Latest Development Report June 2008:

DEVELOPMENT OF ONEHUNGA MANGERE UTD.

The aim over the coming year is to create a program that the club as a whole can work to.The first task being to put together a development committee consisting of club members both playing and coaching to oversee the program.
Our objective is to set out specific technical coaching programs for the club to be working together at all levels.
To work with the AFF.
To develop parent coaching programs to encourage community involvement.
To offer local schools free coaching during terms 2&3 with the view of putting the club in the face of the local community. This could be achieved with the running of disco’s or drop ins, using the club rooms as the local community centre.
To ensure that all levels of the club are able to communicate regularly.
To encourage first team players to take on responsibilities of mentoring junior teams. 

BRIEF
 Over the course of the first year it has been my belief that we need to work from the top down. To establish a successful first team , reserve and under 19 base so that the younger players moving forward can then recognize the path that is available to them.
The first team are heading in the right direction ..With youth in mind we are developing the reserve squad and have already had two or three young players progress to the fringes of the first team squad. I am also looking around the area for suitable training facilities that can be utilized in bad weather conditions and that are more suitable than Swanson Park.
Around the club I am talking to the parents and coaches regarding things that are going on at the present within the club. Such as grading which need to be addressed in the future. The objective over the coming year is to have the coaches aware of what is going on and participate more with the development of the teams they are coaching. This will be done by them recommending players that need to be put forward for a development squad to play other teams development squads in friendly matches. We need to bring in more juniors (especially 13th Grade?) we only have two teams at this level at the moment.
Overall I feel the year has gone to plan. However, I would like to see the development program run as a separate business. Going forward I will be utilizing more coaches who have expressed an interest in becoming involved in progressing the club both on the pitch and  as a community based club.

Welcome back to the start of a new season. It is important to start off the season by organizing your teams coaching sessions and structuring them.
So below you will find a few tips to help you get under way.

Getting Started :

Good ball control is essential for any soccer player. This means being able to receive the ball quickly and effectively, keeping control of it, too.
Make sure you have the right equipment at each session.

• Soccer Balls
• Markers
• Training vests
• Etc
Before each session it is always a good idea for the coach to walk over the training area to make sure there are no hazards on the playing surface making it safe to train.

Make the session fun.

Getting a feel of the Ball;

Most players who have played before will probably have a good idea of how the ball will respond when they touch it in different ways. This is what it means to have a feel for the ball.
You can achieve this by the following exercises:
• Using the inside of the foot for controlling and dribbling
• The outside for turning, dribbling and passing
• The instep striking the ball hard (like shooting).
• Your heel for reverse passing
I find it risky if you ask a player to control the ball using the sole of the foot. But can be used sometimes to do some trick moves.
So there are just a few ideas to get you going into the new season. I will be available to assist you if you need help.

Good Luck to you all

Geoff Cooper (Development Officer).