2021 TDP Coach Mentor Program A Success
2021 saw the inaugural TDP Coach Mentor Program lead by Mainland Football Director of Football, Lee Padmore.
"We recognised that clubs that worked hard to go above and beyond to achieve a Y Licence should be rewarded for that work," said Lee Padmore. The program was made available to the four clubs across the region that were accredited in 2020 in both NZF Skills Centres and Talent Development Programmes. The target candidates were coaches working in the youth space with players who were committed to their own development, enough to give 40 hours of formal time to spend with Lee Padmore.
Two of the regions brightest young male coaches took up the opportunity in 2021 in Will Mitchell (Selwyn United) and Luke Tongue (Cashmere Technical). Both were given Individual Development Plans based on their own coaching and worked weekly towards an end goal whilst reporting back into their clubs on their development.
Will Mitchell - Selwyn United
"The TDP Mentor Program has helped me understand what a high-performance actually looks and feels like and how I can bring it to life within my own environment, the attention to detail being a key learning right through the process," said Luke Tongue, former Wellington Phoenix Academy and Canterbury United Player. Will Mitchell agreed with such sentiment adding, "The work was tailored to me and challenged me every week to find ways of adding to my coaching both on and off the pitch."
Much of the program was designed around the needs of the individual coaches, with focuses varying from coaches understanding their own strengths to game day coaching and truly understanding how coaches want their team to play.
"Without doubt, my favourite part was Lee coming down to watch me coaching in real-time on a match day. He watched how I operate on a matchday right from the moment I got to the grounds, throughout the game, and afterwards, too. The practical learning and insight I learned from Lee afterwards was invaluable to my coaching and has affected how I have operated on matchday since!" added Luke Tongue.
Luke Tongue - Cashmere Technical
A huge part of this program is to ensure a ripple effect within the clubs, and both coaches have expressed their interest in driving internal programs that mirror the Mainland Football TDP Coach Mentor Program. Will Mitchell commented saying, "My take-home message from the program would be to focus on my strengths in my character for my coaching. I’d really like to pass this on to any other coaches within the club."
In 2022, there are plans to continue the program and hopefully expand it as more clubs drive standards of the game up by achieving NZF Skills Centre and Talent Development Program Accreditations. Luke Tongue said, "Insightful, development and passion are the words I would use to describe the program. These are also all the things that I believe Lee offers and brings to the sessions too."
"Coach Development has to be a key pillar in the development of football in our region. We have to set the standard for the rest of the country in this space and show that coaching courses are great. Still, there is much more to develop in individuals rather than just attending and passing courses," added Mainland Football Director of Football, Lee Padmore.
Finally, Luke Tongue parted by saying, "I’d like to say a massive thank you to Mainland Football and Lee Padmore for providing this TDP program. I have learned so much and enjoyed every minute of it."
Article added: Wednesday 15 September 2021