The growth and the success of the 2020 MWFA Future Coaches Program was again one of the highlights of last year for MWFA Coach Development Manager Eugene Lawrenz.
“This continues to be a special project to me, as it brings together coaches with a wide variety of backgrounds, experience, and ambitions, but who all have one thing in common: the desire and commitment to becoming a better coach. When you put that many like-minded coaches together in a room and challenge them to help each other improve, great things can happen. I’m looking forward to expanding the group again this year and taking the program even further.” Eugene said.
The group included coaches still only early into their coaching journey, all the way through to some who have coached or been involved in the sport for decades, as well as 6 coaches who returned from the 2019 program to become mentors to the new intake.
4 coaches who participated in the 2020 program are now working at NPL clubs (including 3 at Manly United), 2 have become FFA Coaching Course presenters, while 3 have now taken on the role of being a CCC (Club Coaching Coordinator). These are very similar numbers to those from the 2019 program as well.
All coaches learnt many references that could be applied to all sorts of different situations, and they all improved their football knowledge and coaching ability through challenging discussions and problem solving scenarios. There were also networking opportunities both within the group and through several special guests who attended, while many new friendships were created, with the group still staying in contact with each other to this day, often catching up socially in smaller groups to discuss football and even supporting each other at each other’s games.
“A thought provoking course which challenged and made me a better coach. Unlike any other coaching course I have attended before.” – John Dennison
“Future Coaches was a gold mine of self-reflection experiences, prompted by breaking a football coach’s comfort zone and pushing them to be their true self.” – Patrick Tagliazucchi
“I am extremely grateful for the connections I have made with like minded coaches from different clubs and for the invaluable mentoring from Eugene Lawrenz throughout the season.” – Marilinda Winter
“Future coaches was an exciting, engaging and challenging program that delivered much more than expected. Being with a group of like minded people who wanted to raise the bar and grow, evolved friendships and a team that I was glad to be a part of.” – James Mitchell
Applications for the 2021 MWFA Future Coaches Program close on Sunday October 31.
For more information and to apply, please see here: https://www.mwfa.com.au/2021/10/12/2021-future-coaches-program-applications-now-open/
