ST. BERNARDS DEVELOPMENT PATHWAYS PROGRAM 2011/12 Development Co-ordinator – Craig Connelly

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY THE VISION  To establish a cohesive development pathway for our footballers’, with a clear focus on distinct age group’s with differing requirements:  Junior to U17/18/19 level (15 year olds to 17 year olds)  U18/19 to senior transition (18 to 20 year olds)  Senior player development (Nominated Senior Players)

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY THE GOALS  To provide the St. Bernard’s playing group with the best football development and personal development program in the VAFA.  To empower the St. Bernard’s Playing Group to be the “best they can be”.  To provide the coaching staff with a deeper, stronger, focused, skilled, motivated playing group.  Achieve the football club’s stated core aspiration for St. Bernard’s - being a regular “Premier” finals contender.

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY WHY NOW?  This program launch is a natural extension of the Colts program launched in  2011 Senior Playing Group has 30 (THIRTY) players aged 23 or less. Average age of this group is 20.5 years! That is the future of this senior football club right there.  Lets provide YOU with a program NOW to develop your football skills, develop you physically, develop you as young men and ensure you ALL want to remain committed to being your best as a footballer at St. Bernard’s and as a member of the St. Bernard’s community.

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY WHAT CAPABILITIES WILL I DEVELOP? PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT  STRENGTH - Let’s develop a personal weights program for you.  ENDURANCE - Complete a structured pre-season program with appropriate cross-training (swimming and boxing).  SPEED - Focused boxing training. SKILLS FOCUS  FOOT & HAND SKILLS  DECISION MAKING  GAME BASED TRAINING

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY WHAT CAPABILITIES WILL I DEVELOP? PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT  Leadership Skills  Personal Commitment & Self Discipline  Team Building  Personal Values

DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY AND THE VAFA ELITE PATHWAY PROGRAM VAFA SENIORS AN EFFECTIVE PATHWAY TO THE VFL  VAFA – inviting amateur clubs to identify any current players aged between as candidates for the Elite Pathway Program  VAFA will provide suitable players with preliminary advice and support to prepare them for a VFL club pre-season  VAFA will, where possible, involve Elite pathway players in representative football to achieve exposure to a higher level of competition prior to referral  VAFA will source video footage of the player and provide the vision to the VFL club.  VAFA will provide on-going dialogue to the VFL club regarding any VAFA players of interest.

Colts Program Objectives  To attract as many of the U16 St. Bernard’s playing group to consider continuing their football with St. Bernard’s via the U17’s, U18’s or U19’s.  To attract St. Bernard’s school boys currently playing with the EDFL back to the old boys’ football club.  Promote the concept of our football club as an “INCLUSIVE” club that caters to any boy wanting to either play football or simply be involved with the club.  To provide a social environment that furthers young boys personal development in a supportive club environment.  To promote personal values from senior role models and Colts trainers that influence our boys personal value systems.  To increase involvement of parents with the senior football club

Colts Program /12  Colts Program – Remains a Dedicated Pre-Season Program designed by Gary McAllister ($50 registration fee)  5 weeks pre Xmas  5 weeks late Jan/ early Feb 2011  Additional events (Feb 2011 pre-season biathlon, summer coastal runs etc…)  Brand New Colts Top (included in $50 registration fee)  Skills Development  Provide specialist football skills development sessions (Chris Tankard, Marty Allison, Dean Wallis, Adrian McBean etc…)  Provide related fitness/skills specialists (ie. Boxing, tackling coaches)  Appointed Development Coach to “roll out” specialist game based training sessions and core elements of a game plan that will be carried through the entire playing season

Development Squad Program Objectives  To provide individualised weights and core strength conditioning for 18, 19 and 20 year olds to fast track their readiness for senior football  Establish specific weights programs with adequate supervision – in the Kennel  To provide cross-training programs for every boy participating in the Development Squad (Boxing, Swimming)  ALL Development Squad members to complete the senior Pre Season training program  To retain a high proportion of our U18/19 group each year within the club and develop them to be strong senior footballers

Development Program /12  Steve Forcone will devise an individual weights program for EACH squad member  EACH squad member will HAVE to complete either a 15 or 20 swim program at either AVLC or St. Bernard’s pool (venue to be confirmed) over the course of a 12 week pre-season (club sponsored)  Senior Coach, Development Coach and Tackling Coach to provide specific skills sessions for the Development Squad over the course of the pre-season  Squad summer training tops ($50 cost)

Senior Dev’t Squad Program Objectives  ALL Squad members to be nominated by the Senior Coach in conjunction with the Football Operations Director  To provide individualised weights and core strength conditioning for squad members  Establish specific weights programs with adequate supervision – in the Kennel  To provide cross-training programs for every member of the Senior Development Squad to support improved strength and conditioning for squad members  To provide personal development opportunities for nominated squad members

Senior Development Squad /12  Steve Forcone will devise an individual weights program for EACH squad member  EACH squad member will HAVE to complete either a 15 or 20 swim program at either AVLC or St. Bernard’s pool (venue to be confirmed) over the course of a 12 week pre-season (club sponsored)  Senior Coach and Development Coach to provide specific skills sessions for Senior Development Squad members  AFL Level 1 Coaching Accreditation Course, Personal Development Course, Leadership Course, Decision Making course – all to be identified and offered to squad members (to be paid for by the club)  Squad membership subject to adequate completion of individual program components

Personal Development Aspect  Development and Senior Development Program  Explore how best to link this important group of players to SBOCFC contacts via (1) Diamond Dogs, (2) Committee members, (3) Players (Andrew Merrington), with a view to promoting the benefit of the SBOCFC network to our playing group.  Cultivate external club contacts to act as Personal Development mentors for these two player group’s.  Establish mentor’s for small specific group’s of players in an effort to manage any player welfare issues effectively.

Proposed Investment in Development  Appoint a dedicated Development Co-ordinator  Identify and Appoint a dedicated Skills Development Coach  Work closely with the appointed senior coach to assist skills development of Senior Development squad members  To ensure a consistent approach to game style, training, player development and skills training across ALL playing group’s from U17’s to Seniors.  Mentor all appointed coaches on an on-going basis  Commit necessary resources to fund the Development Pathway on an on-going basis  Specialist Coaches for each of the three development squads  Appoint a Skills Development Coach  Footballs for 3 programs (Senior Development Squad members will each receive a brand new football)  Swimming Access  Personal Development Courses

Benefiting St. Bernard’s Community  2010/11 = COLTS  2011/12 = DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY  2012 = A NOTABLE ST. BERNARDS GAME STYLE BEING APPLIED IN THE U17’S, U18’S, U19’S AND EVERY SENIOR TEAM  2012 – 2015 = LINK THE S.B.O.C.F.C.MORE EFFECTIVELY TO THE SECONDARY SCHOOL VIA A “COMMON” FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM  2015 = 50+ PLAYERS WHO HAVE “GRADUATED” THROUGH TO THE SENIOR DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY  2020 = THE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY FLOWING FROM THE SENIOR SCHOOL SIDE INTO THE S.B.O.C.F.C U17/18/19 TEAMS