MODELLING STAGE

LEARNING INTENTIONS:

  • To be able to learn all the principal skills of the game and develop basic physical competencies. Consolidating the basic skills of the game.
  • Introduced to both technical and tactical skills, including positional play and basic performance-enhancing techniques, e.g. warm-up, cool-down, dietary needs (nutrition/hydration), recovery, goal-setting etc.
  • The focus of training is on learning rather than competing, and it is imperative that there is a balance between training and playing.
  • The focus is still very much about fun and participation!
Junior
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FOR PLAYERS (& COACHES)

THE WINNING EDGE IS A COMPREHENSIVE PLAYER’S MANUAL WITH A DIFFERENCE. IT EXPLICITLY BREAKS DOWN THE KEY COMPONENTS OF AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL IN DETAIL, EFFECTIVELY ALLOWING A PLAYER TO TAKE CONTROL OF THEIR OWN FOOTBALL DESTINY.

The Winning Edge
2nd Edition
A player’s book with a difference. Be the difference as a player and a coach.
$24.95

WHEN COACHING YOUNG PLAYERS

  • Avoid being authoritarian. Aim to influence your group through positive action, positive behaviours and positive communication.
  • Provide reasons why you are doing something, whether at training or on game day. Avoid just telling with no explanation
  • Empower your players by giving them ownership into the process.
  • Provide many open ended tasks so that players can solve the problem with thought e.g. what if scenarios?
  • Be very clear. Provide clarity in everything you are aiming to achieve.
  • Provide many opportunities for individualised training.
  • Be flexible: know when to push your playing group and when to back off.
  • Be understanding and empathetic.
  • Be a good listener.
  • Gain feedback/player input.

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL COACHING IS PITCHING THE CONTENT EXACTLY WHERE IT NEEDS TO BE PITCHED, SO THAT EVERYONE IN YOUR PLAYING GROUP IS CATERED FOR. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO CHALLENGE PLAYERS THAT NEED TO BE CHALLENGED. YOU WANT TO BE ABLE TO PEEL BACK THE LAYERS TO CATER FOR THOSE THAT NEED MORE TIME TO DECODE THE CONTENT DELIVERED.

DRILL: AROUND THE SQUARE

LEARNING INTENTION

Teach players 3 components of kicking: alignment, momentum and follow through.
When to Use: Most suitable for a warm-up or rotational activity.

DRILL

  • Need 5 players and a 20m by 20m grid /1 football
  • 2 players position themselves at the start, while the remaining players each spread on a corner of the grid.
  • First player at the start, kicks to B.
  • B kicks to C, C kicks to D and player D kicks to the second player waiting at the start. The drill repeats.
  • Note that the kicker follows-up their possession and finishes on the corner they kick to.

VARIATION

  • One player runs all the way around having 4 kicks, receiving a handball from each corner. Make sure the players align themselves when they move around the square, before kicking.

COACHING POINTS

  • Make sure that the kicker’s hips are aligned to their target when making contact.
  • Once they have kicked, the aim is to land on their kicking leg when following through.
  • Have momentum.