35 grassroots coaches received an amazing opportunity this week to visit the Saints for an AFL Coaches & Foxtel #ThanksCoach Masterclass.
All the deserving #ThanksCoach winners had been nominated by their players, fellow clubmen and women, friends and family. Winners had travelled from far and wide, from Warrnambool and as far as Perth.
Danny Sexton, Director of Coaching & Strategy, welcomed the coach winners and took them on a tour of the Saints training facility to kick start the Masterclass.
Head Coach, Alan Richardson kicked off proceedings by going over what makes a good coach, bringing his own philosophy to a community level. He also opened the room up for questions, allowing the coaches to ask Richardson for advice on problems within their own clubs.
Sexton was up next, where he explained the St Kilda Coaches coaching blueprint. His presentation gave an insight into how coaches should set up their own pathways for success. He explained that coaches, no matter what level, need to identify their coaching ‘trademark’. From here, he gave the group tips and ideas on how to turn their trademark into success, both on and off the field.
Adam Kingsley, the Midfield Coach, took the local coaches through an educational session on defensive pressure. Through learning some key techniques that Kingsley uses with his own charges, the group could take home this insight to implement it with their own teams.
The Manager of Performance Analysis, Robbie Chancellor, finished up the Masterclass by sharing with the group an opposition review. He had taken the St Kilda team through the same presentation before their Round 16 victory over Richmond. Chancellor talked through how these reviews inform the coaching style and affect player understanding.
Giving them an opportunity to spend some time with the best in the business is just a small gesture to recognise grassroots coaches, without whom, the superstars of the game today would not exist.
Sexton said, “It was great to host and thank a group of grassroots coaches who do a fantastic job in the community with their players. Without the job of these grassroots coaches there would be no elite competitions, hopefully getting inside our club for the evening has helped in their development.”
From AFL Coaches, Foxtel and St Kilda, #ThanksCoach!
YOU CAN STILL SAY #THANKSCOACH TO YOUR COACH GIVING THEM THE CHANCE TO WIN AFL TRIP OF A LIFETIME!
We will send four of the best coaches to Melbourne for the ultimate AFL experience over the Grand Final weekend. Each winner will get to bring a friend and they will enjoy:
- 2 tickets to the 2017 Toyota AFL Grand Final
- 2 tickets to the Carlton Draught Tent before the Grand Final
- 2 tickets to the Fox Footy Grand Final Eve Luncheon
- Return flights to Melbourne
- 4 nights accommodation in the Melbourne CBD
Plus, other exclusive experiences and giveaways!
Sometimes coaches just need to be reminded on the enormous impact they have on their players, their club and the game itself.
