaching model on game day is quite different from football, basketball or lacrosse, which encourages a high degree of interaction between players and coaches. Possibly baseball or ice hockey are better models for soccer, wherein the coach quietly observes the game, writes notes and occasionally exhorts players to perform.
I watched a couple of PL games from Round 2 and the variation in opinions following each game were amazing - they ranged from the emotionally affected to unfathomable. Players play and they are always cetral to performance, just as they must always be first in line to take responsibility. Few opinions seeemed to be supported by any vestige of game analysis based a recording and recounting of elements of play acroos the game. Most were based instead on a mish mash of the old player not playing well, the odd massive error, criticism of coaching decisions and an unfounded bias against the playing system employed during the game. As though one thing is ever the answer - about as credible as the "lone gunman'" on Delaley Plaza!
But its a tricky business and people see the game differently and have different playing preferences and prejudices. Removing the subjectivity is linked very precisely to the careful observation and recording of match statistics. At the very serious end of Football, game analysis is an intergral part of coaching, team and player development, aided as it is now by technology.
I'm not sure how many clubs in our Premier League conduct game analysis in a coherent fashion, but it must surely be a development that's time has arrived.
Game analysis assits in bringing clarity to the game just played and informs the next.
This item (extract) is sourced from:
http://www.nscaa.com/
Observation - Match Analysis
To discover what the players need to practice, the coach must observe them play in a game. The game tells us what the players need. The observations the coach makes during a game will give the practice session a focus. Consequently, the soccer coaching model on game day is quite different from football, basketball or lacrosse, which encourages a high degree of interaction between players and coaches. Possibly baseball or ice hockey are better models for soccer, wherein the coach quietly observes the game, writes notes and occasionally exhorts players to perform.
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