The theme of the evening was the 'Importance of Kicking in Modern Football & Defensive Pressure' and who better than present on the subjects than St Kilda FC Assistant coach Leigh Tudor. Leigh initially spoke about his journey through football which eventuated in him landing the role of VFL and forward line coach for the Geelong FC. Working alongside Mark Thompson for 4 years, Leigh forged a reputation of being an expert in defensive pressure strategies and there is no doubt that Leigh has been one of the driving forces behind St Kilda’s resurgence this season.
On the kicking theme Leigh stressed the need for players to be efficient in their kicking techniques and for coaches to reinforce the basics and create a practice environment where kicking is done in game situations. He also talked about how St. Kilda has developed a more pressured game style and this has been influenced greatly by the players accepting, especially the forwards, that they need to lead the inside 50 tackling stakes.
Local grass roots football coaches were able to gain some insights into why the St Kilda FC are sitting undefeated and on top of the AFL ladder.
Joining Leigh at the seminar were St Kilda's 'unsung heroes' Andrew McQualter & Zac Dawson. Those in attendance heard about their stories of perseverance and persistence after both being delisted and then fighting back to be valuable members of the team.
Sandringham Zebras VFL Reserves coach and forward line coach Paul Stevens also spoke about his journey in football with a focus on a coaching pathway. In 2004 Paul was coaching the Frankston YCW Under 14 team and now only 5 seasons later he is coaching at VFL level. His story gave all aspiring coaches in the room some hope.
Those in attendance included coaches from the Moorabbin Saints Junior Football League, Sandringham Dragons, Dandenong Stingrays and the Southern Football League. The Southern Football League has this season formed their own coaches association. This great initiative is being driven by coaches across the 3 senior divisions and the colts with a focus on behaviour and upskilling.
Last Modified on 11/08/2009 13:45