Plan Your Coaching and Coach Your Plan

With a clear understanding that organization, planning and direction are the cornerstone to a successful campaign, the Gladesville Ryde Magic?s U/13 coaching staff are on the right track to developing a new generation of footballers.
Jurgen Cyrulla and Hans Madritsch, who have 17 years of coaching experience between them, expertly put together their entire season?s training program three weeks before their team?s pre-season commenced.
The sessions were broken up in topics ranging from shape work to set pieces and from defence to mobility in attack. The purpose behind the much thought out plan was to have direction and purpose throughout the season, as Madritsch put it ?to stop the guesswork from occurring at training.?
Although prepared before hand, the Division One Youth League team does have flexibility, with enough time allocated to address problems the team faced from their previous match.
?If we have some defensive mistakes on the weekend and the session on Monday is attack oriented, we will make sure both issues are addressed before moving on,? said Cyrulla.
The sessions are professionally set up, with players regularly tested in speed, agility and endurance. The results are compiled, graphed and presented to the kids in a way they can easily understand. Madritsch, who has worked with the NSW Institute of Sport, explained that feedback is vital for player development.
?The testing permits us to place a mirror in front of the players, allowing them to see where and how they must improve.?
?We show the players where they are at now and the where we hope they can get to. We believe this will add to their motivation and understanding of how to achieve their goals,? added Madritsch.
The team are also growing fans of alkaline water. After its introduction by Swiss born Madritsch at the start of the season, many of the kids now prefer it to their sports drinks and regular water. Alkaline water neutralises lactic acid with much greater effect than water and sports drinks, allowing players to feel less pain in their muscles.
?We have alkaline water at every training session and games. The kids love it and we are seeing less and less sports drinks every week,? said Madritsch.
The pair, although professional and serious in their work, never forget to apply fun and enjoyment into their sessions. A team favourite Cyrulla initiative is the lucky dip pick awarded to the man of the match.  With prizes varying from light hearted prank toys to football equipment, the kids certainly have a balance between fun and fatigue.
Former Matilda?s Captain, Sharron Dewar, explains that son, Mitchell, 13, is always excited to head to training.
?Mitchell never wants to miss training. When his game was called off the other day, he explained that it was ?ok, because this would give the coaches time to go over some tactics.??
?He is learning so much and really enjoys the organization at training,? said Dewar.
While parents of the team are happy with the work done by the coaching staff so far, they were quick to get a taste of what representative football is all about.
After the pair addressed the parents, outlining their plans for the season with handouts on what was expected from them and the boys, some according to Madritsch were ?left with their jaws open.?
?We want the parents to understand what we want to do and how we plan on doing it. Although we encourage feedback and respect what parents have to say, we ask they address it appropriately so it can benefit the team,? commented Cyrulla.
The parents seem to understand, happy that their kid?s developments are in safe hands.
?The coaches want what?s best for the players. If that means that parents must approach the manager with feedback first before being passed to the coaches, then so be it,? added Dewar.
The goal for the coaching staff is not solely focused on winning the championship or setting the record on how many players go on to play in the A-League. For them, it?s more about delivering a professional set up and giving kids the opportunity to nurture their talents in such an environment.
?Our planning and organization is done to give players the chance to reach their potential, which, in our opinion, should be the objective of every coach? said Cyrulla.
-By Caetano Lima