The Tasmanian Football Foundation Coaching Mentor Program was launched in February 2018 and mentors are now out right across the state, working with junior coaches to assist and develop them on their journey in the game.
We will be providing updates on the Mentors as they work with junior coaches and sharing some of the stories and experiences.
Dean Smith is one of the mentors and has commenced work with the North Launceston Football Club.
Tasmanian Football Foundation Mentor Program – Mentor: Dean Smith
North Launceston Football Club Report – May 2018
Mentor – Dean Smith
On the focus of junior football…
“The message that I have been pushing since the Alastair Clarkson forum earlier this year is the fact that surveyed players overwhelmingly say that they play for fun, while the majority of coaches have said that they coach to win. This is something that is constantly reinforced during the season.”
“We have also encouraged our junior coaches to attend senior training at times to get current training ideas and see what an excellent culture looks like and inspire them to encourage these standards with the juniors.”
“Simple things like putting water bottles back in crates rather than throwing them on the ground when finished, cleaning boots outside the change rooms rather than inside for someone else to clean up, helping with training if injured and helping coaches pack up at the end are all examples of how these players can develop into the best players and best people that they can be.”
On the under-17 Girls program…
“Our under-17 girls coach, Claudia Matteo, is in just her second year of coaching and is developing quite quickly.”
“This development has come to the point where I have appointed her as the coach of our TSL Under-18 Regional Development Program that we facilitated on behalf of AFL Tasmania. This role included six training sessions and three games for State under-18 selection.”
“Although Claudia wasn’t initially confident when it was first mentioned to her, she was still more than happy to assist me. I was keen to push her as I knew she had it in her, so after a couple of training sessions I suggested to her that she was up to it, so she took it on and did an outstanding job.”
On under-13 girls coach Paul Williams and under-9s coach Declan Brown…
“Our under-13 girls coach Paul Williams is in his first year of football coaching, but had coached other sports previously. I spend plenty of time with him and his team at training and games to assist him with the development of his players and he is growing into the role really well.”
“Declan Brown is one of our under-18 players that has taken on the under-9s this year. He is a quiet young man but is very respectful and coaches the boys in the right way by promoting fun and skill development. He is currently improving weekly and hopefully we can retain him as a junior coach next year.”
The Tasmanian Football Foundation Coaching Mentor Program is proudly supported by Hydro Tasmania