Coaches Corner
New Term for 2012 - by kevin Boyes 20th Feb 2012
Welcome back to everyone attending Eltham, Doreen and Geelong Academies.
During the Xmas and New Year break both the Academy coaches and the DOC United coaches worked with me to produce a coaching program based on a common philosophy. We agreed that we should all be coaching the same development program for the good of the children.
Feb 11th saw us commencing this program at all venues and coupled with a very good attendance of players, it proved to be very successful.
It is important for all participants to stay focused during the first term and make as much progress as it is possible to make. As always the emphasis is on ball skills, more ball skills and, oh yes, more ball skills.
Due to the departure of Jason Fun, I have been given the opportunity of coaching the DOC Academy girls group. The first session was a positive one and I was impressed with the standard they achieved. I'm confident that they will improve at a fast rate this year and look forward to seeing it happen.
I note that there are several boys joining us from the West of Melbourne this term from clubs such George X and Knights. This is very encouraging for us at the Academy and we welcome them.
It's good to be back. Have a good term.
Final Term for 2011 - by Kevin Boyes 14th Dec 2011
As we near the end of the final term for 2011, I would like to thank all the boys and girls who attended the academy this year. I have been impressed with your efforts and have seen great improvement in your skills. You are all to be congratulated.
The Geelong Academy which I have been attending with Dave and Pat has proven to be successful this final term and should continue to grow throughout 2012.
Several boys trialled at the FFV SAP (Skill Acquisition Program) this year and though some were unsuccessful, they went close to being selected and should try again next year. One boy was successful, Ethan Voice, and he is to be congratulated. He will benefit greatly from the program.
I was fortunate enough to visit Singapore recently with Dave O’Connor where we were guests of several S- League teams and Academies. David was able to set up trials with one of the clubs for 3 players early next year and also prepared the way for us to take over a team or teams to take part in a Singapore tournament.
Long term we will be looking to exchange players with the Singapore Academy each year as well as making the tournaments an annual event.
This hopefully will become a gateway into Asia for our future stars.
The last weekend will see us playing a round-robin tournament both at Eltham and Geelong mixing up all the players into teams and having a fun day.
Merry Christmas to everyone.
Start of Term 4 (2011) - by Kevin Boyes 14th Oct 2011
Welcome back to all the players attending Term 4 and a warm welcome to those players who were not with us during Term 3.
At our headquarters in Eltham the structure of the Academy this term will be that of 3 groups containing approx 12 players per group. The groups will be coached by myself , Pat O’Connor and the boss, Dave O’Connor. Each group will be taken through the same skills program. The players will be interchanged periodically as and when the coaches decide it will be beneficial to them.
This term will also include for the first time, a girls group coached by Jason Fun. I wish them every success.
The program content this term will concentrate on the following:
Ball Mastery : ability to beat an opponent in 1 v 1 situation;
Passing : first time, inside/outside of foot, short/long;
Receiving: ability to take ball away from defensive pressure;
Finishing; all aspects of setting up a strike, different types of striking;
Team Play; understanding of possession; composure on the ball; effective movement of the ball; movement off the ball; understanding of both defensive and attacking formations;
The program is designed to produce players capable of going to the next level of FFA approved development such as the SAP (Skills Acquisition Program) and the VCL (Victorian Champions League).
We currently have several players who have already been either involved in the SAP program or are currently trialling for this year’s SAP program. This is very encouraging.
The second session on Saturdays will also follow the same program with the same coaches involved. The content of the program will be tailored to suit the age and experience of the players taking part.
Term 4 will see Sunday Sessions being held in Geelong. The program will be the same as will the coaching staff. David has worked hard to get this group started and we are hopeful of it being a success.
Good to all the players ; have fun.
Start of Term 3 (2011) - by Kevin Boyes 25th July 2011
The start of term 3 for 2011 sees the Elite group training time increasing to a 2 hour session.
This will allow extra time to develop the skills needed to carry the players forward at a rate of improvement that is essential if they are to reach their goals.
The skills learnt to date will be reinforced through repetition and increased intensity whilst new skills will be introduced into their portfolios during the term. Greater attention will be given to improving the players sharpness, speed and agility during these longer sessions.
Our objective as an Academy is not just to teach soccer skills but to see them applied by the players during games under full pressure. To do this requires us to build confidence levels into the players over a long development period. This is a work in progress but we are already seeing it happen especially in the younger ranks.
Such has been the improvement that , with respect to DOC United, we are confident that they will very soon be represented in the ‘A’ division in their region. For a club so young this would be a tremendous achievement. Remember that with the disbanding of the super leagues the ‘A’ division is the top league in which a Victorian club can be represented. It is from these leagues that players are selected for State representation.
Presence in the ‘A’ division would enable DOC United to become a shop window for our academy players thus achieving one of David O’Connor’s major objectives.
Mid-Term Report (2011) - by Kevin Boyes
Three players from the DOC United Under 10 Kangaroos team were inducted into the DOC Elite academy this term after successfully trialling with us. They are Daniel Inserra , Ben Costa and James Andonovski. Congratulations to the three of them. As with all the players in the group they need to continue to work hard so as to maintain their rate of improvement.
The elite group is open to all players not only DOC players. Currently we have 2 players from Melbourne Knights and Sunshine George Cross taking part (Joshua Lay and Brandon Loncaric) and the feedback from their parents has been very positive. During the summer we will be working with players from several other quality clubs also.
I have been very pleased with the good progress being made this term in the elite group. The skills that are regularly instilled into the players are beginning to bear fruit. This was clearly shown recently when I was able to attend an Under 10 game between Banyule and DOC United where I was able to stand back and observe players from the academy playing the game. The skills shown by the academy’s players were well in advance of the other boys. When on the ball they showed composure, a good touch and good decision making when either passing or dribbling. The most pleasing thing for me was to listen to the coach and the parents talking about how important it was to have fun, not be frightened of trying skills developed in training and above all not to be worried about the scoreline.
Last week, I was able to work with the youngest of the academy players, some were as young as 4 years old. Some of these boys could easily become DOC Elite players in the years to come if they stay in the game. I hope they do.
I will continue to work with and review all players who attend the Academy and make sure that players with potential to step up to the Elite group get the opportunity to do so. The standard of an Elite player is rising each term which is as it should be, but this standard must be maintained and also matched by any player wishing to join the group.
Welcome to Term 2 (2011) - by Kevin Boyes
As we all return to the Academy after Easter for the second term of 2011, it is a good time for us, the coaches and players, to reflect on what we have achieved so far.
I was able to work with players outside of the DOC-Elite squad during the first term and was pleased with the progress made by these players. I will continue to do this in term 2 and will invite some of them into the elite group as and when I think they are ready to step up.
In the DOC-Elite squad, the development targets set at the start of the year were achieved by the players. However I detected a complacent attitude creeping into some of the older player’s performances that comes from a misplaced assumption that their position in the group is guaranteed. This attitude is nothing new. We’ve all experienced it to some degree in our early teens; that feeling that we know it all and our elders can’t tell us anything that we don’t already know. Believe me when I say that you don’t and that you have before you a great opportunity to achieve your dreams. Grasp it with both hands. Don’t blow it!
Making the elite squad is only the start of your adventure not the end. You want to become professional footballers. Remember that you are not alone. Many other players are competing against you. You’ve got to be doing it harder, faster and better than the other guys.
The coaching staffs at the academy are there to educate you in the skills of the game, to open doors of opportunity for you, to show you how to progress in the game. However the amount of time they spend with you is such that you, the players, need to practice these skills in your own time again and again and again.
The only true way of assessing a player’s progress is to see him or her in a match situation against players outside of the academy. Both Pat and I were able to do this recently when the DOC United Under 10 Kangaroos team, containing several DOC-Elite players, played 2 pre-season games against Melbourne Knights Under 9 and 10 teams. They impressed those present with their skills and understanding of the game and showed us that we are heading in the right direction. All academy players will be watched and assessed during the season with a view to improving their skills where required.
