Our Coaching Philosophy
At Toowong Football Club, we believe in providing a positive learning environment where players are challenged and are allowed to develop technically, tactically, physically and psychologically. Our goal is to not only educate players, but also to let the players have fun. We aim to provide an experience and an environment that promotes ongoing participation in football and a lifelong love for the game.
One of the biggest drivers of participation in sport for children is fun and enjoyment.
| What makes sport fun for children | What coaches can do |
|---|---|
| Being challenged to improve | – Be prepared to modify activities and equipment so participants are challenged appropriately while developing their physical skills and fitness. – Provide competition at a level suitable to the participant. – Be prepared to modify activities and equipment so participants are challenged appropriately while developing their physical skills and fitness. |
| Being with friends | – Help participants build and maintain respectful relationships so they interact effectively and feel supported. – Allow time for participants to socialise, have fun and strengthen friendships. |
| Trying my best | – Praise effort and growth and avoid comparing to others. – Help participants develop attainable stretch goals so they are more focused and inspired to work hard during practice and into the future. – Focus on personal/team progress and look at winning as a nice bonus. |
| Positive team dynamics | – During the game, encourage participants to be supportive of everyone involved and use positive language with teammates, opponents and officials. – Praise participants who show good sportsmanship, are respectful and have good awareness of other people’s feelings, needs and interests. |
| A friendly coach | – Be positive, patient and enthusiastic. – Get to know everyone in the group. – Be inclusive and promote inclusion amongst your participants. |
| Getting playing time | – Maximise participation and give players equal time rather than favouring the best performers. – Rotate participants regularly so everyone is active and has the opportunity to try new positions. |
Let’s not forget that football is a game
Our identity as a club is not only expressed by the way we play football, but also through our coaching methodology and the relationships we have with our players and their parents. All coaches at Toowong FC are volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to ensure our players are able to participate.
At Toowong FC, we don’t believe that a session or game full of instructions and orders from a coach has a positive effect on a player’s development, as they are being commanded rather than coached. Instead, we encourage players to facilitate and contribute to their own learning. This is achieved through the use of questions and answers during a session and encouraging players to think for themselves and expedite their own learning process, as this is a form of guided discovery.
Our Development Approach
We want to give all our players the opportunity to be the best that they can be. We know that the development needs of young players change over time. Whilst our philosophy remains consistent across the club, its application is varied to suit a continuum of changing needs for the developing player. We refer to the Football Australia curriculum as the coaching standard for the club, which is followed by all age groups and coordinated by our Director of Coaching.
The phases in the curriculum are as follows:
· U6 – U9 The Discovery Phase
· U10 – U13 The Skill Acquisition Phase
· U14 – U17 The Game Training Phase
· U17 and above Performance Phase
More information about the FA Curriculum (including training sessions) can be found here – https://www.playfootball.com.au/coach/resources
Interested in coaching at TFC?
Coaching is a rewarding experience that gives you a chance to help your local community, as well as meet like-minded people. Coaches and team managers are required to be registered in Squadi as volunteers and have Blue Cards.
Contact Cail Turp, Director of Coaching (coaching@toowongfc.com.au) to register your interest.
Additional Resources
- Manual – Equipment & Field Management for TFC Team Officials
- Codes of Conduct (all ages)
- TFC Game Time Policy
- MiniRoos parent information pack
- Coaching resources – contact Cail Turp (coaching@toowongfc.com.au) to get access to our extensive library of coaching resources available to Toowong FC volunteers
Rules
- Football Queensland Rules and Regulations – competition rules, playing formats and season calendars
- Football Queensland – Club Support Guide – Blue Card Guide