Talking Split

It’s been fantastic to have the three Australian Junior Championships run for the first time in a few years! The team takes a look back at how the AJCs played out, changes and trends as well as how the BV programs have changed because of what we saw this time around! We then give our advice for what the coaches can do to give their players the best chance of success at this level!

It’s the fun time of year when finals coaching is the topic of discussion and we are looking at any areas that coaches can adjust in a game situation, to give their team a chance for success. Offence, Defence, Timeouts, Substitutions and your mental state all play a part, so get planning on what you can do to influence your team!

Jamboree: U12 tournament played in Echuca for Country and Wyndham this year for Metro FDP Academy: Future Development Program - U14 athletes SDP: State Development Program - U16 & U18 athletes NPP: National Performance Program - U16 & U18 identified athletes with National team potential AJC: Australian Junior Championships - U16, U18 & U20 Championships where state teams play each other SCC: Southern Cross Challenge - U14 & U15 Tournament held in January with other states ECC: East Coast Challenge - U16 & U18 tournament played in Sydney in January Country Cup: U14, U16, & U18 tournament played in Albury/Wodonga in January

Few guests get a third appearance on Talking Split... (usually their choice, not ours), but thankfully Dr.Julia Walsh returns to discuss how we can find what drives our athletes to play sport, how we as coaches can interact with all athletes better for their retention and foster an enjoyable learning environment.

Podcast debut for the new Metro High Performance Coach, Darren Best. Darren brings a wealth of experience into the role which relates heavily into today’s topic (submitted by Talking Split superfan – Daniel Gianchino), “How to tackle grading” for coaches. So many things to consider for coaches depending on the club, the age group, and your own coaching experience. We discuss what training should be made up of this time of year, and if there are things clubs can do to be a step ahead.

Coaches, you get this week off from podcast land – we are talking to the players that are about to go through trials. It’s a stressful time of year, but there are some things you can do to be prepared physically and mentally to give yourself the best chance of succeeding – whatever your goal is at selections. Because your coaches will listen to this anyway, it can certainly help!

It's a crazy time of the year for everyone as tryouts are starting over the next few weeks! We discuss what to look for, how to run them, what you need to consider and how to pick a balanced team.

Back on the Lasso bandwagon this week as we strap in for Part 2, albeit a man down – but like Lasso when he gets behind, we battle on for the win (not the draw). We look at how coaches can best manage the people around them, the relationships they will need to be successful as a coach, some of the things coaches need to be mindful of when taking care of themselves, and the best quotes from the world of Lasso and how they can apply to our coaching.

For the last 2 years Ted Lasso has helped everyone get through lockdowns, and we delve into where the show does imitate life as a coach. Sometimes you can watch it just to be entertained, and other times you can take some lessons that we see on the screen and apply it to your own coaching. Part 1 this week where we look around the areas of Starting with a new team, Setting a Culture, and the Support People around coaches. Stay tuned for part 2 next week!

Not to be confused with the Chris Webber, Jalen Rose, Juwan Howard Fab 5 (bonus points on offer if you can name the other 2 players), or the Jackson 5, today we explore the Fab 5 basketball skills that every athlete should be working on, and every coach should be helping their athletes with. We look at why they’re important, what we would emphasise on each of the skills and discuss if there is anything missing. And if you’re reading this Ash, stop eating the caramel slices…