Community coaches to receive expert insight

More than 30 WA Community Youth Football coaches will be given the opportunity to further develop their coaching skills alongside WA Football League (WAFL) coaches, Talent Managers and WA Football Commission (WAFC) District Development Staff after they were inducted into the 2017 Coach Academy Program earlier this month.

The six-month Coaching Academy Program, developed by the WA Football Commission in partnership with WAFL clubs, will be offered to community coaches in the Perth, East Perth and Swans District areas in January next year.

Coaches will buddy up with a mentor for the duration of the program and will take part in a series of professional development sessions that focus on skill development, match-day coaching and club training.

Each Academy program will be held at Lathlain Park (home of Perth FC), Medibank Stadium (home of East Perth FC), and Steel Blue Oval (home of Swan Districts FC), respectively.

The main aim of the program is to provide an opportunity for community coaches to improve their skills to ensure the standard of community coaching is continually being enhanced to meet the changing needs of the players and the sport itself.

Program organiser, WAFC Metro Central District Operations Manager Scott Faulkner said the program is all about sharing and developing best coaching practice.

“The Community Coach Academy program aims to provide an inner-sanctum experience for youth-aged community coaches, and an opportunity for the sharing of best practice,” Faulkner said.

“Coaches are put through an extensive program that aims to improve all facets of their coaching, from training through to match day.”

The Community Coach Academy program was established in 2016.