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“A GOOD COACH CAN CHANGE A GAME, A GREAT COACH CAN CHANGE A LIFE” – CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF FEMALE COACHES

We interviewed Campbelltown Quake’s Head Coach for Girls U17 and Open Women , Mel Keith, and asked about her experiences in football. Her answers during our conversation are paraphrased in the article below.

 

Where does your passion for the sport come from?

 

Mel’s passion for the sport has developed over her own journey playing sport.

 

She started playing futsal and football at 13 years through school and went on to numerous national tournaments and tours.

 

Throughout this time playing, she made some of the best memories and had experiences she is grateful for.

 

“The sport became a happy place for me and had the majority of my focus growing up.”

 

Mel was also an elite softball player, with dreams of making the Olympic team one day. Sadly, her path didn’t lead to this but she still loves the sport and plays regularly in the football off-season.

 

What made you want to get involved in coaching? 

 

As Mel got older, she realised how rewarding it was to give back to the sport that had given so much to her, through the next generation of players.

 

Mel also has the type of personality that likes to lead and help others.

 

 

Can you share your journey of how you got into coaching?

 

Mel started coaching futsal in 2007 as a senior player coaching a junior team at Sydney Magic futsal club (aka Inner West Magic). She found it hard to play and coach for a long time due to the long days.

 

In 2010, she moved to Campbelltown Quake Futsal club where she coached 15/16 Girls.

During her time at Quake, 2010-present, she has coached every age from 13 Girls up to Open Women’s. She is probably considered more of a women’s coach now. She has also been privileged enough to coach for FNSW at the National Futsal Championships on numerous occasions.

 

Mel received the highest honour in 2019, being voted Futsal coach of the year by Football NSW.

 

Mel, previously known as Mel McCauley, married an ex Futsalroo Simon Keith, who also coaches at Eastern Suburbs Hakoah Futsal. A household of great coaching talent and general football banter keep Mel on her toes.

 

Do you have any challenge/s that come to mind when you have been coaching? 

 

Mel’s biggest challenge when coaching is understanding that there isn’t one set type of player, both mentally and physically.

 

“To get the best out of your team, you truly need to understand the needs of each individual player in your squad to get the best overall result.”

 

“A connection with players helps a coach to lift a team to levels beyond tactics and fitness and gives each player worth and belief in what they are trying to achieve.”

 

If you could speak to female coaches or those aspiring to be a coach what would be your one liner (punch line)?

A good coach can change a game, a great coach can change a life.

 

 

As part of Coach Development initiatives in 2022, Macarthur Football Association is launching a Female Coach Development Program with the purpose of supporting current female coaches and encouraging aspiring female volunteers to coach within our local clubs.
The program will consist of a female coach’s support network, workshops, coaching courses, and resources that aim to cater to all coaches involved in the program, regardless of their coaching experience or commitment levels.
To join us in 2022, please fill in this survey: bit.ly/mfafemalecoaches

 

For more information about how you can be involved in coaching or coach education, contact the MFA Community Football Manager at Kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au

BULLS HOLIDAY CLINICS RETURN IN JANUARY!

Macarthur FC and Macarthur Football Association are excited to announce that our Bulls Holiday Clinics are back for 2022!

Below are the dates for the January 2022 clinics:

  • Mixed Clinic on Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th January 9am – 1pm (Week 1), Wayne Gardner Oval
  • GIRLS ONLY on Friday 21st January 9am – 1pm (Week 1), Wayne Gardner Oval
  • Mixed Clinic on Monday 24th and Tuesday 25th January 9am – 1pm (Week 2), Lynwood Park

All clinics cover the core football skills though game-based scenarios developed by the Macarthur FC technical coaching staff.

The Mixed two-day package cost is $160 and includes:

  • Macarthur FC Training kit
  • Macarthur FC Endorsed Coaches
  • Macarthur FC Player Meet & Greet

If you were at our previous clinic and already have the Macarthur FC Training Kit the cost will be $140 but the child MUST wear the Macarthur FC Training Kit for the duration of the clinic.

The GIRLS ONLY package cost is $95 and includes:

  • Macarthur FC Training kit
  • Macarthur FC Endorsed Coaches
  • Macarthur FC Player Meet & Greet

If you were at our previous clinic and already have the Macarthur FC Training Kit the cost will be $75 but the child MUST wear the Macarthur FC Training Kit for the duration of the clinic.

*Prices are based on participants registered to PlayFootball with a local club in 2021. A $5 fee will be added to the total price for participants that are not registered to a local football club in 2021.

To register for the Macarthur FC January 2022 School Holiday Clinics:

CLICK HERE FOR RETURNING PARTICPANTS (EXCLUDING MFC KIT)

CLICK HERE FOR NEW PARTICIPANT (INCLUDING MFC KIT)

HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON A YOUNG PERSON’S LIFE IS THE MOST REWARDING THING YOU CAN DO: CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF FEMALE COACHES

With female participation in sport being a strong focus for clubs and it rapidly increasing, female coaches could be considered the next step in shifting the stereotypes. We interviewed Camden Tigers’ Technical Director for Girls and Womens Football, Julia Chernoukha and asked about her experiences in football. Her answers during our conversation are paraphrased in the article below.

 

PASSION FOR THE GAME

“My Grandfather took me to play football with the boys…”

 

Julia grew up in Eastern Europe up to the age of around 10 and had a special relationship with her grandfather.

“My grandfather took me to a local dusty high school field to play football with the boys when I was about 5 or 6 years old.”

“This is where the football mindset and passion for the game began.”

 

After moving to Australia, Julia started playing at Pagewood Botany FC in 1999 when she was 14.

The team Julia played in was an All Age Women 1’s, because there were no junior girls sides.

“It was a very mixed bag with large age gaps between many of the players… I grew up very quickly in that team.”

 

Throughout her playing career Julia moved between Pagewood and the representative side for UNSW. As an aspiring footballer, she played against the likes of the Khamis sisters and other Matildas that were plying their trade in the NSW Premier League at the time.

 

THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENT FOR WANTING TO BECOME A COACH

“I was 19 at the time and took on the role of Girls Executive on the committee …”

 

An influential role model in Julia’s life was her coach at Pagewood who also happened to be the club president at the time.

“The year that I went to reps, he tapped me on the shoulder and said, ‘I need somebody to help me form some junior girls’ teams’”.

“I was 19 at the time and took on the role of Girls Executive on the committee.”

 

Along with coordinating the formation of these teams, Julia ended up coaching one of the first Junior Girls teams in the Eastern Suburbs, kickstarting junior female football in the area.

 

WHAT THE COACHING JOURNEY HAS LOOKED LIKE

“Learning on the job is the best way…”

 

Julia acknowledged the contribution that her coaches had on her own development as a person across her various roles.

“I picked up a lot along the way, playing in reps and absorbing from the coaches I had, and then taking it back to my own coaching style.”

Julia described, ‘Learning on the job’ as one of the most effective ways to develop as a coach.

 

Julia coached for 17 years straight at Pagewood and had a variety of roles in between, including jumping on the association board where she managed the women’s competitions for two years.

 

Julia finished up coaching with Pagewood 2 years ago and is now the Technical Director for Girls and Women’s Football at Camden Tigers FC and a Committee Member on the Football NSW Women’s Standing Committee, as well as still being club Secretary at Pagewood Botany FC.

 

CHALLENGES FACED

“I wouldn’t call them challenges…I’d call them experiences that have made me grow as a coach…”

 

When asked about challenges she had faced in her coaching career, Julia had a positive outlook on her experiences even though there are always challenges like dealing with parents, helping teenage girls work through their challenges and the standing of female coaches compared to male coaches.

 

“Parents wanting to be too ‘hands on’ and causing issues within the team environment has always been and still is a challenge to this day. Nowadays I try to help other coaches deal with these problems.”

“At the end of the day, going through those things and dealing with those situations, actually makes you stronger as a coach and as a person.”

 

As Julia moved through the coach education ranks, she found that it was difficult to be considered for first-grade gigs.

“I was given the teams that needed nurturing and caring, and somebody that was going to have the patience to get the best out of the girls. Not necessarily winning things but helping them develop as people.”

“And you know what, I’m proud of that. I believe that having a positive impact on a young person’s life is the most rewarding thing you can do.”

 

One of Julia’s aspirations for the future is to continue developing young coaches at Tigers through a long-term strategy and a strong culture.

Julia is now starting her journey as a coach educator in the Macarthur Football Association and will be part of the coach education team for 2022.

 

For more information about how you can be involved in coaching or coach education, contact the MFA Community Football Manager at Kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au

DON’T DIE WONDERING: CHANGING THE NARRATIVE OF FEMALE COACHES

With female participation in sport being a strong focus for clubs and it rapidly increasing, female coaches could be considered the next step in shifting the stereotypes. We interviewed Gunners Soccer Club’s Cathy Walsh during the 2021 lockdown and asked about her experiences in football. Her answers during our conversation are paraphrased in the article below.

 

 

PASSION FOR THE GAME

“Girls don’t play soccer…”

 

Coming from a football-mad family, Cathy Walsh grew up around the sport and was eager to play from a young age.

However, Cathy grew up around a time where it wasn’t common for girls to play football.

“I used to bug my dad that I wanted to play,” she said

“He made a deal with me that if I actually found a girls team, he’d let me play.”

 

While it seemed unlikely, Cathy found a team advertised in a magazine that she could join and her dad kept his promise.

 

From there Cathy joined St George Football Club and played with some of Australia’s pioneering female footballers of her generation such as Football Australia Hall of Fame’s Cindy Heydon, Julie Dolan AM and Pat O’Connor.

“I learnt a lot there…I stuck with them and then played for Marconi,” she said

“I then made it into the state team.”

 

Unfortunately, Cathy suffered a career-ending knee injury during state training and couldn’t progress onto the elite level. Instead, she continued to play grassroots football after she recovered.

 

THE SIGNIFICANT MOMENT FOR WANTING TO BECOME A COACH

“We knew what we were talking about and know how to play…”

 

Cathy was bothered that girls football was often referred to as a “kick and giggle”

“That was not the case – me and other female footballers knew what we were talking about and know how to play it,” she said.

After her injury, Cathy still longed for being a part of the game, she has a passion for sharing her knowledge and getting people involved, girls, and women especially.

 

WHAT THE COACHING JOURNEY HAS LOOKED LIKE

“Very intimidating but I got through it…”

 

When Cathy began her coaching journey, she was often the only female participant in her initial coaching courses.

“[It was] pretty daunting as young girl going to these courses,” she said

“It was all male dominated…it was very intimidating, but I got through it.”

 

Her first coaching position was in 1979 as the assistant coach of Forest Rangers FC’s under 11 A’s team. Over the next few years, she worked her to into securing her own team at the club. Since then, Cathy impacted the growth of many male and female players she coached ranging from under 7’s through to All Age divisions.

“They all have their dynamics,” she said.

 

Since 1999, Cathy has coached at Gunners Soccer Club and has been grateful for the opportunity.

“Gunners took me on as a young woman…they encouraged me and supported me,” she said.

“I became a life member of the club last year, which was a very humbling experience for me.”

 

One of the teams Cathy cherished coaching was the Under 14’ girls from Gunners Soccer Club. She took this most of this initial crop of players and helped them progress over many years, winning honours in under 14’s, under 16s and the All Age Ladies 2 competitions. Ultimately, this team were promoted to the top All Ages Ladies division. “They were a phenomenal side…they were the dream team,” she said.

 

Besides completing courses and training, Cathy said she always used to be at the training ground late at night just watching other coaches. She observed what other coaches did in their sessions and looked at how she could incorporate that into her sessions.

 

CHALLENGES FACED

“What do women know about soccer…”

 

Cathy admits that through her coaching journey, she hasn’t necessarily always started with the ‘A Team’. She didn’t mind because she was able to use her coaching skills to improve the team and help them succeed.

 

“At the beginning of my coaching journey I guess there were barriers because it wasn’t the narrative of having a women coach soccer,” she said.

“[She often encountered] ‘what do women really know about soccer?…I always felt as though I had to prove myself.”

 

Despite feeling as though she was scrutinised more than male coaches at times or had her experience questioned, she emphasises that her players would see how she cared about them, and they tend to want to learn more.

Cathy said the most fulfilling moments in her coaching career is when players would ask her one important question – “Are you coaching next year?”

2021 Coach Education Report

The 2021 Macarthur Football Association season was unfortunately cut short due to Covid 19 but coach education showed no signs of slowing down with course engagement hitting a new record. 

 

Over the 2021 season, Macarthur Football Association hosted various coaching education opportunities which included MiniRoos Certificates, Game Training Certificates, Skill Training Certificates and Club Coach Coordinator workshops.

 

With more than 170 individuals successfully completing their training through one or more of these educational opportunities, the MFA community are confident that community coaches are being supported with the relevant tools to help develop the next generation of footballers across the association.

 

The increase in performance from MFA sides in the State Cup competition is testament to the fact that coach development is supporting an increase in football standards within the region.

 

Coach education therefore plays a valuable role in MFA and will only benefit both the players and coaches in the long run.

 

MiniRoos Certificate 

 

The MiniRoos Certificate was the most sought-after coaching course throughout the 2021 season with more than 105 participants completing the certificate, which is designed for new and inexperienced coaches looking for ideas and support when it comes to coaching.

 

The course helps coaches develop sessions with a structure based around FUN for our U5 to U8 participants.

 

The MFA invites all parents and interested parties to keep a look-out for MiniRoos Certificates in 2022 that will be held at local clubs and are the ideal starting point for individuals looking to begin their journey in coaching football.

Skill Training Certificate 

 

The Skill Training Certificate saw the biggest improvement in numbers compared to previous seasons with just under 50 participants completing the course during the shortened season.

 

The introduction of the M-SAP league helped this increase in participation as coaches involved in the program were required to have a minimum qualification and were supported by MFA through a subsidised registration cost.

 

As part of Football Australia’s Skill Acquisition Phase coaches learnt about the 4 core skills and learnt to structure their training sessions around these core skills through a skill introduction, skill training and skill game.

 

Similar to the MiniRoos Certificate, the Skill Training Certificate helps coaches deliver fun and engaging training sessions for young children with a player development purpose. This certificate creates the perfect base for coaches who are looking to develop themselves as a coach as well as the players they are coaching.

Game Training Certificate 

 

The Game Training Certificate is part of Football Australia’s Game Training Phase which assists coaches who are coaching within the U13-U17 age bracket.

 

This certificate aims at developing tactical awareness and decision making in situations relating to 11-a-side football, resulting in players being prepared for the step up to senior football.

 

This season, the Macarthur Football Association had 16 participants complete the course which added to the already valuable experience and knowledge of team coaches within these age brackets in the MFA community.

 

Individuals coaching within this age bracket should consider completing this certificate to develop themselves as coaches and create an in-depth understanding of player development for youth players.

 

Club Coach Coordinator Program 

 

The Club Coach Coordinator Program (CCC) is the association’s newest addition to coaching education with more growth and development opportunities to become available in the coming years.

 

The program aims to build a network support for all grassroots coaches through every club in the district. To do this, clubs appoint a CCC with the aim to provide in-club knowledge and resources on coaching procedures and player management, specifically to support new and inexperienced coaches.

 

Over the 2021 season, the association saw CCCs actively engage in the preseason, midseason and postseason workshops hosted at Lynwood Park or via digital engagement. If your club is interested in appointing a CCC or you would like to become a part of the Coaching Coordinator team in Macarthur Associations please contact Kevin Guardado Amaya at Kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au.

 

Coach Education Team 

The 2021 season saw courses presented by a team of coaches across various programs in the MFA including Macarthur Rams Mens and Womens, with the likes of Rod Henderson, Troy Spink, Pete Nowakowski, Sam McGowan and Justin Mickan delivering and assisting with coach education courses and club visits throughout the year.

 

We caught up with Rod Henderson to get his thoughts on this season’s coach education programs and get an insight into what participants are provided with during and after completing the courses.

 

“The 2021 coaching courses have been really enjoyable, providing new coaches with the opportunity to learn about structuring their training sessions. It is important to understand that coaching is not always about what to coach but also about how to coach it”.

 

“In the courses, we provide support and resources to participants about planning, organising and how to use the ‘C.H.A.N.G.E.I.T’ principles if the session is not working.”

 

“We provide them with support and resources to hopefully see them return as a coach the following year and talk to new prospective coaches about their experience and how the coaching course has benefited them.”

 

The 2022 season is looking to be the biggest season of coach education yet with a growing team of coach educators ready to deliver even more courses in various locations around the MFA. The MFA are also preparing to continue investing in and supporting the local Club Coach Coordinators to deliver in-house MiniRoos Certificates for their own club coaches in pre-season 2022.

Looking Ahead To The 2022 Season 

 

The Sport Session Planner (SSP) is a digital coaching platform that MFA is investing in with the aim of further developing coaches within the region.

 

The MFA has invested in 85 coach subscriptions with key influencers being identified with the representative environment of MFA SAP & AYL, Macarthur Rams and Women and Camden Tigers, as well as Club Coach Coordinators in the local clubs. The vision is that this initiative will lead to the gap between grassroots and representative football practices to be smaller than ever with representative coaches provided with the ability to be content creators and support grassroots coaches digitally through session planning.

 

If you would like to get in touch and find out more information about coach education within the MFA please contact Kevin Guardado Amaya – MFA Community Football Manager at kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au

JUNIOR DEVELOPMENT THRIVES WITH SUCCESSFUL 2021 M-SAP LAUNCH

With the 2021 season’s premature ending leaving football communities across the state eagerly anticipating the 2022 season, juniors in the Macarthur Football Association region will be amongst the most excited to return to the pitch after receiving a small taste of the associations local M-SAP league that was launched in the 2021 season.

After a 2020 review of Representative Football, Macarthur Football Association identified the need to provide local players access to high quality development opportunities.

The creation of the M-SAP league has allowed the association to continue working towards its strategic objectives of enhancing the participation experience, raising the standards of youth football, and providing a quality youth development environment.

Difference between M-SAP and local comp

The 2021 season saw eight local clubs compete in the inaugural M-SAP league which was centered around a mixed U8 competition.

Players were exposed to a similar environment to that created in the SAP programs run by representative clubs in FNSW competitions. Coaches all obtained, as a minimum, Skill Training Certificate’s to be eligible to coach in the league whilst C licensed coaches were actively sought after to ensure value was being created for players that would not usually be the experience in a standard U8 competition.

Clubs are also required to meet a 3-star rating under the National Club Development Program, emphasizing Macarthur FA’s commitment to providing local juniors with a professional environment to develop in.

Player Spotlight

Aydin Khan was part of the inaugural Oran Park Rovers U8’s team who competed in the M-SAP league in 2021. Aydin’s mother, Rehana, believes that her son is already reaping the rewards of a ‘more competitive’ environment.

“It challenged Aydin to try harder and towards the end it’s a shame it was cut short, but Aydin was building a lot of new skills and his confidence as well.”

Rehana believes current initiatives such as the M-SAP league and the Association Development Program (ADP) provides current young players with a great platform to beginning their footballing journeys.

“I think they’re really good to get kids to gain a better understanding as well as gain more experience.’

“When Adam (Aydin’s older brother) started there was nothing else that I was aware of that could get him extra training to support where he wanted to go if he was planning to make soccer a career.”

Aydin believes training twice a week in the M-SAP league has allowed him to work on his ball skills and his weak foot as he continues to strive towards achieving his goal of one day playing for Manchester United in the English Premier League.

Coach Spotlight

Dwayne Pearson, who coached the U8 Campbelltown Uniting Church M-SAP side, believes that there were clear signs of development from his players even though their exposure to the SAP environment was shorter than anticipated.

“From the first trial that we had at Uniting Church to where we finished halfway through you could see a massive improvement, but that came back down to structured training sessions, having plans and revising what we were doing.”

He also highlighted the level of professionalism that is now being created in the grassroots environment through the introduction of the M-SAP league and the clear pathway that has now been created for young footballers looking to progress in the Macarthur region.

“It’s an inaugural program that’s made history books. Just seeing kids walking around with their names on the back of their jerseys; I had to wait until I was 18 before I got my name on the back of my jersey.

“That’s what it’s all about, they’re getting an interest in watching World Cup games or they’re following the Matildas and they want to go watch a Rams team because they can see that they’ve got some type of pathway to get there.”

MFA outlook for the competition in the future

Community Football Manager, Kevin Guardado Amaya, is adamant that the M-SAP League will be a game-changer for the Macarthur football community as it continues to provide more opportunities for players and coaches to develop in inclusive and accessible grassroots environments.

“With the M-SAP league being extended to include both U8 and U9 competitions in 2022, we will be doubling the number of opportunities for players and coaches to experience a rep-like environment.

“This will continue to grow year on year, which will ultimately impact hundreds of players and dozens of coaches.”

With Macarthur Football Association becoming one of the few associations in the state bringing the SAP experience to the grassroots environment, there is great optimism surrounding the future of local youth football in the region.

-By Fynn Rodgers

 

COACHING DEVELOPMENT ON THE RISE AT PICTON RANGERS FC

The 2021 football season the Picton Rangers FC celebrate their 50th anniversary and although the season was recently cut short due to Covid sweeping the state, the proud club showed no signs of slowing down in the coaching development department.

With three senior teams playing in the Football South Coast competition and approximately 20 junior and MiniRoos teams playing in the Macarthur Football Association, Picton Rangers are a small club that continues to grow year upon year.

Despite being one of the smaller clubs in the area, Picton Rangers Club Secretary Shauna Mazuran has been grateful for the ever-present commitment to female football at the club.

“For at the least 20 consecutive years we have been fortunate enough to have a women’s team and a junior female team playing competitive football.”

In early 2021, the club hosted a Girls Only session to support the Macarthur FA’s strategic push to have more female only competitions. The session was a massive success with more than 60 females attending the sessions that were delivered by Rangers officials and coaches from Macarthur Football Association and the Macarthur Rams Women’s club.

“This season Picton Rangers signed 95 females to play in 7 female only teams – 31% of Picton Rangers are female players and this figure will continue to grow.”

Further to the investment and promotion of female football, Picton Rangers have successfully implemented the Club Coach Coordinator program with Andrew Merchant leading the way for coach development at the club.

In 2021, Picton Rangers hosted a MiniRoos Certificate for coaches of players in the Discovery Phase (U6-U9), a Skill Training Certificate for coaches of players in the Skill Acquisition Phase (U9-U12) and a Game Training Certificate for coaches of teams playing 11-a-side football.

These courses saw over 30 coaches from Picton and surrounding clubs attain their coaching accreditation for their relevant teams, putting the club in a strong position for ongoing coach development moving into the 2022 season.

Merchant aims to continue supporting the development of all coaches at the club by continuing to provide opportunities through coaching courses, continued communication lines to support coaches through the season and by including more methods to show appreciation of volunteer coaches.

“By far the biggest factor driving the expansion of the CCC role at Picton has been the support and contributions from our coaches. It’s such a privilege to be able to work with a group of dedicated coaches at all levels.” Merchant stated in relation to his experience as the CCC in 2021.

Club President, Trent Slater is adamant that the future is bright for the club as it continues to develop a positive culture for all its members.

“Fifty-years ago, the Picton Rangers was born and in 2021 the strength of the club can still be attributed to the dedication, hard work and support of everyone involved, including Players, Supporters, Volunteers, Parents, Sponsors, Coaches and Managers.

“The club has always aimed to provide the best environment for footballers of any age or ability to participate and succeed. This is the same for our MiniRoos as it is for our first-grade players, male or female.

“The club continues to grow each year and with significant investment in our facilities on the horizon, a focus on developing our female footballers, the future looks very promising.”

For more information on the CCC program or for support with coach development strategies in the Macarthur Football Association, contact Kevin, the Community Football Manager at kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au.

NO SLOWING DOWN FOR THE TIGERS OF CAMDEN

The 2021 season saw the Camden Tigers celebrate its 60th year anniversary and once again showed signs of a club not slowing down especially in the Coach Development Department.

Connected to the Macarthur Football Association, Camden Tigers FC are a unique club with community teams competing in the local competition as well as representative teams playing in Football NSW competitions.

This unique circumstance provides the club with opportunities to take their development of coaches to the next level, especially with the help of their Coach Development team and the leadership of Club Coach Coordinator, Mark Pace.

The connection between the club’s representative side and local side was made apparent immediately for the 2021 season with Girls Youth Technical Director, Julia Chernoukha, and Boys Youth Technical Director, Dave Seniuk, attending the Coach and Managers meeting at the start of the season.

Together the dynamic trio offered their guidance and assistance for the upcoming season and provided the new coaches with the club’s Coach and Managers Booklet holding relevant information about the club and coaching practices.

Throughout the 2021 season, coaches from all levels and ages at the club were invited to watch the National Premier Leagues (NPL) and Girls Conference League (GCL) sessions and matches. Player development is also connected directly to the representative side, with club youth players invited to train with NPL and GCL teams throughout the season.

Within the football circles, Camden Tigers is well known for their female football program and 2021 saw new milestones take place with Girls Only Clinics opened up to not only Tigers players but the general public. These Girls Only Clinics were delivered by players from the GCL teams who were mentored and supported by Julia Chernoukha.

Julia’s work did not stop there, with another milestone being achieved by hosting the first ever Female Only Skill Training Certificate at Rone Dine Memorial Reserve in 2021.

After a successful 2021 season and now with some time to plan ahead, the Tigers are looking to continue their coach development initiatives with plans well in place to have multiple Club Coach Coordinators across their Girls Youth, Boys Youth and MiniRoos age groups who will be mentored by Club TDs.

The opportunity to deliver in-house MiniRoos and Skill Training Coaching Certificates is also on the table with the club Technical Directors working with the MFA to continue their development as Coach Developers and Educators.

“2021 is Camden Tigers’ 60th Anniversary and we have seen many changes over the years,” said the Club’s Coach Coordinator Mark Pace to Football NSW.

“There have been great advancements in equipment, facilities, technology and administration during this time.

“The game that we all love is at the centre with players looking to Clubs to create an inclusive and a fun environment where players can develop and be creative through enjoyable and organised practices.

“Camden Tigers is looking to create these environments through continued growth and development of our people.”

Macarthur Football Association would like to congratulate Camden Tigers FC on their continued investment in the development of their coaches and players of all levels and look forward to a successful 2022 campaign.

For more information on the CCC program or for support with coach development strategies in the Macarthur Football Association, contact Kevin, the Community Football Manager at kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au

 

TAHMOOR SC DEVELOPING POSITIVE MINIROOS CULTURE

Macarthur Football Association side Tahmoor Soccer Club have long had a reputation as a club that develops great footballers and provides a great culture for all participants.  

Tahmoor SC’s Club Coaching Coordinator (CCC) Alex Sargent along with Club President Paul Stanton have both worked hard in creating a positive culture for the various coaches at the club, specifically new ones in the MiniRoos ages.

With over 20 years of coaching experience, Alex Sargent is the embodiment of the CCC program at Tahmoor Soccer Club and has been providing relevant and valued coach support in the club environment for more than 12 years in the role of Club Coach Coordinator.

“When asked by the club at the inception of the CCC program roll out, I had no hesitation in accepting the role of CCC for Tahmoor. I viewed the CCC role as an opportunity to focus on our coaches and players, especially within the MiniRoos and junior teams.

“The CCC role allows me the opportunity to influence and hopefully unlock the potential of our coaches and players to develop them as individuals and as teams to experience the joy that our beautiful game brings.”

Possibly the biggest success of the CCC program at Tahmoor can be seen in the positive culture that has been created for new and inexperienced coaches of MiniRoos teams.

Both Sargent and Stanton ensure that the club is welcoming by:

  • acknowledging the coaches’ commitment at the start of the season,
  • supporting them through training together at the start of the season,
  • hosting a MiniRoos Certificate delivered by Alex,
  • supporting the coaches throughout the season and,
  • acknowledging the coaches’ contribution at the end of the season.

“A very satisfying experience for me was our introduction of conducting U6 joint training sessions for the first 3-4 weeks of the pre-season. These sessions with new coaches, players and parents allowed the adults to destress at the thought of what to do etc. and equally important, the players had lots of fun together,” said Sargent.

“With this positive experience in the early weeks of the season the new coaches were keen to join the MiniRoos Certificate, previously the Grassroots Certificate, that is also conducted at TSC by myself. This is the highlight of the season for me where new coaches are at first so tense, but a few hours later are more confident about coaching in their first season.”

These sorts of initiatives ultimately have created a culture where coaches actually want to stay coaching for longer because they enjoy their time. As a result, coach retention rates have maintained quite high at Tahmoor Soccer Club over the past years.

Club President, Paul Stanton believes that having a CCC that can deliver the MiniRoos Certificate in-house for the club is especially valuable and beneficial.

“During the season, Alex will arrive 1 hour before coaching his own U15s team and offer his support to other coaches, which makes checking in with coaches after they’ve completed their coaching qualification that much easier.”

Stanton has also made it a priority to ensure the coaches feel valued and that their contribution is acknowledged at the end of the season. Over the years has club has provided coaches with a gift of appreciation, ranging from key rings to mugs as a small token of appreciation.

Even with all of these successful initiatives, Tahmoor SC are not resting on their laurels and already thinking of new initiatives to implement to continue building a positive culture at the club. Stanton is looking at the possibility of providing coaches with a club polo in the future and Sargent is looking at building a club library of resources for coaches to have handy throughout the season.

Macarthur Football Association were appreciative of the efforts the team at Tahmoor Soccer Club have done in continuing its investment and support into coach development at a local club level.

“In the CCC role some feedback sticks with you more than others. The most memorable feedback I have received was a simple thumbs up from a new coach a few weeks after starting their coaching experience and completing the MiniRoos Certificate,” concluded Sargent.

For more information on the CCC program or for support with coach development strategies in the Macarthur Football Association, contact Kevin, the Community Football Manager at kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au

Macarthur FA partner with Global Digital Coaching Platform – Sport Session Planner

The global pandemic has seen the Macarthur Football community unfortunately have less time on the football pitch, however MFA continue to invest in coach education and development through the current lockdown.

 

 

 

In 2020 MFA undertook a review of representative football and coach development with the aim to invest further in these areas for the greater good of all football participants in the community.

MFA are now proud to announce a partnership with Sport Session Planner, a globally renowned digital coaching platform that is used by thousands of coaches and clubs around the world.

Together with the team at Sport Session Planner, MFA are rolling out the digital platform providing access and libraries to representative coaches from Macarthur Rams Men’s and Womens’ teams, Camden Tigers representative teams and MFA SAP and AYL teams that compete in Football NSW competitions; as well as our 23 member clubs.

MFA Chairman Darcy Lound has shown immense support with this investment in coach development.

“Following the review of coach development conducted in 2020, it was clear that MFA needed to provide a better coaching experience for all of our participants across the region.

We firmly believe that the Sport Session Planner platform is a great tool that will support the education and development of local coaches, which in turn will benefit local players.”

MFA would like to send a special thank you to James Robinson, Head of Australasia for Sport Session Planner, for his continuous support as we commence the roll out of this initiative to the MFA community.

 

If you would like to get in touch and know more about this initiative, contact Kevin Guardado Amaya – MFA Community Football Manager at kevin@macarthurfootball.com.au.