November 2023: Coaching News
OFF SEASON 2023
By Paul Grundy, Coaching Director
G16A Champion of Champions
Our Head Coaches have been extremely busy in the offseason, locking in coaches for 2024. I am pleased to say that we are in very good shape. There will inevitably be some changes between now and the start of the season in April 2024, but as of today, we have coaches assigned to most teams.
Importantly, we have addressed the shortages we experienced in 2023 and do not have coaches assigned to more than one team. This should ensure better game-day coverage for matches.
Our coaching team have also been busy strategising, training new staff and of course preparing for Grading Trials - if you haven’t yet signed up, please do so asap on the below links.
It might be off-season for most players, but we are pleased to inform you that the season has only just finished for G16A and U18X who recently took out their Champion of Champions Finals! We had 7 teams make it through to this Championship by winning their Div 1 premiership: M35s, WAA Prems, G14, U15 & U16. We are extremely proud of all the teams, their tenacity and hard-working attitude saw them stay strong and positive all the way through the season with G16A & U18X becoming the best in the state!
Approximately 100 players have also been fine-tuning their footballing at our brand new Skills Academy - from all accounts, it has been a great success with very positive feedback which we will share further soon.
The same can be said for our Mini Matildas introduction to football sessions - running every Tuesday at Charles Bean - where almost another 100 young girls are trying football for the first time. It is a real pleasure to see them enjoying a new sport and starting to develop their football prowess.
If you have any questions on the content of this newsletter, be sure to contact your 2024 Age Coordinator.
Paul
LFC Coaching Director
Our SAP Coaching Team
As you can see from the coach roster, we have been successful in addressing the coach shortage we had this season. This should allow more consistent coaches across each team and also provide cover when coaches are away. We are finalising the plans for the program next season and will be sharing more information on the changes at the Welcome Briefing in December.
SAP Head Coach U8/9: James Plumley
SAP Head Coach U10/11: Harry Gleeson
Diamond League and Girls Development Squad Trials
NSFA have proposed a number of changes to the 2024 Girls Competition structure which will impact the way we allocate girls to teams for 2024.
The key changes are:
The introduction of a G20 Diamond League Division in place of the G18 Diamond League Division. This is to try and create a stronger division with more teams. Note there will still be a G18 Div 2 competition
The removal of the G13 Diamond League division (as there were not enough clubs that felt they could field a competitive team).
Note there will still be a G13 Div 2 competition
In addition, when we look at the results from 2023 and the number of registrations for trials, it is clear that we have a lot of depth in the G13-G16 Age Groups.
Our objectives for the girls program in 2024 remain the same, which are:
To give as many girls as we can the opportunity to develop through LFC programs - subject to coach availability
Be competitive in the NSFA offered DL age groups
Field competitive teams in non NSFA competitions such as Proctor Cup, Kanga Cup, State Cup and hopefully Champion of Champions. Most of these competitions offer G13, G14, G15, G16 and G17/18 age groups and some offer G12.
Our approach to team allocations for 2024 will depend on what we see at trials but we will be following guidelines:
Field the strongest possible teams in the NSFA DL competitions. This will be the focus for the G12,14,16 and 19 age groups. (This will impact mostly the A teams in these age groups
Field competitive teams in the G12, G13, G14, G15, G16 age groups in non NSFA competitions. This means that we will look to create age-based teams in the G14 and G16 age groups ie G16X (girls aged G15) and G14X (girls aged G13).
Continue to offer development opportunities outside the DL teams for age groups G8-16. This year may see us offer additional development teams like the G14Dev and G16Dev in addition to our G11Dev and G12Dev teams that we have offered previously.
Diamond League Head Coach: Marcus Swift
Super League & Mixed Dev
Our Super League team is looking strong, with a wealth of experience and championship-winning track records. The team is almost complete, with just one placement to be confirmed.
Super League Head Coach:
Craig Pearce
Our coaches are looking forward to seeing you all this weekend at the November Grading Trials!
Sign-up Details are found below.
Please note players are requested to arrive 30 minutes ahead of their scheduled time and to please check in with your Age Coordinator upon arrival.
MAA Coaching
We are excited to announce Tom Colfer and Chad Mannering, as the MAA Prems Squad coaching team along with Michael Hajakian as our Div 2 Coach.
Prems/Ressies enquiries: prems@lindfieldfc.com.au
Div 2 enquiries: mens@lindfieldfc.com.au
They are currently working to put together the plan for the 2024 season and hope to hold some Trials/Kick arounds in December . Additional information will be released in the next couple of weeks so keep an eye on socials.
WAA Coaching
Our coaching Director Paul Grundy, will lead the new G18/G20/Prems Squad program. These teams will trial together to form 3 squads. See dates and times below within the Diamond League schedule.
All Prems enquiries to coaching@lindfieldfc.com.au
WAA desperately need a volunteer to step up as the WAA Coordinator. Please email our Volunteers Vice President, Mark Pittman for more info: vp.volunteers@lindfieldfc.com.au
We are also very pleased to let you know that Craig Whitehouse will head up our Goal Keeping program again in 2024.
LFC Grading Trial Dates
Don’t Miss Out!
Sign-UP for November Grading Trial via Team Grader today!
Note: Grading Trials are for ALL teams - SL | DL | SAP | All Dev teams - there will be NO selection trials for development teams in February as in past seasons (exceptions are U6 and U7).
Super League +
Dev Teams
Sat 11th & Sat 18th November
U12: selections for 2 x SL teams and 1 x Dev Team
U13-U16: 2 x teams in each age group (SL and Dev)
U18: U18 SL and U17 SL (U18X) -
Diamond League +
Dev Teams
Sat 11th & Sat 18th November
G8/9/10: 1-2 dev teams in each age group
Sun 19th & Sun 26th November
G11: 1 x Dev team. Will trial also for G12
Girls 11/12 Diamond League
Sun 19th & Sun 26th November
G12,14,16: 2 x DL teams in each age group
Sun 26th & Wed 29th November
G18/20/Prems: will trial together to form 3 squads.
Please note above mentioned DL format due to changes in the NSFA Diamond League structure for 2024.
We are Hiring!
Please register your interest to coach with Lindfield FC in 2024 by filling out the below form!
We are looking for coaches of all levels of experience to join our team. Opportunities are across all junior age groups from G/U6-G/U18, Mens and Womens All Age, as well as our Overs Teams during the 2024 season.
Coaches will be matched to teams (social squads and/or development teams) based on their level of experience.
At LFC our focus is on coach development so you will be joining a team where you will be trained, supported and assisted to get the most out of your coaching - LFC also offer good rates of pay :)