Education Roadshow supports incredible work of volunteers

More than 40 passionate and dedicated volunteers took part in the AFL North Coast Education Roadshow on Sunday, which is designed to provide support and training to club administrators, coaches and umpires.

With separate sessions conducted for all three groups the Roadshow is a great way to ensure that the key roles involved in footy are as prepared as possible for the season ahead.

Local coaches had their second chance this year to work with AFL NSW/ACT Coaching and Education Lead Ryan O’Keefe, who took them through a practical session utilising the Rookie Me software that is now freely available to accredited coaches. This was followed by a Tackle Your Feelings session which is a mental health awareness and training program which is used by many AFL clubs.

New and developing umpires worked with AFL NSW/ACT Umpiring Development Lead Brent Trewin and AFL North Coast Umpiring Co-ordinator Rod Macpherson. During their session they covered the Laws of the Game, signals, and spent time on the grass working on positioning and teamwork.

The group of club administrators spent time discussing club culture, what it is, how to define and build it, and how to keep it on track. As an extension to this, the group also worked through the zero tolerance to abuse approach that the League adopts and the critically important role that Ground Managers play in managing the Code of Conduct on match day.

Paul Taylor, Community Football Manager, said that the day was an overwhelming success. “The Education Roadshow is about making sure the key roles of administrators, coaches, and umpires feel supported and are able to undertake their role to the best of their ability so that others can enjoy the chance to play. The response to the Roadshow, both in terms of the number in attendance and the positive feedback afterwards, shows us that it hit the mark and that people appreciate the support we’re giving them.”

“Our sport doesn’t happen without volunteers, and their involvement isn’t limited to the April to September footy season. They do an incredible job and their contribution is very much appreciated by all at the AFL.”

The AFL North Coast Junior Competition gets underway on Sunday 18 April, whilst the Senior Competition has a pre-season round robin on Saturday 17 April ahead of the ANZAC themed round one on Saturday 24 April.