Thanks for a fantastic turn-out and a committed effort at training this week!
Well done to Alice, Kali, Kyah, Charlotte, Indigo, Milly, Greta, Nikhili, Natasha, Brooke, Louise, Leila, Esme, Claire S, and Claire O'B, for giving it your all.
I didn't get through all the drills that I wanted to, but it was still a really worthwhile session.
After a solid warm-up... we played Aussie Rules Footy!
There's not a lot that 'egg-ball' players do well; actually, there's nothing at all they do well. For us though, this was all about practicing our kicking through the ball, and running and chasing with aggression, commitment and confidence.
We also did some slide tackling training, at Milly's request! I've watched some other Clubs practice the slide tackle, and more often than not, it just isn't trained right. No young player should ever be put at risk of serious injury at training, in my opinion.
The slide tackle is a tactical skill that we'll continue to develop as our team develops, and we'll learn to safely apply it in our matches.
Keep in mind though that the slide tackle isn't about leaping into the air and 'chopping' into the ball (and the opposition's legs). It's about making your body as 'long' as possible, in a low sweeping movement, and hitting the ball with a leg that's parallel to the ground. Done well, the slide tackle is a really elegant defensive strike. Remember to always keep your eyes on the ball, because if you miss-cue a slide tackle, the result is usually a caution or a send-off.
Our game this Saturday 31 July is against Woodside at Aldgate PS. Kick-off is at 2:30pm, so I'll see you all at the pitch by 1:30pm.
Friday, 30 July 2010
Saturday, 24 July 2010
Sunday, 11 July 2010
SKILLS TRAINING | 11 July 2010
Thanks to Meisha, Bronte, Alice, Milly, Esme, Claire O'B, Charlotte, Leila, Claire S, Kyah and Indigo (and Mums and Dads) for coming out today. It was a really positive and worthwhile session. You were all focussed and worked hard to develop your kicking skills.
Thanks also for your attention during my protracted discussion on tactics at the start of the session. If our squad is to develop like I know it can, we simply must start talking set plays, switches and rotations. Hopefully one day we'll have clubrooms and a whiteboard to do this in comfort, before hitting the pitch!
Our program for today consisted of the following elements:
1. Introduction to our rotational ‘slide’ and ‘switch’ strategy.
2. Kicking: Where are we going wrong?
3. Kicking: What can we do to improve?
4. Overview of long-range kicking styles:
• Bend
• Volley
• Bouncing Volley
• Straight-On Strike
5. One-on-one individual review/development of kicking styles.
6. DRILL 01: In pairs… roll set-up and strike to partner.
7. DRILL 02: In pairs… throw set-up and strike to partner.
8. DRILL 03: In pairs… volleying from seated position. Both feet.
9. Mini-Match and/or Circle-Work
Thanks to Jake S for coming out to assist today. I really appreciate your input, Jake.
See you all at our next training session, Tuesday 13 July, at 5pm.
Thanks also for your attention during my protracted discussion on tactics at the start of the session. If our squad is to develop like I know it can, we simply must start talking set plays, switches and rotations. Hopefully one day we'll have clubrooms and a whiteboard to do this in comfort, before hitting the pitch!
Our program for today consisted of the following elements:
1. Introduction to our rotational ‘slide’ and ‘switch’ strategy.
2. Kicking: Where are we going wrong?
3. Kicking: What can we do to improve?
4. Overview of long-range kicking styles:
• Bend
• Volley
• Bouncing Volley
• Straight-On Strike
5. One-on-one individual review/development of kicking styles.
6. DRILL 01: In pairs… roll set-up and strike to partner.
7. DRILL 02: In pairs… throw set-up and strike to partner.
8. DRILL 03: In pairs… volleying from seated position. Both feet.
9. Mini-Match and/or Circle-Work
Thanks to Jake S for coming out to assist today. I really appreciate your input, Jake.
See you all at our next training session, Tuesday 13 July, at 5pm.
Tuesday, 6 July 2010
TRAINING | 6 July 2010
Thanks to Louise, Bronte, Kali, Leila, Meisha and Alice for coming out to training tonight. It was a great session!
There are two clear areas of our game which we need to improve on; we don't mark tight enough and we don't kick long and cleanly enough. We addressed both tonight.
In our matches, every single one of our players must focus on manning-up hard. Defenders, your primary goal is to stop opposition forwards from touching the ball, and if they do get a touch, you must pressure them into making mistakes. Frustrate them and intimidate them. Keep your bodies as close to them as you can, but remember, keep your elbows in and don't tackle from behind. The latter won't be a problem if you stay in front of your opposition player.
Attackers, when our opposition holds the ball up at their end, particularly at goal kicks, you must intimidate and frustrate their defenders. Remember to always edge your way goal-side, because one of the easiest opportunities you'll have to score is to intercept a misguided or badly struck goal kick. If they hit it OK, our mids must be ready to cut it off and push it back to you.
Our kicking out from back needs to be longer, lofted and more direct. We've been relying way too heavily on our goalie to get the ball mid-field. Our strikers are out of the game if we can't get the ball up there for them, so our mids need to step up if we're not clearing cleanly from defence. Make space for your defenders, mids, by moving out wide and calling hard.
Thanks so much to Kali's Mum, Sally, for giving us a hand at training tonight. Thanks also to Alice's Mum, Liz, for sticking around to collect wayward balls. We need to work on your kicking, Liz! Finally, thanks to you all for making sure that all our gear was put away when we finished our session.
We'll be training next Tuesday 13 July at 5:00pm - 6:30pm. Please do all you can to attend, because this will be an important preparatory skills/strategy session for our next match.
There are two clear areas of our game which we need to improve on; we don't mark tight enough and we don't kick long and cleanly enough. We addressed both tonight.
In our matches, every single one of our players must focus on manning-up hard. Defenders, your primary goal is to stop opposition forwards from touching the ball, and if they do get a touch, you must pressure them into making mistakes. Frustrate them and intimidate them. Keep your bodies as close to them as you can, but remember, keep your elbows in and don't tackle from behind. The latter won't be a problem if you stay in front of your opposition player.
Attackers, when our opposition holds the ball up at their end, particularly at goal kicks, you must intimidate and frustrate their defenders. Remember to always edge your way goal-side, because one of the easiest opportunities you'll have to score is to intercept a misguided or badly struck goal kick. If they hit it OK, our mids must be ready to cut it off and push it back to you.
Our kicking out from back needs to be longer, lofted and more direct. We've been relying way too heavily on our goalie to get the ball mid-field. Our strikers are out of the game if we can't get the ball up there for them, so our mids need to step up if we're not clearing cleanly from defence. Make space for your defenders, mids, by moving out wide and calling hard.
Thanks so much to Kali's Mum, Sally, for giving us a hand at training tonight. Thanks also to Alice's Mum, Liz, for sticking around to collect wayward balls. We need to work on your kicking, Liz! Finally, thanks to you all for making sure that all our gear was put away when we finished our session.
We'll be training next Tuesday 13 July at 5:00pm - 6:30pm. Please do all you can to attend, because this will be an important preparatory skills/strategy session for our next match.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
MATCH 11 WRAP | Mount Barker | 3 July 2010
I must give credit where credit's due; Mount Barker are an incredibly professional outfit, and they set out to win big today, and win big they did.
My coaching style is very different to most others. I believe in our players, and I'll always assume that you'll give us your best in the positions you're allocated. If you don't work hard, we don't win. It's that simple.
I noticed that the Mount Barker coach was really rattled in the first 15 minutes; a few of their players were copping it pretty hard from the sidelines, and at least one was dragged. To their coaches credit, however, it did the trick. Their players lifted, and after they'd put a few away, it was all smiles on the Mount Barker coaching bench.
Mid-way through the second, we adopted a 4-3-3-1 structure to see if we could peg one back. It didn't happen, but we came close, and we were starting to look OK. I'd like to congratulate Fiona and Milly, because it was their commitment and determination in defence that allowed us to throw the extra player up front.
I'd also like to thank Bronte and Louise for never giving up. They came together late in the game to devise a strategy that would get us close to goal, and it very nearly paid off. Louise made three brilliant runs through the centre, but Mount Barker were quick to flood their defence.
We've got a bye next week, but on 17 July 2010, we play Mount Barker again on our home turf. We'll have the State Opposition Leader, Isobel Redmond, tossing the coin and supporting us.
On the day, we'll be raffling off a signed Parliamentary wine package, and we'll also be cooking up a massive sausage sizzle storm, so please invite all your family and friends to come out and support our U14G Mt Lofty Eagles squad.
Thanks again to Fiona and Milly, as well as Claire, Alice and Greta for figuring in our best today. You were an inspiration, and you ran your legs off for us!
Thanks also to Nikhili for doing a great job in goal in the first half. It might not have felt like it Nikhili, but there wasn't much you could do, and that's why I gave you a well-deserved clap at half time. Sahara, I hope your knee's OK!
The next two training sessions are important, so please do your best to attend. We'll be talking strategy and structure, and focussing on ball/skill work.
See you at training on Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:00pm.
Result:
Mount Barker 8 - MOUNT LOFTY 0
My coaching style is very different to most others. I believe in our players, and I'll always assume that you'll give us your best in the positions you're allocated. If you don't work hard, we don't win. It's that simple.
I noticed that the Mount Barker coach was really rattled in the first 15 minutes; a few of their players were copping it pretty hard from the sidelines, and at least one was dragged. To their coaches credit, however, it did the trick. Their players lifted, and after they'd put a few away, it was all smiles on the Mount Barker coaching bench.
Mid-way through the second, we adopted a 4-3-3-1 structure to see if we could peg one back. It didn't happen, but we came close, and we were starting to look OK. I'd like to congratulate Fiona and Milly, because it was their commitment and determination in defence that allowed us to throw the extra player up front.
I'd also like to thank Bronte and Louise for never giving up. They came together late in the game to devise a strategy that would get us close to goal, and it very nearly paid off. Louise made three brilliant runs through the centre, but Mount Barker were quick to flood their defence.
We've got a bye next week, but on 17 July 2010, we play Mount Barker again on our home turf. We'll have the State Opposition Leader, Isobel Redmond, tossing the coin and supporting us.
On the day, we'll be raffling off a signed Parliamentary wine package, and we'll also be cooking up a massive sausage sizzle storm, so please invite all your family and friends to come out and support our U14G Mt Lofty Eagles squad.
Thanks again to Fiona and Milly, as well as Claire, Alice and Greta for figuring in our best today. You were an inspiration, and you ran your legs off for us!
Thanks also to Nikhili for doing a great job in goal in the first half. It might not have felt like it Nikhili, but there wasn't much you could do, and that's why I gave you a well-deserved clap at half time. Sahara, I hope your knee's OK!
The next two training sessions are important, so please do your best to attend. We'll be talking strategy and structure, and focussing on ball/skill work.
See you at training on Tuesday, 5:30 - 7:00pm.
Result:
Mount Barker 8 - MOUNT LOFTY 0
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