Football Director
Season 2010
Welcome to all returning and new OUFC players to Season 2010.
Season 2010 aims to build on the ground work started last year under the guidance of the Football Committee and Head Coach, Nick Buonanova. The Club is forward looking in its approach to player development and has introduced some innovative programmes to achieve this goal and whilst we experienced some teething problems last year we have learnt from those mistakes and made the necessary changes.
Football Committee
The Football Committee this year in made up of a selection of experienced players and coaches with set responsibilities toward the various age groups within the Club, namely:
Paul Collins – Director of Football;
Orcan Ercan – Under 5’s to Under 9’s;
Greg Power – Under 10’s to Under 16’s;
Dave James – Under 18’s and Senior Men’s;
Tim Gilbert – Equipment and Uniforms; and
Nick Buonanova – Head Coach.
The Club also has a Women’s Liason Officer in Kelly Small to ensure that all players have a voice at Committee level.
Any queries concerning a respective age grouping or need should first directed to the above person responsible for resolution with any complaints provided in writing to the Director of Football to enable the matter to be appropriately investiagated prior to formal response.
Player Grading
Player Grading sessions to commence from Monday 22nd February from 5pm to 6.15pm at the ground. Players are requested to be at the ground and ready by 4.45pm for a 5pm start.
Monday 22/2 and 1/3 – Under 13’s;
Tuesday 23/2 and 2/3 – Under 11’s and 12’s;
Wednesday 24/2 and 3/3 – Under 9’s and 10’s;
Thursday 25/2 and 4/3 – Under 14’s and 15’s; and
Friday 26/2 and 5/3 – W12, W14, W16 and W18.
We are planning a ‘Placement Day’ for our Under 5, 6, 7 and 8’s on Saturday 27 February and will update times shortly.
Small Sided Games
Season 2010 sees the expansion of FFAs Small Sided Game format to include the Under 8’s and now covers all teams in the Under 5’s, 6’s, 7’s and 8’s but will be gradually expanded over the next 3 - 4 years to include all age groups up to and including Under 12’s. This is an exciting progression in Australian football and remains a concept that is 100% supported by our Committee and something that we ask all parents/players to get behind.
A separate SSG webpage is being updated to provide greater detail, however more information can also be found on the websites of FFA and Football NSW.
Applications for Coaches
Applications for Coaches are still being taken and applicants will be advised of the status of their applications post completion of grading. If you have yet to apply a copy of the Application is in the ‘Library’ and should be completed and submitted to info@oufc.com.au.
Coaches Meetings
Periodic meetings will be held to allow Coaches to deal directly with the Football Committee and raise any football related issues. A separate webpage has been set aside for Coaches information and will be updated periodically.
Group Training
In Season 2009 the Under 5’s, 6’s and 7’s were trained in age groupings at one time and overseen by Head Coach Nick Buonanova and a group a ably qualified coaches. The concept is to be continued in Season 2010 with a few minor changes, namely the age groupings Under 6’s, 7’s and 8’s will continue under this programme however individual coaches are sought for all teams from Under 6’s to 8’s and then invited to participate in the group training sessions on Monday afternoons.
This is not being undertaken to take away the opportunity to be involved in your childs sport but to ensure that correct techniques are taught and taken up. Parent involvement remains a high priority, not only for weekend management of the teams, but in also ‘upskilling’ for those interested in formally ‘coaching’ a team as your child progresses.
Under 5’s will be coached independantly by coaches appointed by the parents of these teams and will also be asked to train Monday afternoons. At 4/5 years of age most kids are too young for the structured training offered by Nick and his team and we require the assistance of parents to help these kids through their first year of football. That said, Nick and Football Committee representatives are always available to assist with any questions around traing requirements for these little dynamos.
Coaching Clinics
The Club will again be running Coaching Clinics during the April and July School Holidays. The Clinics will be run by the Club’s Head Coach, Nick Buonanova, who will take a personal interest in the development of your child. The cost structure is currently being finalised with all proceeds retained by the Club for re-investment in our players development and equipment needs.
Sessions will be limited to be between 12 – 14 players from Under 9’s to Under 16’s and will run for approximately 2 hours. The limited number of available spots will mean that each player will gain quality time with the Head Coach.
Coaching Courses
It is the Club’s goal and intent that all persons taking on the responsibility of a coaching role obtain the necessary FFA Coaching Licence qualifications for the grades being coached. This is a ‘top down’ approach from members sitting on the Football Committee to the Head Coach and down the age and grade spectrum.
We see this as a step in not only enhancing and contributing to the personal development of our coaches but also helps ensure that we bring the most up todate thinking and practices to the training ground for the development of our players, young and old.
As and when these course become available details will be posted on the Club’s website.
Coaching Philosophy
My most important request to all coaches and to the parents watching the games is to allow our kids to play football. Parents are requested to ‘encourage’ the players, please don’t look to coach, leave this to the ‘Coach’ regardless of what you may think is being done right or wrong.
Whilst it is accepted that winning matches is important, it is not the only consideration. We want our juniors to develop, to be comfortable on the ball, to be prepared to take on a player, or to play the ball out from the defence and not just play ‘kick and run’. This will see the occasional error made but please don’t yell at the child for the mistake, applaude their courage to try something different. Let the game be the teacher and with guidance from the Coach their decision making and playing skills will improve.
Finally, I look forward to working with the Committee, Coaches/Managers and Players in 2010 and hope that come the end of the season we can all look back and review 2010 as a success.
Paul Collins
Director of Football – football@oufc.com.au