Coaches and Ump’s learn a lesson!

By Mtutuzeli Hlomela and Phindile Khambule
06 December 2005

The AFL South Africa Development Coaches and Umpires Workshop 26 – 27 November 2005.
This was the most important event for both the coaching and umpiring department in the month of November 2005. The workshops was held at the St. Josephs Catholic Convent School in Lomanyaneng near Mafikeng and was facilitated by Mtutuzeli Hlomela – AFL South Africa Head of Coaching and Phindile Khambule – AFL South Africa Head of Umpiring and Benjamin Motuba, a senior player and vice captain of the National team who has had playing experience in Australia. The participants came from as far as Christiana, Johannesburg and other parts of the North West Province. The workshop started with Mtutu introducing all the facilitators from AFL South Africa, and the aims of the separate workshops. After this the groups divided to concentrate on their specific discipline.
Mtutu’s coaching course consisted of the following topics:

1. What makes a good football coach
2. Conflict resolution
3. Developing a coaching philosophy
4. The skills in Aussie football
5. The positions in Aussie football
6. The type of athlete that is required for each position
7. Fitness in Aussie football
8. Planning
9. How to conduct a training session
10. How to design drills and instruct

The coaching course was well received by those who took part and the vast majority of the feedback was positive. Some of the feedback was as follows:

1. It provided them with the opportunity to experience topics first hand, which they were not familiar with.

2. They were able to identify their own set of principles and values which they are going to use in developing their own Coaching Philosophy.

3. It gave them the opportunity to impart the knowledge that they have of the game to the facilitator and the other coaches as well as the challenges that face them in their respective regions.

4. It gave them the opportunity to evaluate and reflect on themselves and they way they viewed themselves as coaches.

Well, as for umpiring, Phindi and Benji were jointly facilitating the workshop. The aim was to start preparing structures of umpiring for 2006. During the workshop a committee was formed that will take care of umpiring as a whole in the North West province as a whole.
The committee is as follow:

President Ms P Khambule
Secretary Mr A Mangweng
Treasurer Mr B Motuba
Fundraising Ms F Khambule
Mr A Maleke
Mr G Moshoette
Ms M Ntswe

The above committee members are from different areas and are prepared to start working early next year. The topics covered were the basics of field, boundary and goal umpiring. Positioning, communication, signals, etc This was truly a good opportunity, as everyone practised what they learned the next day at the festival that was held at The International School of South Africa in Mafikeng. The workshop ended at 23:30 pm on Saturday night, everyone was very tired but satisfied with the days proceedings. This did not stop them from spending time with each other after wards.

All in all, the workshop was a very successful initiative. It was fun for everyone and we are looking forward to having these individuals engaging themselves within their communities and imparting what they have learnt to others in their respective communities. A special thanks to New Balance Sportswear for providing apparel for the workshop, St. Josephs Catholic Convent School for the provision of fantastic accommodation and meals as well classrooms and hall for the workshop.

Footy festival in Mafikeng

By Jack Arnold
06 December 2005

A major footy festival was hosted by AFL South Africa on Sunday the 27^th of November 2005 at the International School of South Africa in Mafikeng, North West Province. The festival attracted approximately 760 participants from Under 13, Under 16 and senior age groups. The teams came from 12 football playing communities in the North West and Gauteng provinces. They were Christiana, Schweizer-Reneke, Vryburg, Morokweng, Mafikeng, Itsoseng, Bodibe, Verdwaal, Ramatlabama, Rustenburg, Ventersdorp and Sebokeng.

The day was very successful, all the teams got to play some games and gain valuable playing experience. The International School of South Africa was a perfect venue as all the fields were back to back which helped with the atmosphere on the day. It was positively buzzing.

Most of the teams were on the buses from 5am, with some communities having to travel halfway across the North West Province to attend. The first games began at around 11am. During the day the players were kept busy with games being played into the late afternoon, the North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture provided a sound system, there was lots of impromptu ‘dance offs’ throughout the day. The festival concluded at 7pm with all the buses heading back to their respective communities. The festival was privileged to have Fox Footy Channel presenter Tiffany Cherry, cameraman Tony Escotte, Herald Sun photographer Michael Klein, Emily Menon from World Vision, Glen Archer from the Kangaroos Football Club in Melbourne and his daughter Madison in attendance. They were visiting South Africa to see how Australian Football is progressing, the footage they shot will make up part of a documentary to be shown on Fox Footy Channel in Australia early next year.
The senior grand final was played on the main field between two of the strongest football communities in North West, Itsoseng and Vryburg. The game was of a high standard, with Vryburg running out eventual winners by four points. Due to time constraints we were unable to play the grand finals for the Under 13 and Under 16 age groups.
A big thank you must go to Mr. Kennedy Mosiapoa, Acting Director of the North West Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr. Henry Matthews, Head of Sport at The International School of South Africa in Mafikeng, the staff at AFL South Africa and the community volunteers who all worked very hard and made the day the success it was. Everyone had a great day and footy was the winner.