Gungahlin Junior AFC

Coaching staff.

General
The coaches of the Under 16 team will complete the AFL level 1 coaching course in February 2008 and each have a demonstrated level of experience in coaching and playing.

The approach of the coaching and support staff is to try and impart as much knowledge as possible, without risking information overload. A key aspect of coaching at Under 16 level is repetition of consistent messages about the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed to play the game. This approach may seem at times to be rather mundane or boring to the kids but it is necessary to embed thinking. Over the course of the year, and depending on the skill level of the team, the ante will be raised (slowly) to test the kids out on how they are handling the game. So for parents who may be well versed in various aspects or those who think that things are moving a bit slowly, we hope you will appreciate the need to reinforce key messages regularly so that adherence to them becomes second nature.

Regardless of this if you, as a parent, have a concern about the development of your child or the way the team is being managed then please let the coaching staff know. We need your support to help the boys and we would prefer to know if you are telling them one thing while we are instructing them differently.

Make up of the coaching and management panel
Our intention is to share the coaching load evenly and take a consultative approach to selection, training coordination and tactics. However, we also believe that it is important for both the parents and the boys to be able to identify who is responsible for the final decision when it comes to selection, tactics and game plans. We also believe that, at Under 16 level, it is important that the players are trained in the skills specific to the role they normally assume during games. To this end, we intend to allocate coaching responsibilities as follows:

• Head Coach and backs coach: Dave Smith
• On ballers/centre line and fitness coach: Gerard Hoyne
• Forwards and skills coach: Bruce Chalker
• Manager and strapper: Kirrily Efford

For more detailed information about Under 16 Coaching and Management team, including the coaching and management philosophy for 2008, please <click here>

Information sessions

We are committed to keeping the lines of communication with parents as open as possible throughout the season.

In conjunction with the internal trial in March, we intend to hold a parent information session outlining our aims for the season and giving the parents the chance to have input and ask questions. Once the season starts, we will hold parent information sessions prior to home games on a monthly basis. This will involve players and their parents coming to the ground 40 minutes earlier than the normal report time for the team. We will ensure that these information sessions are run in conjunction with games that have a start time that suits such an early arrival time.

So, what is being an Under 16 all about ???

Under 16 football is played using normal competition rules, with full tackling. The under 16 competition comprises players aged from 15 -16 years and is played weekly over a 15 or 16 round season. While we play competition rules with wins and losses, the focus in the Under 16s is primarily on enjoyment, participation and learning. However, you can also expect that, as the season progresses, coaches will increase the amount of strategy and tactical difficulty associated with the game.

Generally, the boys will find that Under 16 football is a step up from what they have been used to in the past. Many 15 and 16 year olds tend to be quite well developed physically and some have or are about to become very good junior footballers. This means that the game is usually played faster and in a much more physical manner than at Under 14 level. A better level of understanding as to how to play positions and follow detailed game plans generally accompanies this speed and physicality. This in turn requires that the boys be fitter, physically and mentally tougher, more disciplined and able think more quickly than in past years.

We will strongly encourage those boys with previous years experience of AFL to be the leaders of the club and to guide and mentor the new and younger players. This is a critical part of the leadership development of these more experienced players and of the development of teamwork in general.

The kind of leadership we expect of all Under 16s centres on setting an example, being disciplined and committed and supporting others who are less skilled, have physical or mental difficulties or are from different backgrounds. Being an Under 16 in the Jets Juniors is also about being part of a team. To this end, we wish to develop passion as a fundamental of football and put great emphasis on dedication so that the players might begin to demonstrate what commitment to each other and the Club means.

Above all, being in the Under 16s is about being the future of the Jets and the AFL in the Gungahlin area - our own local side playing at the highest level in the ACT.

While we understand that the kids of today have an abundance of interests other than football, it is nonetheless necessary to ensure that, if they intend to play football, they see it as commitment to themselves, their teammates and the Club. This requires a responsible approach to training and games and full acceptance of the fact that they must take responsibility for their own development both during and outside of formal training. It also requires strong parental encouragement to ensure that the boys approach training and games with the right attitude and have the desire to work on their own skills development away from training. It is worth remembering that playing AFL involves training the body to undertake a variety of largely unnatural movements such as kicking a ball on the run, dodging and weaving, spinning and tumbling, and tackling and marking. It also requires strength, agility and high levels of physical fitness. Proficiency in these areas can only be achieved with practice and persistence. Whilst the time spent at training each week will provide a strong foundation, it will not of itself allow the boys to achieve the levels of proficiency in these areas that is necessary to become a successful footballer. Those that are motivated and committed to train outside of formal training sessions will appreciate and enjoy the game much more than those who aren't.

Everyone should note that the decision about which Division of the Under16 the team will play will not be decided until after the ACTAFL Gala Grading Days in April. However, it is highly likely that the team will play in Division 2. This will give the boys the chance to make the adjustment to Under 16 football and ensure that they remain competitive whilst making that adjustment.

Training

Pre season
As the boys progress towards senior football, fitness will play an increasingly important role in their on-field success in terms of their ability to run games out, maintain concentration and perform strongly during finals. A pre-season training program, aimed at improving both aerobic and anaerobic conditioning, is therefore critical to achieving a foundation of fitness upon which a successful season can be built. To this end, we have designed a comprehensive pre-season training program for the team designed to initially assess the level of fitness, progressively build up that fitness using a variety of methods including cross-country running, swimming, aerobics and sprint work and provide ongoing feedback via regular fitness testing and reporting. This training will commence on Tuesday 12 February 2008, end on 19 Apr 2008 and involve two sessions per week. We are aware that any program will need to make allowance for summer sport commitments and the need to register new players and we have designed the program accordingly. A copy of the Pre-season training program can be downloaded here.

Internal trials
As part of the build up to the season and to assist with the finalisation of playing line-ups, we will play the under 14s squad in an internal trial in late March as part of the pre-season training program. Our intention is mix the two squads up rather than having a simple under 14s vs under 16s game in order to keep the game more even and also provide more opportunities for all players to play in a variety of positions. We are also planning an external trial game against the Belconnen Magpies in mid April 2008 in order to give us a good hit out prior to the start of the season proper at the beginning of May. We believe that trial games such as these are critical to the preparation of players and represent the best opportunity to develop some level of match fitness prior to the commencement of the season proper.

In season training
From the time that we begin the final build up to the season in mid April, our aim is to conduct two training sessions per week each of 90 minutes duration. These training sessions will generally be divided into three modules of 30 minutes duration as follows:

Session 1:
Module 1: Warm up and fitness work (30 minutes)
Module 2: Basic skills training (hand, foot and tackling skills) (30 minutes)
Module 3: Position specific skills training (forwards, on-ballers and backs) (30 minutes)

Session 2:
Module 1: Warm up and fitness work (30 minutes)
Module 2: Pairs work (30 minutes)
Module 3: Game drills and game preparation (30 minutes)

In addition, the boys will undergo fitness testing every three weeks both during pre and in season training to ensure that their fitness levels are being maintained and to give them an idea as to how much they are improving. A copy of the In-season training program can be downloaded here.

Involvement with Senior Side
We believe that regular exposure to the skills, knowledge and attitudes of the Club's senior players will be critical to the development of the team both during 2008 and into the future. To this end we intend, on a regular basis, to substitute under 16s only training sessions with a combined training session with the Gungahlin AFC Senior side including a number of pre season sessions.

Practice away from training
To assist the coaches, ensure that the boys can make the most of formal training and that they are able to play the best football that they can, the basic skills of kicking, marking and handball should be practiced away from training nights. We ask parents to encourage the boys and support them in achieving this. This is particularly important for boys that are new to the game.

Timings for Training and Games.

Training

Pre-season
The 2008 pre season program commences on Tuesday 12 February and will culminate on Saturday 19 April 2008 with a trial game against the Belconnen Magpies. Training will be held every Tuesday and Friday evening from 5.30pm-7.00pm until Friday 28 March. After this time, training will be held every Monday and Wednesday evening again from 5.30-7.00pm. Pre-season training will generally be held at Amaroo, but a number of training activities will be held at other locations in the North Canberra area. These locations are clearly annotated in the training program and reminders will be sent home with the boys following training in the week prior.

In-season
The in-season training program will commence on Monday 21 April 2008 and will continue every Monday and Wednesday until the end of week prior to the Grand Final (working on the basis that the team will play in this year's U16 Grand Final). Training will generally be held at Amaroo, although there will be some respite and fitness training periods in the middle of the year that will be conducted at other locations. As with the pre-season, reminders will be sent home with the boys following training in the week prior regarding any alternative training locations.

All parents should also note that we intend to continue training during school holidays and on most public holidays. If boys are unable to attend during these periods, we would appreciate early advice to allow us to adjust training programs as necessary. Our default position on this though is that, in line with the notion that the boys make a commitment to themselves and the team when they sign up to play football, we expect them to attend all training sessions except where they are away on holidays or they are sick. We also expect the boys to turn up to training even when they are carrying injuries that are preventing them from training and playing. This is an important part of demonstrating commitment to the team. Rest assured we will find them something to do that will not aggravate their injury, but will help their teammates out. If however, any of the team is not able to attend training, we would ask that they (rather than the parents) contact one of the coaching staff well prior to training.

Under 16 games are normally played on Saturdays at 10.45am on a home and away basis within the ACT and Queanbeyan district. Players are expected to arrive at the ground at least 45 minutes prior to the scheduled start of play.

A copy of the 2008 U16 draw is enclosed.

Dress for training and games

General

Drink Bottles. The under 16s are supplied with water during games but we strongly support and welcome the practice of players supplying their own bottles. This is primarily to get them into a habit of using their own equipment and being responsible for keeping fluid intake up. For training, the players are required to bring their own water bottles.

Boots. At under 16s level, proper AFL football boots that can be worn both wet and dry conditions are a must. The grounds in Canberra are generally soft enough in winter to enable boots with large stops to be worn. Moulded soles and Grass-sports type boots can lead to slipping in adverse conditions. The club also recommends high(er) cut boots for juniors to assist in supporting and holding firm the developing bones and ligaments. Though it may not look 'cool' it will provide some assistance to stop rolling over on the ankles (without the need for strapping). If getting these boots is difficult, then players should at least look for the tie-up ankle braces that are readily available. Parents should also keep an eye on the size of the footwear, as players at this age tend to find an inch or two over the season. This means that it usually wise to get boots with a bit of room for growth.

Pre-season training
Until we commence basic football skills training on 29 February 2008, the boys should wear runners, sports shorts and t-shirts to training. After this time, they should bring both runners and boots to training and should wear football jumpers. The dress for any activities away from Amaroo will be advised in the reminders that will be sent home with the boys following training in the week prior.

Training
Once we commence in season training in April, the dress for all training sessions will be football boots, shorts and jumpers. Once the weather gets colder, the boys are welcome to wear tracksuit pants or skins and sweatshirts. All players are also required to bring mouth guards to all training sessions to allow us to safely undertake competitive drills.

Games

Playing strip. The club will provide socks and shorts for each boy, which they can keep. Jumpers will presented to each player prior to the start of the season. Players are responsible for laundering them between games and returning them to the team manager at the end of the season. The boys are more than welcome to wear long sleeved t-shirts or skivvies under their jumpers during the colder months. All that we ask it these tops be white.

Mouth guards. The club has a policy whereby all players must wear a mouth guard. The Under 16 competition follows normal competition rules with full contact. Accidental head clashes do occur and footballs, arms, hands and knees etc do hit kids in the face. Apart from this, starting early encourages good habits for later in life when the kids join open age leagues.

Headgear (Helmets). Protective headgear is not compulsory but for parent peace of mind as well as to assist players to gain confidence then we encourage its use. No one is discouraged from appearing on the field with headgear on or suddenly deciding to wear one when they haven't previously.

The basic AFL rules in the Under 16's are:

Standard AFL rules are applied for managing the game. The basic AFL rules in Under 16's are as follows:

• 18 players a side on the field.
• 4 x 20 minute quarters.
• Full tackling, bumping and shepherding allowed (the intensity of this is at the umpire's discretion, although no slinging is allowed).
• An even up rule is applied if a side has less than 18 but more than 14 players. In this situation, the opposition either loans some players to balance the numbers or can elect to reduce its team size on the field.
• Forfeits occur if a side has less than 14 players. Where this occurs, a game may be played if the opposition elects to loan some players, however the forfeit will still stand.
• Send-offs can occur at the umpire's discretion. The period off the field is usually from the point of send-off until the end of the quarter.

Training Rules.

We have several basic rules during training sessions, as follows:

1. All players are expected to turn up at least five minutes prior to the commencement time
2. The complete warm up is not negotiable
3. 100% effort is required in everything
4. All players are expected to show initiative rather than being told what to do all the time
5. Coaches are always happy to discuss training ideas, but arguing with them is not on
6. Players are expected to encourage and support their team mates-bullying or negativity will not be tolerated
7. Everyone is expected to concentrate all the time-training is about football, not coffee-housing or gossiping about school
8. Those who don't do the right thing can expect to receive the benefit of extra fitness work away from the footballs and their team mates

Where there is a smiley face against the round it means that a match report exists so click on it to go to that report.

The JL uses the Sporting Pulse website to display draws so you can also check it out as it may provide updates quicker than here. To print out a PDF version of the draw click here.