Planning Your 2012 Season Ideas, Tips and Strategies Steve Teakel Coaching Development Manager AFL Victoria

Staff Sgt Thomas Brick Balad Air Base - Iraq Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance

Developing a Coaching Philosophy Foundation of your Coaching What do you believe is important? Values Beliefs What do you hope to achieve with the team this year? Aims Objectives How will you communicate this to the committee? Supporters? Players?

“As far as philosophies and coaching methods are concerned… the biggest lesson I have learned is that you have to coach to your own personality. That’s probably why you see such a big range of coaches. There’s no real blueprint, no formula that’s right” “I think you’ve got to coach to the way that suits you and your personality and I found that a lot easier and a lot better for me. You pick up a lot on the way, but I think as much , you pick up on what not to do. You see things in people that you don’t like and you think ‘Well I mustn’t fall into the trap of doing that.’”

“Learning the Game – not just winning the game”! “Teach and Educate” Build a Foundation Increase complexity Structures/set plays Game situation = training drill Coaching Jargon Collective Knowledge Statistics Ask Questions Hear it, See it, Do It!

“We will be a better team when……” Coaching panel evaluation Feedback from players Video Club committee Player strengths and weaknesses Team strengths and weaknesses Recruiting Game Plan - changes Action Plan for 2012

“Your Coaching Team” Communicate ! Involve them in planning Specific tasks Educate Listen and Open mind “Coaching Jargon” Resolve conflicts quickly Live the Values Solutions not problems

Team Handbook Coach message History of the Club Club Contacts Training and Match Day expectations Vision and Trademark Team Rules KPI’s - desire indicators Style of Play Game Plan – strategy/tactics

AFL/AIS GAME PLAN BEAT YOUR OPPONENT *Win the Ball *Pressure Your Opponent RULES A1 In front 1st to move A2 Body line the ball A3 Outnumber at the contest USE THE BALL *Generate Scoring Opportunities B4 Play on quickly – Get the ball into our 50 as quick as possible. B5 Ball to the front in contests B6 Front and square B7 Kick to advantage (short or wide to those who can play on/long to tall’s in contest) PLAY FOR THE TEAM *Make Decisions / act in the interest of the team C8 Quality defensive skills C9 Find your man (when you cant influence the play) C10 Positive Communication

Long Term Athlete Development (LTAD) Active Start 0 – 6 years Learn movement Link together FUNdamentals 6 – 9 years Movement skills Build motor skills Learning to Train 9 – 12 years Learn overall sport skills Training to Train 12 – 16 years Build aerobic base Develop speed and strength Consolidate specific sport skills Training to Compete 16 – 23+/- Optimize fitness preparation Position specific skills Individual/team specific Training to Win 19+/- Podium performers Active for Life any age Transition from competitive career to lifelong physical activity and participation in sport

Fitness components - individual Recovery programs Training to Compete (16 – 23+/- years) Optimize fitness preparation and sport, individual, and position specific skills Choose to specialize in “one sport” or continue in the recreational stream Individually tailored programs Fitness components - individual Recovery programs Technical skill development Tactical awareness Athletes strength and weaknesses Psychological preparation Game preparation Lifestyle education

Developing an Effective Team TRADEMARK (Our Team) Behaviours How do you want to be seen as a team? Actions How will that look in action? How wouldn’t that look? 2 or 3 words Positive Disciplined Skilled etc Think about things you should: Stop Start Keep

Plans within the Plan Season Monthly Session by Session Periods Blocks of time Phases Monthly Game Plan Theme/Focus Fitness Session by Session Last Week/This Week Strategy/Tactics Skills Individual Players Positions Skill levels Fitness levels

Considerations for the Plan Introductory night Training and Competition dates Team Camp Team Activities Skills and Physical testing Goal setting (team and individual) Team rules – playing and off field Game plan Individual skill training Specialist and assistant coaches Support staff Feedback to players Variety

Periodisation Training Chart

Periodisation Training Chart Phase and Period of Season Objective and Goals Training Focus Action Plan

Periodisation Training Chart Phase Period Objective Goals Training Focus Action Plan Pre season December - February Prepare Skill Fitness Game Plan Player Development Practice Match March - April Evaluation In Season April - July Team Plan Finals Aug - Sept Team Development Winning

Periodisation Training Chart Phase Period Objective Goals Training Focus Action Plan Date Pre season Feb - March Objective: Prepare Goal: Game Plan Introduce game plan drills eg. defence to attack Team Rules eg. front and centre Team Seminar (25/02/12) Playing guidelines Drills

Periodisation Training Chart Phase Period Objective Goals Training Focus Action Plan Date In season April - July Objective: Team Plan Goal: Skill Goal Kicking accuracy Shots from 30 to 40 m Set Shots On run Stats evidence Training drill Explain kicking routine Player to talk to group

Individual Player Plan Select a player and list: Strengths Technical Priority Tactical Priority Attitudinal Priority Physical Priority What are we going to do? Who? When?

Goal Setting Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time bound TEAM GOAL SETTING Good for all age and ability levels SMART principle Display your goals Give ownership to the team of your goals Review regularly INDIVIDUAL GOAL SETTING Time consuming but worth it Recognise strengths and weaknesses Set realistic performance goals Establish steps and action plans to improve performance (short and long term) Achieve enjoyment and satisfaction No more than 4

Skill Development Kicking Handball Marking Picking up ball Bouncing Ball Tap Out Play on Leading Crumbing Changing Direction Running to Tackling Spoiling Smothering Shepherding On the Mark Bumping Chasing Rolling Landing Ruckwork Recovery

Fitness and Physical Development Conditioning Flexibility Speed Endurance Strength/Power Agility Nutrition Recovery/Body management Rehabilitation Programs Injury Management Risk Management

Game Plan Defence Play Forward Play Midfield Play Ruck Work Positional Play Teamwork Set Plays Game Style/Pattern

“21 Whispers” “You may be the deliverer of the first whisper…. or you may be the 21st before a player fully understands”

Player Development Goal Setting Peer Acceptance Communication Evaluation Player Profiling “What’s Next?” Welfare “Time in Game” Social Skilling Buddy System

One Teaching Style does not fit all! Learning Styles Learning styles are the unique way in which each individual begins to concentrate on, process and retain new and difficult information Visual Learner (65%) Look, watch, show, demonstrate, observe, imagine Auditory Learner ( 30%) Hear, sound, repeat Kinaesthetic/Tactile (5%) Perform, execute, try, feel, touch, move

One Teaching Style does not fit all! Visual Learner (65%) Seeing Written information Videos Chalkboard Notes Diagrams Auditory Learner ( 30%) Spoken word Listening, hearing Lecture Listening/discussing Team meeting Guest speaker Kinaesthetic (5%) Activities Touching, “feeling” Role play/Simulations Practice/doing Shadowing Structured/Hands on

Pre Game Timeline

“It is thought that players can recall only up to three points from the coach’s address. At one AFL club, the players were surveyed before they ran out onto the ground to assess their recall. Some 30 per cent could recall the three points, another 30 per cent or so could recall one or two points and another 30 per cent could recall things not actually raised in the pre-match address.”

Coaches Board

Player Feedback Statistics Areas of Assessment General Comments Total possessions Accountability Strengths Kicks Clean Ball Handling Areas to development Handballs Decision making Training Actions Marks Team Play Frees For/Against Kicking Goals/Behinds Work Rate

Match Day - Player Report NAME POS. USED COMMENTS RATING 1 Torpa BP, HF, MID, FP Battled hard, worked hard defensively early, standing in corridor in forward line is a no-no. Need to communicate more regarding injuries pre-game – not good enough in this area. Fair 2 Lovell HF, MID, BP Struggled to find the ball a little early, but a good disciplined effort to stop a good player when moved in Q2. 3 OB Wing, MID, HF Improved as the game went on. Good inside ball winning and run, effective use of the ball. Excellent work ethic – well done on the Attitude Barometer. Very Good 4 Hally HF, MID Won a good amount of the ball and generally used it well. Do not fly against taller team mates. You lost your man a lot early in the game and you must improve in this area as a forward. Run on to the ground with urgency. Attitude Barometer? Fair - Good 5 Jacko MID, HF Good work rate and ball winning. A bit panicky early when you took possession – we need you to run and carry the ball because you have very good awareness and kicking skills. Be careful not to kick too short when there are better options further down the ground. Good 7 Jages FP, MID, HF Found a lot of the ball and generally used it very well. Good work rate chasing hard out of the backline – it is important that you keep this effort up. Well done. Good – very good

End of Season Name: Games Played: Training Attendance Excellent Good Average Poor Training Effort Kicking Ball Handling Tackling Discipline Accountability Season Rating General comments: Areas to Work on for 2013:

“Sunday Night on the Couch” Review his list of players What they did well What they need to improve Value to the team – find solutions Impact on the team – actions/non actions

Coaches Diary