Fellow Knights,
We hope this message finds you all in good health.
We thought you’d be interested in some of the Committee activities aimed at getting the club ready for 2012, particularly those items that fall into the What’s New for 2012 bucket, so here’s a snapshot:
OFF-FIELD
Club Charter & Plan
We are putting pen to paper to highlight those things that makes the Knights special and what we as a Committee are trying to achieve for all members over the next few years. We hope this will provide clarity for us all and mean that we as a Committee can stay focused in our efforts. At this point, we have identified an Aspiration is around three things - “Developing skills, friendships, and love of the game” so you will hear a lot about these points, starting with our new 25 Year bumper sticker that will be available at Registration. By the time the season starts, we’ll have produced a draft Charter & Plan in a single page format ready to share with you all.
Malvern Sports Club (MSC)
The MSC is the entity currently controlled by our co-tenants (Tooronga-District Cricket Club and Tooronga Malvern Football Club) that has the license/rights to the upstairs level at Dunlop Pavilion, Lucas Reserve.
We have now reached an in-principle agreement with these 2 Clubs that will see the Knights become an equal 1/3 member of the MSC. Provided we are successful in closing this deal, this should mean “good things” in terms of badging Dunlop as our Home, improving the amenity in this upstairs area, and establishing even more productive relationships with TDCC, TMFC and Stonnington Council.
ON- FIELD
Football Development Framework
We recognise that our players’ needs differ across the ages, and so are responding to this challenge by establishing a clearer Knights Football philosophy.
We have been able to draw on volunteer experts and benchmark information as well as our own resources in putting this important work together. In practical terms, it means that we will be segmenting our player groups into the three categories , each of which will have a different “theme” and emphasis in terms of objectives, game strategy, and coaching focus. The three (3) categories will be:
- U9 & U10 – PARTICIPATION (focus on fun and team sport participation)
- U11 & U12 – DEVELOPMENT (focus on skill development and teamwork)
- U13+ (which coincides at the point where we formally grade teams) - COMPETITION (more emphasis on player development, game strategy)
Our goal will be to describe minimum standards that are appropriate for each category; something that can serve as a practical guide for our players, coaches and parents etc. More detail on this framework and what this means will be discussed with coaches during the formal pre-season (ie before Round 1).
Coaching Program & Network
As a former coach (x2), I’m particularly excited about the work we’re aiming to do to support our coaches in 2012.
This work revolves around a series of planned get-togethers over the season. These sessions will provide information (eg about game strategy, coaching techniques, and effective engagement and care with children) and be an opportunity for genuine dialogue and networking (and a little bit of socialisation) for our coaches. Contributors/presenters will come from our own ranks such as Hartley Stone (St.Kevins 1st XVIII, a level 3 AFL coach, and our new EMJFC Coaching Mentor – Graded Teams); Dr Sue White (Sports & Exercise Medicine Physician); and Robin Halse (Physiotherapist) and we also plan to rope-in an AFLer or two.
We’ll likely split the coaches into “Graded” and Non-Graded” to make the logistics and focus work better. Coaches, fear not - this is nothing like a “back-to-school” compliance requirement; our aim will be to provide some great insights and equip you all with resources to make the job easier and more rewarding. Prospective coaches, it’s your time to get interested!!
Pre-Season Fitness Awareness & Support
We have been looking to find ways to give our players, particularly those heading into the Graded year levels, the opportunity to better understand the fitness demands of footy and what they can do to improve their fitness levels over the summer if in fact that’s important to them and something they want to do!
For this year, we will trial 3 things:
- 2012 U13 Level – we have offered to run a base-line fitness assessment that aligns with the AFL fitness categories. These are held over 2 sessions prior to Christmas and will give the players who participate some feedback about their current fitness levels and areas for improvement. We have had a couple of queries and so must stress again, this is not mandatory and this is not the grading process. The latter will take place in the lead –up to the 2012 season and be co-ordinated by Hartley Stone with the nominated U 13 year level coaches.
- 2012 U13s & U14s – we have just arranged for local Gym Liv4 Fitness to run 2 group training sessions for Saturday 10 & 17 December. The focus of these sessions is to introduce the players to a short-list of exercises they can do themselves, and importantly, illustrate how to do them safely. Liv4 Fitness will also provide an instructional “take-away” booklet so the players can refer to this as they do more practice over the summer months. Invites will be sent to Families/Parents in these 2 year levels over the next day or so, so look out for them.
- 2012 Graded Teams & Parents – Hartley has kindly agreed to run an Information session for players and parents on “Fitness Requirements in the Modern Game”. Invites and dates will be co-ordinated through the Committee via David Arnold and Mick Ahearn and with respective year level Coaches but we anticipate these sessions to be run anywhere between now and late/January/early February.
OTHER ITEMS
Some important dates to put into the calendar:
- Registration Date has been set for Sunday 12 February from 10am - 1pm at Dunlop Pavilion, Lucas Reserve East Malvern. Please get out there and tell your friends who might be interested in playing football. Details of on-line re-registration will be sent in the New Year.
- Round 1 kick-off set for Sunday April 15 2012.
Finally, we take this opportunity to wish you and your families a great Festive season and a great start to the 2012 year.
Go Knights!!!
Chris Ralph
President, EMJFC
Last Modified on 29/01/2012 12:36
