AFL Coaching Manual - Western Bulldogs Football Club

LEADING MAGPIE:
Nathan Buckley
took over from
Mick Malthouse as
Collingwood’s senior
coach at the start of
the 2012 season.
CONTENTS
5 Introduction
by David Parkin
7 CHAPTER 1
The role of the coach
15 CHAPTER 2
Basic skills of football
35 CHAPTER 3
Planning
47 CHAPTER 4
The training session
55 CHAPTER 5
Team play and tactics
63 CHAPTER 6
Fitness for football
71 CHAPTER 7
Nutrition
77 CHAPTER 8
Prevention and
management of injuries
91 CHAPTER 9
Umpiring
96 THE AFL Coaches’
Code of Conduct
98 Further Reading
99 contact details
Introduction
By David Parkin
Two of the most commonly asked questions of a
person playing football at any level are, “Who
is your coach?” and “What is your coach like?”
If the second question elicits a positive response, there
is a reasonable chance that the player concerned is
enjoying their football. In all football levels, the degree
of enjoyment/satisfaction is the major determinant of
whether people continue their football careers.
The coach, more than an administrator, parent or player,
can directly influence the quality of the football environment at
whatever level the game is played.
The coach can influence dramatically not only a player’s football experience
and development, but all the other elements in the player’s life as well.
For this reason, I’m committed to coach education and believe
our coaching courses to be the most appropriate vehicle for setting,
communicating and maintaining the relevant standards.
Many might argue that the committed coach will seek out the required
knowledge anyway. The coach will talk to and watch other coaches,
read texts, watch videos and attend workshops. There is little doubt
that this type of self-directed learning is very valuable.
But what it lacks though are the unquestionable educative benefits of
learning in a group setting where participants are encouraged to question,
criticise and share experiences. The Level 1 Coaching Course provides such a
forum. During the course you will be exposed to a core of football knowledge
and ultimately be better equipped to coach.
This manual, produced by the AFL, offers further reinforcement of the
principles to be outlined during the course. The aim of the Level 1 Coaching
Manual is to improve the standard of coaching throughout Australia, and to
provide coaches with a manual to refer to long after the course has finished.
Use the book well, refer to it during the year and enjoy the challenge
of coaching.
David Parkin is an AFL High Performance Coach, an AFL Coaching Ambassador and
President of the AFL Coaches Association.
6
7