Stepping out of their comfort zone offers so much, it changes the way you look at yourself. It changes the way others view you. It opens new directions. Now is the time.

Click on each frame.

Swooper Decision Making

Introducing the impact player.

• With the game changing regularly and with four on the interchange bench, players must be prepared for many moves and changes.
• Players must sprint off however wait for the appropriate moment, stoppage in play, goal kicked, play is close to interchange  gates or simply work your way to the interchange gates.

• Players must now accept the fact that the bench is now used to rotate players in an effort to keep fresh legs on the ground for four quarters..

• It is not always correct to assume you are coming off due to a mistake or poor form. Rotations are now more important  as they keep the players work at full capacity.

• However the time has now arrived where players will be disciplined for many reasons,  giving away 50m, lack of discipline, not manning up  etc etc.

• Control your anger when benched. This is a team game and you are part of the team. Support all players on or off the oval.

• Loss of focus not only affects the player benched but all other bench players. Accept the move by the coach remain positive when on the bench, it’s not all about you. Talk to the coach after the game for an explanation if you feel you are hard done by.

• During the season we will structure our team so that we have a strike force coming off the bench in an attempt to influence the flow of the game.

• Decisions in this area will be made at the selection table, which will always be in the best interest of the side. It will be up to these strike players to make their presence felt immediately.

• Disciplined

• Focused

• Become the IMPACT player

Expectations of a Coach

By Peter Schwab
AFL Director of Coaching

Your football season may have started or is just about to. You may be a first time coach; you may have been coaching for years. You may have been asked to be an Auskick coach or you’re a seasoned senior football coach. Whatever your circumstances there will be challenges and expectations.

Recruiting, planning the season, setting up the support staff, establishing the game plan, selecting a leadership group, getting to the know the names of the children and parents will be just some of the tasks in front or hopefully behind you.

But if there is one crucial element in the coaching process you need to understand:

“What is expected of you by those who have entrusted you with the job?”

No matter what level you are coaching you need to know how your performance will be measured.

At AFL level a coach, regardless of whether he is a first year coach or a seasoned veteran, needs to know from his Board what is expected of him.

If the Board hasn’t told him, the coach needs to work it out with the playing group and football operations staff and then present to the Board.

Trouble always arises when the expectations of the Board are out of synch with the coach. There needs to be a realistic measure of what will constitute a successful season.

In the cut throat world of professional and semi-professional sport I have listed below just some of the questions around expectation that a coach needs to answer:

1.     Where will the team finish?

2.     How many wins will that take?

3.     How will you manage and assess the players and staff performances?

4.     How do you intend to promote a learning environment?

5.     What are your medical plans?

6.     What are your fitness plans?

7.     What is the strategy for building the playing list?

8.     What is your plan for attracting the best support staff and coaching structure?

9.     What do you have to achieve to be re-contracted?

10.   What are the Board’s expectations?

All this is a daunting task for a coach, but is essential to present a united and clear view of where the Club is at and where it will be going.

If, as the season unfolds, the expectations are not likely to be achieved a coach will need to explain to the Board why expectations have not been met. The reasons must be valid and evidence based, not just excuses.

But it is not just AFL, at all levels coaches need to meet with the people responsible for appointing them so they are clear on what is expected.

Write them down; constantly assess yourself and the team against them as the season progresses.

An Auskick coach has expectations which may be as simple as:

1.     Teach the children to kick and handball with correct technique and to mark the ball on chest.

2.     Constantly encourage and reinforce effort and efficiency.

3.     Create an enjoyable experience.

Any Auskick coach not fulfilling these basic expectations needs to consider what he or she is trying to do with young boys and girls who are learning the game.

Any junior coach should have as one of their measurable outcomes that the youngsters they coach will return to play next year.

Remember at junior level this process does not need to be exacting. Just some basic outcomes you as coach, the players you are coaching and the Club agree are worthwhile striving for.

If I had to give one pointer to junior coaches I would say focus on the development of the individual within the collective environment.

Coaching is about teaching those under your care to be more effective and efficient at what they do.

If all the players you coach improved then you have achieved regardless of the win/loss ratio.

Other essential traits that a good flanker must display is in disciplining themselves to work hard having a strong defensive  mind set.

General Requirements

• astute judgement, reader of play
• stay out wide, leave the forward line open
• create gaps
• feed off or crumb the ball from packs
• angle his run in to contest the ball
• swing back inboard
• hard work, pressure on defenders
• Tackling and aggression
• keep their opponents guessing
• Versatile player



He is responsible generally for getting the ball, running to a predetermined position decided by he and the ruckman.

He must be fully committed to the role, eyes on the ball, creative, power runner and being a real work horse in the middle.

A Young Luke Hodge

Receiving/Running Onballer

• Able to read play well
• Capable of carrying ball (bouncing)
• Loud demanding voice
• Capable of running angles
• Excellent foot skills
• Depth of kicking
• Need to understand positioning and timing of run
• Need to be able to hit forward targets
• Goal kicker on run
• Clean hands
• Great aerobic capacity
• Speed required
• Defensive Running Skills (Work back hard when we don’t have the ball)
• Disciplined in resting off the ball to ensure can impact entire match not just a quarter

Communication

• Work to a plan, communicate this with your team mates and ruckman
• Look for predictable actions that could be considered a weakness and relay this to your team mates
• Avoid your own predictability
• Look for your team mates to block and shepard, remember to provide these to your team mates

More Information Online

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Followers

He is responsible for assisting the receiver in

getting the ball by shepherding / blocking,

running at opposition players who are placing

pressure on the receiver.

He needs to be of strong character, disciplined,

good reader of theplay and prepared to use his body.

Workman Onballer Winning ball in close Quick good hands Able to keep feet Quick release by foot and hand Strong body, stand up in tackles Likes physical play (Blocks, Tackles and Smothers) Able to keep feet Peripheral vision a must Endurance a must, push to next contest Play maker Capable of pushing forward and kicking goals Able to watch balls flight on tap outs Very good anticipation

Enjoys clearing the ball to team mate

Ruck Strategy

The Centre bounce is one of the most important parts of our game. A team that can consistently win the ball out of the centre will generally win the game.

It allows the forward players to have first use of the ball, creating many scoring opportunities and placing backmen under enormous pressure. It is important to vary the direction of the tap as well as the length of the tap, this puts the opposition constantly under pressure as to where the ball will be tapped.

Ruckman. He is responsible for getting the tap out and directing the ball to a spot worked out by the onball group. Constant communication between this group is vitally important.

Midfielders

Wingman

The role of the wingman first and foremost is the ability to run forward and back helping mid field players once they have run off to attack or defend. This player can be either tall (picking up a tall ) or small (picking up the creative opponent). The expectations of the wingman are as follows.                                                                                                                                              General

-         must have very good running ability

-         must be extremely fit

-         must have stamina and endurance

-         must keep feet and not go to ground if possible

-         must communicate loudly and confidently with team mates around them

-         must kick the ball well to maintain possession.

-       must work forward and back to set play up