GV Suns Juniors

May 31 2014

Shepparton News

The future of any sporting club is in its juniors and Goulburn Valley Suns are no different.

One element that often escapes the spotlight is the quality of coaching available to juniors, and at a cost of $1500 per player, the Suns would hope to be offering a significantly better product.

Speaking to The News this week, Football Federation Victoria skills acquisition specialist, coach educator and recently appointed Melbourne Heart assistant coach Ivan Jolic said he was pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Suns’ juniors.

However, Jolic expressed concerns about the desire of regional coaches to further their education as coaches, which could prove a stumbling block for the fledgling club.

‘‘I don’t think there’s an appetite for wanting coaching education in some regional areas,’’ Jolic said.

‘‘I tried to come up and run a Skills Acquisition Program coaching course and there just wasn’t enough people interested and that’s not just in Shepparton, it’s across the board.’’

National Premier Leagues Victoria rules state all junior coaches must have a Football Federation Australia-Asian Football Confederation C License.

Jolic said the Suns had done extremely well just to get off the ground and be able to field all the teams — with the exception of one under-15 game they had to forfeit against Bentleigh Greens — across all the age groups.

‘‘If they want to take that next step, and if they want the coaches to develop a better understanding of what’s required, so the kids can continue to bridge the gap between them and the metro kids, they need to do the education,’’ Jolic said.

‘‘There’s only one way to get everyone on board and that’s to make it mandatory, and we believe that’s how it should be.

‘‘Most organisations invest in their own professional development and it would make sense for the GV Suns to do the same.

‘‘In their market it’s unlikely a coach would move to another club like they do in Melbourne, so any investment would come back to the club.’’

Suns junior technical director Pat Kielty disputed that apathy existed among the club’s coaches, saying a coaches meeting was organised last night to discuss the issue.

‘‘We’re very conscious of where we need to be and everyone knows that they will have to do the course next year,’’ Kielty said.

‘‘We know it’s a big undertaking to ask of them, but there’s no option about and we don’t have a choice.

‘‘Everyone has at least a senior certificate and we’ve got Shaban Mehmet who has the license and David Davkovski is doing his this year.’’

Interim chair Michael Crisera said FFV had extended the deadline for the Suns and said coaches would be allowed to coach NPLV teams as long as they took on the course next year.

The commitment for coaches getting the license is considerable, but Crisera said the club would see if it could support its coaches in taking it up.

The license course is run over two blocks — first a three-week block and then a two-week block — where candidates are required in Melbourne for Saturday and Sunday to participate in sessions.

Alternatively, candidates can take on the course with Football Federation Australia spending a full week in Canberra.

Mehmet earned his license last year, but said it was a big commitment.

‘‘It cost $1500 to do the license and probably $100 for every trip between Shepparton and Melbourne,’’ Mehmet said.

‘‘I was lucky, too, because I have family there and didn’t have to pay for accommodation.’’

Mehmet said the expense and effort was worth it and he hoped the children he coaches felt the same.

Luba Pigatto, whose son, Stefan, plays in Mehmet’s strong-performing under-12 team, said she was happy with the coaching her son was receiving.

‘‘The competition is great and he’s really enjoying it,’’ Pigatto said.

‘‘The coaches have been great and they’re following the principles and Football Federation Australia goals.’’

Davkovski, whose course begins in July, said it was essential the region’s coaches continued to better themselves.

‘‘It’s vital for our development because we’ve got so many technically gifted players in the area,’’ Davkovski said.

‘‘But they get to 14 or 15 and they have trouble breaking into senior squads.

‘‘We’ve got the talent, the desire and the determination, but we need the structure. If we can give that to our kids, we’d be the envy of everyone else.’’