Category: AFL

TRAINING FOR FINALS

The winner of  the Sportsmart AFL sponsorship program, Micheal Shmerling, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – football …

It’s that time of the year where finals are on the minds of coaches and players part of teams in that log jam we call the mid table. With only 6 rounds to go of the local football season remaining and 8 of the AFL season, training is just as important, if not most important at this time of the year as it would be during pre-season. You’re not training to begin a season, your training to maintain and improve your fitness and skills for the most important part of the year.

So many things need to be trained at this point, but none more important than execution and trust. The execution of your skills and the trust you have within your team and only then will finals glory become a reality.

In terms of your fitness and skills, things shouldn’t change from week to week; a more complex training method isn’t needed. Only a continued form of skills and game plans should be trained, and with football sometimes being a basic game, your basic skills of kicking, handballing, marking and all the above under pressure being worked on, training should stay basic and the same. Changing or implementing new game plans for different training functions will only confuse players and supporters alike. If your team is already guaranteed a place in September, then no improvement in terms of game plans needs to be changed, but only worked on to achieve the best out of the game plans in place at that time.

Good luck to all local and AFL teams for the rest of the season, the road to the finals begins now!

THE ART OF COACHING…WELL SORT OF

The winner of  the Sportsmart AFL sponsorship program, Micheal Shmerling, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – football …

Being only 24 and having just under 4 years of junior coaching experience, I’ve experienced the ups and the downs. In my first year as an assistant we had the under 10’s, a team that won the lightening premiership the year before which placed them in the highest grade the following year. So here we are, with a successful team playing in the highest grade of junior football. That year we lost every game during the season and only 1 win during the lightening premiership. It was a difficult year to say the least, young kids playing in a grade of football that they were clearly not ready for, but each week they tried and tried and tried. It was disappointing to see the look on their faces after a loss, we tried as coaches and they tried as footballers.

The following year we won the flag, those unhappy and sad faces were turned around, the work and the dedication these young soldiers put together each and every week had paid off. They were once again champions. With a season of defeat, the boys rallied, and together they achieved the highest glory.

My most challenging year as a coach came in 2010, a new team and a promotion to head coach. My aim as a head coach is not to win games, but to make sure that these kids have fun, enjoy their football and improve their football skills and knowledge. We had 19 signed up players, which as any football fan would know is not enough. One or 2 players out and the whole team will suffer. A year with 1 and a half wins was the end result as we struggled for numbers each week and the constant use of under 10’s and 9’s players each week. But what the shining light of the season was the devotion and improvements these boys made. The effort they put in each and every week without any negativity.

This article isn’t about my bio as a coach; it’s about never backing down, never taking a backward step in the eye of defeat and always having an inner belief that life is only what you make it. These kids, although only 10 and 11 years of age showed me as a coach and their parents that maturity is only a word unless proven different. I’ve coached 50 young footballers in 4 years and every single one of them are different. But what all of them have in common is the commitment to achieve group success, the ability to bring sportsmanship in a new light, and the dedication to each other to give it their all each and every week. In the eye of defeat, they fight together, in the wake of the sun after a game day they stand tall together, and in the world as young footballers, they are amongst the best.

ROUND 5 – DONE AND DUSTED

The winner of  the Sportsmart AFL sponsorship program, Micheal Shmerling, provides regular blog articles on his favourite topic – football …

With the dust now clearing from an entertaining round 5 of AFL football, we have learnt which teams are on the way up and which teams are on the way down. But lets hope that teams on the way down can come back up again.

According to the Foxsports experts in the likes of Jason Dunstall and Brian Taylor, teams like St.kilda and Adelaide really need to step it up! In my opinion, the Saints need more than one win to come back from what most will call the darkest era in Saints history. Over the somewhat dull summer we had, we have almost watched the destruction of the football club by one single person who only 17yrs old, is not legally allowed to vote . Has the club been able to come back from this dark time? Well after 5 rounds and 4 games for the Saints they only have 1 win, and to be honest, it came against a team tipped to finish in the bottom 4 this season. St Kilda need help, and it can’t come only from the coaches, it has to start with the leaders of the club, the fans need to get behind the boys better than what they have so far this season. Positive Positive Positive should be yelled out during training with only that positive energy pumped through the club at all times. They can come back, but in my opinion a top 4 finish and that premiership window is all but closed for season 2011.

The Adelaide Crows are in trouble, a much better performance this week against Carlton was a good sign that maybe things aren’t as bad as first seemed. But lets be honest, they are in strife! But lets just say this, its good strife, its rebuilding strife. The crows lost big name, big game players at the end of last season with the likes of Andrew Mcleod and Brett Burton to name a couple. It will take time to develop some of the new faces at the club so fans need to be patient. They will come good, just give these new kids time.

The problem is Brisbane, Nth Melbourne, Richmond and West Coast are pretty similar to the Crows. Young bodies and little game time are the factors, but with more games comes more experience. Injuries at North and the Lions are hurting them more at the moment but with the likes of Brown coming back within the next month or so, the Lions could regain some power up forward. Nth need their fans, and need them badly, Nth fans get to games, support your team and buy a membership, my North Melbourne membership jokes to my friends are getting old, start buying some memberships!

How good are the bombers? Well looking at Anzac day, they aren’t far off good teams. The bombers fought hard against a harder, tougher opponent like the Pies. The final score flattered the Pies to a point but it helped my mate win a bet so on behalf of him, thanks Collingwood for the final score. But these bombers showed something that hasn’t been showed by an Essendon team since early 2002, and that’s fight! They fight and fight for not just 2 quarters, but for 4 and it’s great to see. The passion from the fans is showing through the players and the results are coming. Its only round 5 so the “finals” lid is tightly on, but maybe I can be a wishful Bombers fan and say that a top 6 finish is not out of the question.

Finally, the Gold Coast Suns, well done on your first win. Not many predicted you’d win a game in your first season let alone the first 5 rounds. Well done but lets hope the bombers stop that as round 6 is looming.

Q&A WITH AFL SPONSORSHIP WINNER MICHAEL SHMERLING

Sportsmart AFL sponsorship winner, Michael Shmerling, gives us an insight into his love of football…

Why do you love football?

It’s the passion for the game, love the roar of the crowd before the opening bounce.

Do other members of your family play football?

My uncle played for Hawthorn in the 70s.

What do you like about playing with Ajax Football Club?

Played at Ajax since I was 9, so to continue to play with the same guys I grew up with is great.

What do you think your club will buy with the $200 Club Advantage voucher you earned for them?

More footballs.

What will you do with your old football gear now that you’ve won the Sportsmart AFL sponsorship package?

They can be hand-me-downs!

Which pair of Blades football boots do you have your eye on?

The Legends Elite.

What type of football boots are you wearing at the moment?

Nike, not sure what the name of the boots are, but they are Nike.

What advice do you have for other football players who want to improve their game?

Train the way you want to play!

What other sports do you enjoy playing?

Indoor soccer, basketball and mixed netball.

What is your ultimate football ambition?

Play and coach alongside James Hird.

INTERVIEW WITH LENNY HAYES FROM ST KILDA FC

Lenny Hayes from St Kilda Football Club recently visited our Moorabbin store to take photos with fans and sign plenty of autographs. He really enjoyed visiting the store and was happy to answer a few questions.

Q1. What has been the most exciting moment for you in the AFL?

Playing in grand finals, the roar of the crowd when you run out.

Q2. What advice would you give aspiring footballers?

Keep working on your skills and enjoy your footy.

Q3. Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

Get the same trainer to strap my ankles every week.

Q4. What is your favourite Diadora product?

All Diadora footy boots are great.

Q5. What boots do you play in?

Diadora Kobras

Q6. Who did you barrack for as a kid?

Swans

Q7. Have you had any serious injuries?

I’ve had a knee reconstruction.

 

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES FRAWLEY FROM MELBOURNE FC

James Frawley from Melbourne Football Club recently visited our Moorabbin store, thanks to our friends at New Balance to take photos with fans and sign autographs. He really enjoyed his visit and took the time to answer a few questions.

Q1. What has been the most exciting moment for you in the AFL?

Playing Collingwood on Queen’s Birthday in front of a big crowd and winning.

Q2. What advice would you give aspiring footballers?

Train hard and give it your all and have fun with your mates.

Q3. Do you have any pre-game superstitions?

Cook myself the same dinners two nights out before the game and the night before.

Q6. Who did you barrack for as a kid?

St Kilda, loved Robert Harvey.

Q7. Have you had any serious injuries?

Yes, stress fracture in my foot, torn pectoral muscle.

WANT TO BE A SPONSORED AFL PLAYER?

Sportsmart, New Balance, Blades and Under Amour are giving you the chance to become a sponsored AFL player. Enter and you could win the following prizes:

  • 2 pairs of X Blades football boots
  • 2 pairs of New Balance running shoes
  • An Under Armour performance clothing pack
  • 4 tickets to the match of their choice at Etihad stadium
  • A place at a Melbourne FC training session, thanks to New Balance, on August 5th
  • A Sportsmart football jumper

Visit http://www.sportsmart.com.au/footballsponsorship.php and enter your details.

The top six entrants as judged by Sportsmart’s management team, will be published online where the general public will be able to vote for their favourite to determine the winner.

Entries close Thursday 24th March.

KIDS FOOTWEAR BUYING GUIDE: AFL BOOTS

by Gerrard Woods, Director, Sportsmart

Sportsmart stocks a wide range of children’s footwear for a variety of sports.

Our buying guides provide some useful information to help parents know what features to look for in shoes for their kids.

Our footwear staff can help with further information and fitting in-store, to help ensure kids get the best shoes for their needs.

AFL BOOTS

Upper material

The material that covers the upper of the boot. The most common upper materials are leather (kangaroo or cow) or synthetic.

Contributes to the overall comfort of the boot. Leather upper stretches and provides a better fit than synthetic materials, although it is not waterproof and must be cared for to be as durable as synthetic versions.

Studs

Studs are the objects that are raised from the outsole underneath a boot. There are three types available:
Hard ground – made from rubber and slightly soft
Firm ground – slightly longer than hard ground studs
Soft ground – generally made from metal or nylon that screw into the bottom of the boot. Suitable for wet and muddy surfaces.

Studs provide the grip on the playing surface. These days, as sports grounds are receiving less water, firm ground studs are the preferred choice. Make sure you choose an appropriate stud/sole for all the surfaces your child plays on. Check with your league about their rules with regard to studs.

Fit

How well the boots fit your child. As football involves kicking, the fit should be tight but comfortable.

Ensure your child tries on AFL boots with footy socks, as they are a lot thicker than regular socks. If you forget, Sportsmart has suitable try-on socks in store.

YOUR SPORTING MOMENTS

Your Sporting Moments is a new feature on our blog where we open the floor to you and – yep, you guessed it – your sporting moments.

What defines a sporting moment? It can be anything – a big achievement or milestone, an impressive goal/mark/jump/time, a first, an ‘ouch that would have hurt’ caught on camera… All sports are welcome.

Email a good quality photo to melinda.woods@sportsmart.com.au with your name and a brief explanation of your sporting moment, and we will post you in pride of place on the Sportsmart blog.

My 200th VAFA game with Hampton Rovers on 3rd July was one of my biggest sporting moments. My family and friends came to watch me play (including my dog Oskar in his own footy jumper made by my mum), and after the match my team-mates carried me off the ground. It was a proud moment.
– Gerrard Woods, Director, Sportsmart