Welcome to 2016
Welcome to our new and returning players, families and supporters. Our GV Suns seniors began their 2016 campaign last month and so far have two wins and a loss. This weekend our youth teams kick-off with the seniors hosting the northern rivers derby against Murray United.
It's our third year in the National Premier League and we are really excited about what we want to achieve on and off the pitch. From the under 12s to the seniors, we ended last year with some terrific results. There were also some amazing individual and team highlights:
- Our under 14s finished sixth overall with three of the top five scorers for their entire competition.
- We had eight of our younger boys and girls selected to play for Victoria at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide and for FFV Country teams in Coffs Harbour, with several more just missing out on final selections.
- Our under 16s won the Australian Football Skool International Tournament that attracted more than 100 teams.
Our GV Suns teams bring together some of the most exciting youth and senior talent from across northern Victoria. Our goal is to create opportunities for our players to learn, grow and shine against the best, at the highest levels and against clubs that have played at this level for decades. Our progress in 2015 shows we are on the right path and we can all look forward to an exciting year.
Over coming weeks we will use this newsletter to introduce your coaches, managers and the many other people that help our club function. And in advance of a big and exciting year we want to thank everyone for their ongoing support to the club and our players.
GV Suns
Reno's wrap
Last Tuesday night around 40 parents joined members of the Committee and me at the Shepparton RSL for a meeting that I hope provided some guidance on what we are looking to achieve this season. We also took on board some excellent feedback about how well we prepare players and families for the season ahead and welcome them into the club.
In my presentation I focused on the feedback that I had received from almost 20 parents who took up my challenge to 'write me a letter about what you want the club to be'. The feedback has been really constructive and encouraging becuase it shows we are already united in our vision for our kids and our club. Some of the key points were:
- We want our players to develop to their full potential.
- We want them to have fun along the way.
- We want to build a positive, welcoming and professional culture within the club across all age groups.
- We want to represent the Goulburn Valley - not just Shepparton - which means we need to engage right across the region with schools, clubs, councils and anyone else who can help us achieve our goals.
- We want a senior team that is competitive and filled each year with predominantly local talent.
We also covered a number of other aspects about the squads, what to expect on game day and introduced the Committee members. One issue was the process for determining how and when its appropriate for players to play outside their age group. There are a number of reasons why this may be appropriate and on other occassions it might simply be necessary, but we need to weigh up what's right for each player. We will continue to discuss this with parents and the players as we move through the season and the squads settle out.
Reno Lia, Technical Director
Welcome our new players and families
Every year we hold competitive trials to select the best players for each age group from right across the Goulburn Valley. This means every year there will be new players and families joining our club and many are from outside Shepparton. It's up to everyone to make our new and returning players and families feel welcome so please introduce yourself to any new faces you see at training, on game day and at our social events.
Free entry to GV Suns Senior home games
Your player registration fees includes a 2016 season family pass to enter all GV Suns Seniors' home matches. Come on down, meet other club families and enjoy some great soccer.
If you are paid up, you can collect your pass at the gate, just provide your player name and we will allocate a pass. For those that have not paid any player registration fees, the cost is $8 Adult, $5 Pensioner/ Student and Under 14 is free.
Introducing your 2016 Team Managers
Our Team Managers are the key to making sure your team is ready to take the pitch each week. Not sure when or where you a playing, need help with transport, not sure about what you need to wear or you know you are not available to play? Start by notifying your Team Manager as early as possible.
Make sure you save your team manager's number into your phone and send them a text if you don't think they have your number.
Under 16s
Picture yourself here! If you can help out please let us know.
Interested in helping out?
There are loads of ways you can help out and its a great way to meet other families and players across all the age groups. We desperately need Team Managers for Under 16s and we are also keen to hear from you if you are happy to fill in as team manager if its required during the season.
If you can't commit to every weekend, we would welcome help for an hour or two at home when we host matches. Some of the tasks include:
- set up the pitches and mark the lines
- marshals for all games
- linesmen and women for all games
- canteen
- pack up
If you are interested in any of these activities or you think you could give it a go with a little guidance or coaching from a regular please let us know. You will be surprised how much fun you can have!
And to ensure we meet our obligations we are preparing a roster - so if there is a time of day that works best for you please let us know and we will try to accomodate you.
New kit on the way
This year we are updating our kit for all youth teams. All players should have had an opportunity to try on the kit and confirm sizes. At this stage we expect the new kit will arrive from Denmark by late March which means we will use our existing kit for the first two rounds.
For new players who do not have a kit from last year please contact your team manager and we will make arrangements to ensure you have the right strip for the first few games. Until all the gear arrives please continue to come to training and game day in appropraite clothing.
Club Codes of Conduct
With our first match at home we want to really show what our Club means on and off the pitch and that includes the behaviour we expect from friends, family and players at home and away. We want GV Suns to be a friendly and welcoming club - and we want everyone to feel comfortable being a part of our family.
Our FFV approved
codes of conduct for spectators, players, parents, coaches and administrators are available from our
website. Please read the codes to understand your responsibilities and there is further information in the
2016 NPL Rules of Competition. The rules are reviewed and updated by the FFV so if you are unsure about anything please talk with your team manager, the Technical Director or a member of the Committee.
If you have an issue with a GV Suns Team Manager, Coach or other representatives do not approach them directly. You are required to raise your issues with the Technical Director and he will work with you to address the matter.
Game Day Reminders
1. Arrive on time. Arriving on time is important because it gives our players time to warm up and to discuss the game plan and priorities. We know our game schedule involves some very early starts for many of our players but please make the effort to be on time. If you are running late call your Team Manager - don't just send an SMS.
2. Sleep, Eat and Hydrate. How you prepare for a game has a huge impact on how you play and its never too late to develop pre game habits and routines that will help you play at your best.
- Sleep - google Wayne Rooney and his first tip for pregame preparation is to make sure you get enough quality sleep - that's at least eight hours!
- Hydrate - no point guzzling once you get to the ground! It's an old rule of thumb but if you are well hydrated, then an hour before your game (so around the time you need to be at the ground) you should be looking for the toilets not the canteen. Start the night before and keep it simple - water is just fine.
- Eat. We want you hungry to win - not hungry for food! Eat a good carbohydrate based meal 2-3 hours before you play and follow it up with a lighter snack at least an hour before kickoff. Some of our games are scheduled for times that would be your usual lunch or dinner time so plan what you will eat. It's not a crazy idea to treat game day like a school day - bring your lunch along and enjoy the chips and hot dogs for after the game.
- Want to know more? There are plenty of great resources including Sports Dieticians Austalia's factsheet Food for your sport - Soccer
3. Only the Team Manager, Coach and team members are allowed to sit in the Technical area. Section 3.2 of the
2016 NPL Rules of Competition are very specific about who can enter the technical areas during a match.
To make this as simple as possible, no-one is permitted to enter the area between the pitches unless they are playing, coaching or managing the teams that are on the pitch. If your game is finished or yet to begin you are not permitted in this area.
4. Respect the Team Managers, Coaches, Referees and Officials. Most are volunteers who are making it possible for you or your son/daughter to play in this competition. You may not agree with everything they do but inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated and can attract hefty fines for the club and you.
Changeroom etiquette
1. Keep it tidy! We share our home ground with other clubs, and our away game facilities are provided by our host club so make sure you respect the facilities. How you treat the clubrooms says a lot about you - and no one at GV Suns is so important that they can't clean up after themselves.
2. Mobile phones, cameras and other mobile recording devices should not be used in the change rooms. The change rooms are the one location where the Technical Director, your coach and team manager can speak with your playing group without interuption or distraction, so lets keep it that way. Once your playing group begins its prematch talk all devices need to be turned off and stored securely.
3. No visitors, parents or siblings are allowed in the change rooms. Again, the change rooms are a meeting space dedicated to the team, coach and team manager. If you are a visitor or parent and need to get in touch with someone in the changes rooms, phone or text the team manager (given point 2 you shouldn't expect anyone else to answer their phone!).
Some sports clubs have fines for players that break these guidelines - we don't, but we will consider introducing fines/penalties or changeroom clean up rosters if it becomes a problem.
What else do you want to see in your club newsletter? Send us an email and share your ideas.
