Parents, family, supporters, players and especially our armchair experts are invited to our free linesman training session from
5pm Wednesday 11 May.
We are promising a fun, relaxed session for everyone - young, old, male and female.
What do you need? Sports clothes, shoes you can run in and 45 minutes of your time.
To register, email operations@gvsuns.com.au or advise your team manager.
Sharing the change rooms this weekend
Everyone of our squads from U12 to Seniors are playing at home on Sunday during the day - which means there will be 16 squads using the change rooms. Please make sure you keep all your gear tidy and in your bag when not in use. Remember parents and visitors are not permitted in the change rooms.
Your team manager will advise which change room is available for your squad.
Smile - team photos this weekend the
We have new kits and we are expecting good weather this weekend so we will endeavour to take photos of each junior squad, including their coaches, assistance coaches and team managers.
When - during warm up when players are in their playing kit.
Some basic rules
1. Only our photographer will take photos - no other cameras and parents to distract our talent please!
2. Photos will be taken during warm up - if you aren't there, we won't wait!
2. When you are asked to assemble - listen, act and smile!
If everyone cooperates this can be a quick and painless exercise and we will share the photos with players and families.
Does your kit fit?
We need to know URGENTLY
If you missed last week's deadline and all or part of your kit doesn't fit email
Paul Uniake immediately.
How big is too big?
Your kit should last at least a couple of seasons so your new kit should be loose fitting with room to grow up and out!
Naming your kit
Once you have the right size kit, make sure you name your kit but remember external identifiers such a patches or large first name, surname or nick names are not permitted. This is a club protocol and also takes away from potential sponsorship opportunities.
Wearing your kit
To make sure your kit lasts, please limit wearing your kit, polos, tracksuits for to and from game day and training.
Reno's wrap
"Uncoachable kids become unemployable adults. Let your kids get used to someone being tough on them. It's life, get over it!"
Patrick Murphy Alabama softball Coach.
How does Murphy’s statement translate to a young person going to school or trying to compete at NPL level?
We send our children to school to obtain an ‘education for life’. How much confusion is caused if they are bombarded with negative messages about their school or teachers? By enlarge we entrust the teachers with the responsibility to educate.
NPL clubs are required to deliver a curriculum designed to educate our children in Football. Young players have a challenge to master their skills in order to cope with the intricate nature of the curriculum. They must then perform under the extreme pressure that the opposition puts upon them as well as try to follow the coach's instructions and the team plan. This combined pressure can often cause confusion amongst players, which is why they make mistakes.
The coach is there to direct and help the young player learn the game. They also try to encourage the player to embrace mistakes and learn from them.
As parents do we allow this relationship to transform and in fact encourage it, or do we add to the pressure that the game intrinsically bestows upon our children?
Cheers Reno
Fast Tracking player development
Fast tracking is common in schools and sports because it can stimulate a players development, confidence and motivate them to set and achieve individual development goals. AFL clubs often allow a younger player to play in the senior team then move them back to the VFL group. The player returns with a better appreciation of the skills they need to develop to play at the higher level.
Last week the Technical Directors, senior coaches and our President met to discuss the idea of introducing fast tracking to support the development of our football 'students'.
Our fast tracking proposal will involve some players playing up an age group for a few weeks then moving back to their age group to work on identified skill development areas.
The proposal is by no means set in concrete - we will trial it over coming weeks.
We need your help!
The Technical Directors will manage the fast tracking process in consultation with the coaches and parents but we are seeking your help in two ways.
Firstly we need to ensure our young players don't misunderstand this new approach. Not every player will need a fast track experience to stay motivated and set personal goals. For this reason fast tracking must not be misconstrued as an indicator of talent or effort - it's simply another tool we can use to stimulate development.
Secondly, if you have any concerns about the proposal and how it may or may not suit your child please discuss them with the Technical Directors. We can't fix it if we don't know about it! We are here to help develop all our young players and this new proposal is one way to make it happen.
Do you need pre-game assistance from our Sports Trainer?
Reminder - if you need taping, massage or some other pre-game assistance from the trainer you need to
1. advise your coach so they can then be in the rooms to assist
2. be at the ground early.
If you leave pre-game needs until just before game time expect to miss out!
Parent duty roster - Sunday 8 May
Thank you to all the families who helped out at our last home game.
The following is a summary of the families on duty this weekend - if you can't make it please email Nat at annanatpat@bigpond.com or for this week to arrange an alternative time slot.
| Canteen |
Families |
Set up
8:30 - 9:30 |
Pena, Georgiou, Goggin & Moroney |
| 9:30 - 11:00 |
Crichton, Giuliani, Browne |
| 11:00 - 12:30 |
Carey, Damchev, Rossignuolo |
| 12:30 - 1:30 |
Curtis, Turner, Corso |
Pack up
1:30 - 3:30 |
Crupi, Maude, Wilson, Stojanovski |
| Grounds |
Families |
Set up
8:30 - 9:30 |
Humphries, Enders, Linton & Saron |
Pack up
2:45 - 3:30 |
U18 parents and families |
In the news - Lelliot brothers
Two of our player/coaches were in the Shepp News on Saturday with a great article about their GV Suns playing and coaching experience so far.
Weekend game wraps
Under 12s
Tommy Giuliani
Tough day at the office for the u12s! After a strong first 7 rounds the boys crashed to a 7-1 defeat. There were very few positives but we can't dwell on the negatives either. Its part of the development process - a tester of resilience and character.
Richmond punished every core skill error the boys made. 1 v 1 defending reverted back to pre season errors and they were unable to retain possession of the ball. Clearly the boys just weren't on.
Of greater interest to me was the reaction of the players to this new pressure with blame shifting and inappropriate finger pointing creeping in. This will absolutely not be tolerated in my group and will be swiftly dealt with. Nor will we tolerate parental interference via inappropriate confrontations etc.
This is a fantastic bunch of kids and we as coaches and parents must be positive role models. As a group they work very hard at training on their core skills and I'm sure they will be keen to put on a great performance this weekend against Kingston City and start playing the brand of football, that they have produced thus far.
Go Suns...
Under 13s
Shaban Mehmet (Shaban subbed in for Matt this week)
Fantastic football was played on Sunday vs Richmond. Our Skill Task was to attempt to play the ball in behind the defenders (Killer Pass).
The team successfully created a host of chances in both halves and were playing some delightful football.
Well done keep up the hard work at training.
Under 14s
Nathan Saron & James Lelliot
Before the game spirits sounded positive and I felt we were a chance against an opposition that were in a similar position too us.
We started the match with the first shot but as the half went on we were beaten at our own game. Richmond opened our defence with through balls that ended in them easily slotting their goals.
Our second half was better defensively in the fact there were no more goals conceded. We found it hard to pass out from the back and through the midfield as we normally would.
Training this week involved attacking in wide areas
and defending/recapturing which the boys performed
well.
Lets have a better effort next week boys.
Under 15s
Shaun Kane and Glen Wilson (Glen and Reno coached the team this week)
With Shaun away with the Seniors this week and also a few late arrivals to the pitch (myself included), our normal match day preparation was a bit rushed. When we were ready to head out for 'warm-ups' we were directed to a very patchy bit of grass that wasn't suited to any ball work.....however we did step on to the Pitch about 5 minutes early and knocked a few balls around to get a little bit of touch before kick-off. All in all, not the best preparation for a match.
Last week at training we worked on playing out from the back, along with movement "off the ball" to provide options for the player with ball. This became quite evident in our game, as we saw numerous small triangle passes completed as we moved the ball through the Back and Middle thirds.
After a bit of "pin ball" action in their box we finally got the ball in their net to go 1 up, thanks to Bowdie getting a toe in at just the right time.
After we scored that goal, Richmond certainly upped their tempo and put plenty of pressure on our defence, especially down our Right side.....unfortunately for us they managed to get a quality ball in to the back post and get on the end of it to level it up at 1 all - right on the half-time whistle.
At the break, we made a few changes and moved a few lads into different positions and to their credit they all played the role required for the team. What I found most pleasing in the second half was the fitness work our squad has been doing on a Monday night paying dividends - it was amazing to see our lads still full of running and the opposition at almost a stand-still, as the game just opened up in the middle which gave our 3 in the mid (especially Fraser) so much more time on the ball. This helped create more and more chances going forward......after several gilt-edged chances, thankfully, Jordy was able to get a head, shoulder, knee and then a toe on one of those to bundle it over the line and into the net for the winner.
A special thanks to Alou who stood in goals for us, he did make a couple of great saves as well some good distribution.
Also a big thank you to Reno for helping out on the day as well.
Under 16s
Paul Nieuwenhuizen & Shaban Mehmet
After the positive signs from last few weeks the team took a huge step backwards this week. The negative attitude from some players before the game had an impact on the team.
This resulted in us conceding an early goal and despite the team not conceding another it lacked the desire to respond to the setback.
The same players, despite giving their all, are unable to get their teammates to follow this effort.
The game was riddled with core skill errors with players unable or unwilling to follow directions or structure during either ball possession or ball possession opposition.
We conceded another 2 goals in the 2nd half through basic errors.
While this report is very negative, I feel it is necessary because of all the good work that has been undone in just one game.
Hopefully, the team will respond and apply themselves on the training track this week and listen and take in what the coaching staff are trying to teach them.
I would like to thanks Jordan, Vince and Nick and stepping up and giving their all when provided the opportunity. Also a big thank you to Lisa Corso for supplying half time fruit for the team.
Under 18s
Pat Kielty & Shaban Mehmet
Richmond SC 4 - GVS 0 was the final score but that scoreline hides a very much improved display from our under 18 team.
Our boys played crisp passing football and created several clear scoring chances, however we just couldn't convert those chances into goals on the day. We were playing a team that was sitting fourth in the table and were well drilled and effective. Our boys played with passion and energy and despite the scoreline I was very pleased with their performance. That performance is the new benchmark for the rest of the season and is something to build on. If we keep playing the way we did then the self belief and results will come.
Our game plan was to use the wingers and full backs to get into the attacking third and create chances. This very nearly paid off in the first half when at two nil down Ron Lawrence and Callum Saron combined well which allowed Callum the fullback to run the ball to the corner flag and send a perfect cross onto the head of Elia. Unfortunately the header hit the crossbar and went out of play.
In the second half Liam crossed two good balls into the eighteen yard box but the strikers started their run too late and we will address this at training.
We welcomed back Sam Varley as goal keeper in his first game since breaking his collar bone which allowed Ron Lawrence to play his first outfield game this season (don't worry Ron the puffing and panting will subside as match fitness returns).
Following the final whistle the whole team were all smiles because despite the result they knew themselves that they had played their best game of the season- things will only get better.
Thanks to Kaine, Liam, Elia, Willie, Alou and TC for stepping up and playing another game. PK
Under 20s
David Davkovski & Matt Maiorano
Good result, not the best performance is my simple analysis of the game.
Our players didn't play well as a team. We planned to play a pressing game but we played without effort which left holes in our midfield. When we had the ball we were simply too far apart from each other which left the ball carrier isolated (under pressure).
Our second half focus was to have better use with the ball but again our players' skill errors meant we turned the ball over far to many times. When we went down to 10 men in the 60th minute I think the players responded well, lifted up a gear and we started seeing the ball used correctly. We got a point which was ok for us in the end.
Onwards and upwards.
Seniors
Nick Kalafatis & Serkan Aktas
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