Coaching & Development Strategy:

To facilitate the development of coaches and young players throughout North Coast Football affiliated clubs through the use of innovative learning and development opportunities. The opportunities presented assist to improve the coaching and playing standard of local football, leading to the delivery of more knowledgeable coaches and therefore, better prepared players.

Coaches are presented with opportunities to develop their coaching knowledge by attending regular Coaches Association meetings and the networking opportunities provided.

Players are presented with opportunities to develop their technical and tactical attributes through selection into the NCF Junior Development Program (JDP) leading to selection into NNSW state representative sides and NSWIS player development programs.

Developing Young Players:

Young players pick up new skills very quickly. However, they may not retain them quite so well. In practical coaching terms this may mean:

* direct the players' readiness to learn towards expanding their overall mobility;

* provide some all-round athletic training;

* provide a learning environment through plenty of repetition; and

* provide training sessions with high motivational exercises.

Through the 8-12 years age range, training should focus more on teaching a wide range of movements, less on specialisation. However, some specific techniques and co-ordination exercises should be used to build on the general training already undertaken. In practical terms this means:

* plan more football-specific technique and co-ordination exercises;

* assist with basic technique refinement; and

* provide more games in which players can use what they learn.

Young players need regular opportunities for 'free-play' during practice sessions. Players should be given the opportunity to experiment, to gather playing experience and become more independent.

As a coach what does this mean? How much planning goes into your training sessions? Are the sessions evaluated for their effectiveness?

To find out more about what you need to do as a coach and to improve your training sessions, click on the Coaches Association link to find out when meetings are being held this season.