Trials in October

The forthcoming trials in October this year are to guide the selection of our first team squads from Under 9 to 16 for 2020. They are open trials for anyone from each age group to participate. They are open to all of our players from PHFC as well as other players from outside our club in 2019.

As the new Director of Coaching, I encourage as many of our players as possible to participate in these trials. It is important that all players want to test themselves and try to improve. It is also important to participate in the trial’s skill, small game and large game activities, giving them an opportunity to share and compare their talents against others.

Players from PHFC who would like to trial are asked to complete the online registration process. So that we can plan the implementation of the trial effectively we need to know numbers of players attending. Click the link below to download the registration form - (Pine Hills Internal Players)

Please click here to download the Internal Player Trial Assessment Application

I would like to reaffirm that there are NO preserved placements in our Academy squads. Selections are based on merit. This is important. We want to provide appropriate pathways for all players in our club. We also want to ensure existing Academy players do not become complacent in their approach to training and game preparation and performance.  We have already instigated a pre-trial assessment process to support all of our players in that selection process and we will have several selectors, including a new selector who is new to our playing group giving his/her perspectives. We want this process to be as fair as possible.

We intend to implement a squad approach to our Academy teams. Depending on the age group we will select a squad with extra players, from which a final Academy team will be selected in early 2020. The squad model gives us the opportunity to give players who do not make the final Academy team opportunities for training and other experiences with the Academy team. This will hopefully continue to develop our player capability across the club in 2020. We will finalise planning for this over the coming month/s.

The squad approach also gives our coaches and selectors a more comprehensive opportunity to work with a larger group of players, giving them a greater chance to show their talents across a longer period. We are implementing this approach to be as fair as possible to as many players as possible. 

For parents new to the club, historically there has been an extra payment for players who make Academy teams. The payment covers costs associated with additional training both during season and in the off season.

New players

New players wishing to trial at the club must complete the External Player Trial Assessment Application. This will help selectors gain some initial background knowledge about new players. Click the link below to download the registration form - (External players)                                                                                                  

Please click here to download the External Player Trial Assessment Application

Trials calendar adjustment

All players trialing must be at the ground 30 minutes prior to the trial commencement. This will give us time to check numbers and finalise our trial process.

There has been an adjustment to the trial calendar. The first night of the U9 trial will now be on Monday 14^th October at 5.30pm.

Coaching at PHFC 2020

One of my first tasks as DOC has been to put into place processes, procedures and structure to support our coaching staff for 2020. This is well-advanced. In 2020 this will include:

    §  A website for resources for all coaches    

    §    The availability of age-appropriate programs, coaching plans, game day plans
    §  Workshops for coaches

    §   Regular age-level coordinator support

    §  Appropriate resources.

New to coaching

Are you interested in coaching at Pine Hills Football Club? You may have no prior knowledge of and skills in coaching, or you may have some limited experience. Regardless of your existing expertise I would welcome an opportunity to have you involved in some coaching capacity in 2020. If you are interested, please download and complete Expression of Interest form and return to Nicci – info@pinehillsfootball.com

Experienced coaches

Many of our parents have stepped into coaching this year or last, and may wish to further develop their knowledge and skills, and coach again next year to support their child/ren.  I encourage you to volunteer again, and to be part of our coaching staff for 2020. Please download and complete Expression of Interest form and return to Nicci – info@pinehillsfootball.com

  Please click here to download the Coaching Expression of Interest form

Please note, the form is an expression of interest only. I will follow up with you in due course.

Further initiatives

Coaching Program Partnerships

At the moment I am exploring a range of partnerships to support our coaching and player development programs in 2020. Parent and coach information sessions, as well player interaction will be featured in those partnerships wherever possible. I am still working through this process with potential partners but at the moment discussions are well-advanced with the Leisure Centre, a local podiatrist, dietician, physiotherapist and hopefully sport psychologist.

By the beginning of October, I should be able to provide a more complete update on how these partnerships will serve us.

Coaching Program Focus Areas

While we want the Academy program to be strong again in 2020 and I look forward to supporting that goal, my personal emphasis will be in supporting all of the coaches and players in non-Academy areas.

I am very excited by the potential of so many players in our club, having seen many of them in the development sessions I have been running over the last 6 weeks. There is a lot of enthusiasm and potential across the club. Further detail in relation to this will be shared later this year.

I am also looking forward to helping as many coaches as possible to improve their skills, hence helping players under their direction to improve more quickly.

One activity I hope to instigate in November is the combining of an Introduction to Coaching workshop for new (or near new) coaches which will overlap two development squad sessions. In other words, I will coach coaches in some planning activities, drills, coaching points etc. while running training sessions with a couple of groups of players. More on this in mid-October.

All the best.

Ken Swan

Director of Coaching, Pine Hills FC

Football is enjoyed at our club by people young and old, from varying walks of life and from diverse cultural backgrounds with the common interested being a love for the game.

The primary objective for our members is to provide a positive and enjoyable football experience, therefore we have made a pledge to Football Brisbane and the wider football community that Enough is Enough - Quit The Abuse.

We as a club will not tolerate abuse directed towards match officials from our players, coaches, parents or spectators. We will not tolerate racist, homophobic or discriminatory remarks or comments directed towards other club members, opposing players, coaches or supporters!

#EnoughIsEnough #QuitTheAbuse