Coaches White Boards

Each season we try to improve the tools available for use by our coaches and players. In Season 2017, all of our teams from U8 – U14 will be using brand new magnetic white boards.

The double-sided boards have been designed by Head of Junior Football, Paul Carrigan (“Caggs”), in consultation with a number of our junior coaches.

In the section that looks like an oval, coaches will be able to move the player magnets around the board, but also use the marker pens to illustrate key points.

To the right are sections where the coach can write key messages for players – keeping it simple, but able to tailor for backs, mids and forwards. Young people in any walk of life need strong consistent messages; being specific will help individuals and the collective to perform at a higher level.

“When players are having their break between quarters there is a lot going on – drinks, oranges and words of encouragement from family and friends – so it can be quite hard for coaches to get their key messages across to the players. The magnetic white board is a visual tool that provides a quick reference for players, and a reinforcement of the messages being spoken by the coach” said Caggs.

In 2017, when so much of our lives is digital, magnetic white boards are used by all AFL clubs, so Rovers are super-excited to be upgrading the whiteboards for our teams.

Caggs continued “Having these boards also helps our coaches structure their messages to players. Footy is fast, with a lot happening each quarter, so it’s easy for a coach to neglect one part of the ground. But in using these boards we think the coaches will be prompted to ensure all players receive a tailored message. The messages will be better, the players will be more engaged and we think it will lead to a better footy experience for Rovers’ players.”

Another benefit is that parents surrounding the player huddle can also see the messages. We hope that sharing this information with parents will help parents understand what the coach is trying to achieve and why different tactics are adopted during a game.