Football Queensland recently caught up with two Club Coach Coordinators (CCCs) who are driving the development of coaches at their local clubs in Toowoomba.
Megan Smith from Pittsworth Vikings Soccer Club and Tiffany Burstow from USQ Football Club discussed the ways in which their role as CCC is providing support to club coaches, and why other clubs should be implementing the CCC program for the benefit not only of coaches but also of players.
When the position of CCC was put forward by Football Queensland Darling Downs, Smith did not hesitate to put her hand up and take on the role’s various responsibilities.
“I took on the role because I had a solid understanding of football, I was keen to get some resources organised for the club, and I wanted to become a point of contact for coaches at the club,” Smith said.
Responsibilities of a Club Coach Coordinator include supporting a positive club coaching culture and working to actively recruit, mentor and support coaches at the club.
“I think the CCC role is good where they can give coaches the resources and the support they need to be able to fulfill their role in providing training and development for our players,” she said.
“It’s also good for a club to have someone direct that can let their coaches know about upcoming courses and available online materials.
“So far, we’ve got resource books for new coaches and we have been trying to send someone to coaching courses as often as we can.”
The Pittsworth Vikings CCC added that other clubs should encourage coaches to consider taking on the role to gain a better insight into player experiences and a deeper understanding of the development journey.
“Clubs can encourage their coaches to take on a role as a CCC to improve the quality of coaching at their club,” she said.
“A CCC can provide the support that some people need to help them try and coach to the best of their ability so that our players can develop.”
Darling Downs has been one of the zones leading the way in the implementation of the CCC program, currently boasting the highest number of female CCCs of any zone or region in Queensland.
Since joining USQ Football Club as a player, Club Coach Coordinator Burstow realised there was not enough support for club coaches to access grassroots coaching resources and information.
“I noticed early on that there was a need for somebody to step up and take on the role as a point person for all the coaches to go to when they need a helping hand,” Burstow said.
“It’s really important to have that person who is willing to help coaches on their journey to becoming a better coach, whether it’s by running sessions for them or pointing them in the right direction of resources.”
When asked what she thinks her club coaches benefit from the most, Burstow said a key part of the role is to unite coaches with positive experiences and less stress.
“I’ve been involved in clubs that didn’t have a CCC and as a coach it makes you feel very isolated where you feel like all the responsibilities are on your shoulders,” she said.
“Having a CCC means the coaches know they can discuss anything with me throughout the season and there is a consistency of reliable support.”
Burstow discussed the growth in coaches she’s seen at her club since taking on the role.
“We’ve brought on ten new coaches over the last few years, which is phenomenal. All of these coaches have stepped up to at least second level coaching, so they’ve all been a grassroots coach,” she said.
The Darling Heights local praised other participants who had taken on the role to improve their football community and encourages more clubs to recognise the benefits.
“It’s important to pass on your knowledge and look at the game as a whole instead of just one aspect,” she said.
“I love the idea of a coaching team rather than a single coach because you have someone who varies in skill focus while the CCC oversees the game on a larger scale.
“From a CCC perspective, it’s the idea of sharing your knowledge and also gleaning information from other coaches and passing it on to everyone in the club.”
At USQ FC, Burstow has made it her number one priority to designate resources for coaches and to ensure they are receiving the best support available to them.
“When I first stepped into the role, I had no idea the amount of support Football Queensland would provide me,” Burstow said.
“There are so many available resources provided by FQ and they have done an amazing job sharing that with clubs around the state.
“So if you are interested in becoming a CCC but you are nervous about taking on the responsibilities, remember that it’s actually quite simple because of all of the support that’s out there.”
Football Queensland encourages clubs to appoint a CCC to assist in providing a positive and support learning environment not only for coaches but for all involved at the club.
FQ recently launched the Club Coach Coordinator (CCC) Guide to support the development of coaches around the state.
Find out more about Football Queensland’s CCC program here.
Words: Charlotte Monteath
