The Australian Football Coaches Association – Victoria branch is a non profit sporting organisation that aims to provide a necessary level of guidance and support to ensure that every person who coaches and plays Australian Football has the opportunity to reach their potential.
As part of the ongoing commitment of AFL Victoria to assist coaches in their role, a regional based coaching recognition program is conducted by the regional AFCA branches.
A highlight of the AFCA(Vic) calendar year is the Annual State Victorian Coach of the Year Awards conducted in November.
Brett Pollard, coach of the West Preston Lakeside U/11 Green, won the 2014 Coach of the Year Award.
I asked Polly some questions about himself and his experience as a junior coach in the modern game.
What is your own football background?
Junior football –
Olympic junior football club
St. Pius junior football club (which became West Heidelberg Junior football club / North Heidelberg Football Club juniors)
Senior Football -
Heidelberg West Football Club
Fitzroy Reds Football Club (Is now Fitzroy Football Club)
Who have been influent people in your life when you were a junior?
No one particular.
How did you become a junior coach at West Preston?
I was at The Calder Cannons doing their development programs , plus an assistant coach at Fitzroy (Backline coach) and i was happy doing what i was doing.. My son was playing under 9’s and at under 10’s his coach was unable to commit to coaching the team for the 2013 season and i was approached by some parents to apply for the role.. I had no interest in coaching junior football , but then i thought this would be a great opportunity for me to bring my knowledge of the game and develop the group into all round footballers.
How have you developed as a coach whilst being at WPJFC?
Not just at West Preston, but i have been lucky enough to work with some great people who have been influential in my coaching career. To work at The Cannons which is an elite football program you get to pick the brains of some of the best coaches around. At Fitzroy i was an assistant to Graham Burgen, Simon Taylor & Michael Pickering (two past AFL players) all have played a huge role in my development as a coach.
If you had to identify five key things that make a coach, what would they be?
- ORGANISED / PREPARED
- FLEXIBLE
- POSITIVE, ENTHUSIASTIC AND ENCOURAGING
- EMPATHY FOR THE PLAYER (REMEMBER HOW TOUGH THE GAME REALLY IS)
- MAKE IT FUN
What are your coaching aspirations from here on and?
Very happy with what i am doing at the moment. Junior football is so rewarding when you see the development of the kids as they progress through their junior careers.
Brett is the model coach for understating and adhering to the coaches codes of conduct. But he is more than that. He is the jewel in our crown at WPLFC.
posted 17/11/2014
Last Modified on 20/01/2016 14:04