Hello Coaches & Managers

It has been great to see our club and Summerhayes Park come back to life in recent weeks as we move past the half way point of the season. The BBQ has been dusted off and ground conditions improving from week to week.

I would like to take this opportunity to review a number of matters as we move through the balance of the season.

Wet Weather Ground Closures
With heavy rain predicted this weekend, please be reminded that we still play in the rain, but grounds will be closed if the playing surface and conditions are washed out or dangerous. This could mean ground closures occur throughout the day of play.

Please continue to monitor your DRIBL App for ‘washout’ notices and the clubs website for information on the status of Summerhayes Park. The website is the point of truth for ground status.
Please be mindful when travelling to away grounds this weekend and consider monitoring their websites or Facebook Pages also.

Referee Coverage
This season has seen a number of matches with no referee coverage and some junior teams needing to have volunteers referee their game. All coaches are asked to refresh themselves with the Laws of the Game and National Playing Format and Rules for Mini Roos teams.

Keep a whistle in your kit for match day and be sure you understand the rules for unofficial referees including DRIBL app actions.
https://www.playfootball.com.au/referee/laws-of-the-game
https://www.playfootball.com.au/sites/play/files/2020-01/Playing-Formats-and-Rules.pdf

Set Up & Pack Up of Goals & Equipment
Teams that have 8:30 or 9am Kick Off’s must allow extra time to set up goals, corner flags etc for their matches. Teams should be allowing up to 30 mins for setting up equipment unless you organise multiple parents to assist.

Coaches and Managers should not be setting up goals, but preparing and warming up your teams. Please ensure your parent group are assisting and setting up well before kick off.
Please also ensure Mini Roo’s goals are placed neatly back in the clubhouse and not left on netball courts.

Player Rotation Equal Game Time
All junior competition team players are entitled to a fair and reasonable amount of playing time throughout the season unless affected by illness, absence, poor attendance records, poor behaviour or injury. Coaches should endeavour to alternate players as much as possible with due regard to their playing position and capabilities.

Players in junior Mini Roo’s teams (U5-U11) should be afforded equal playing time as far as possible. This is part of the clubs By-Laws and mirrored by our governing bodies.

Positional Rotation of Players
Coaches and Managers are reminded that up until the age of 14 the FFA National Curriculum advises that players should be rotated through positions and learn all facets of attack, defence, goal keeping, striking and the important roles of attacking and defending midfielders.

Everyone acknowledges that players gravitate towards preferred areas of the field as they approach 12, 13, 14 yrs old, but it is important to provide development opportunities for players to learn the different positions and facets of the game. Please be sure to rotate players as much as possible throughout the season and be mindful of younger players who may not be confident enough to ask for a change.

There is good information to be found in the SUFC Coaches & Managers Handbook available on our website.  https://www.springwoodunited.com.au/imagesDB/wysiwyg/SUFCCoacheshandbookVJan21.pdf

Goal Keeper Development Program
A revised 6 Week Goalkeeper development program will commence on Tuesday 19th July 2022 and will provide an opportunity for selected players to hone their keeper skills as we move towards the finals in August. Coaches are asked to encourage their first and 2nd choice goal keepers to consider participating in the program and are asked to complete the Expression of Interest Form so that resources can be planned.  https://form.jotform.com/220214344355850

If you have any questions about the program, please email Chris via: chrisb.mc@springwoodunited.com.au

Forfeit’s and Upgrading of Players
Coaches are reminded that forfeiting matches is a last resort for competition teams and are strongly discouraged for junior teams U11's and below.

Managers are encouraged to confirm player numbers mid-week as best as possible and if short reach out to lower division teams of the same (or younger) age groups to ‘borrow’ players to upgrade into your team for the weekends match.

Upgrades are encouraged as a means of exposing players to higher levels of competition and more football whenever possible as well as filling the gaps of absent or injured players.

Reach out to your Age Co-Ordinators if you require contact details for teams you need to borrow players from.

Red Card Fines
Fines for forfeiting ($100 for Seniors, $25 for Juniors) will be forwarded to teams for payment to the club within 30 days. Section 3.10 of the clubs By-Laws sets out responsibility of the incurring player/team to pay for fines relating to Red/Yellow Cards, Forfeits, match sheet errors etc.

Coaches and Managers are asked to advise a ground official or email your Age Co-Ordinator if a player receives a red card so that the club can assist that player and family through the process.

Players who are also coaches and find themselves suspended as a player, will also be suspended from coaching and all football related activities and this will be reflected in your DRIBL electronic match sheet.

Away Venues Change Rooms & Facilities
Senior teams are to ensure they do not drink alcohol or smoke in away change rooms and are asked to also pick up any rubbish before leaving the host clubs facilities. Some clubs have reported teams leaving change rooms in poor state after matches.

2022 Perpetual Awards
Nominations close for Perpetual Award Nominations on Monday 4th July. We encourage all coaches to consider the various awards available to their respective age groups and forward their nominations as soon as possible.

The nominations form can be accessed at: https://form.jotform.com/221690092509860

I wish all of your teams the best for the remaining matches of the season and please keep your eyes out for more communications from the club and information on the website and Facebook page.

Coaching Co-Ordinator

coaching@springwoodunited.com.au