At Vida Footy, we use grids regularly in our sessions and holiday programs because they teach players at all levels fundamentals that directly help with real game situations. Grids can be employed at all levels, including tackers! Make sure you modify the grid so that they work and watch your players improve their tactics and game awareness.
Different types of Grids
There are many types of grids with many variations you can use to work on different parts of the game. Let’s start with the size of the area. If you want to work on handballing, use grids sizes from 5×5 to 10×20 meters. Kicking grids can also vary, obviously depending on what you need to work on. Grids can have defenders too. You can make it where there is less defenders than attackers, and visa versa. Make sure you have a clear focus on the desired output of your grid and modify the rules and size to match.
What do you learn from grids?
Grids are a way to teach your players the fundamental tactics and movement patterns of the game. You can use groups to reinforce technical skills, but ultimately you are working on the following aspects
– Passing on a 45
– Blocking for team mates
– Constant movement
– Creating space
– Quick hands or kicks under pressure
– Leading to the correct areas
– Decision making
– Defending
– Tackling
One of the most important skills to pass on to your players is where to move to within the grid. This will be something to look out for throughout your use of the grids.
Tackers coaches and coaches of young teams, please try and incorporate small handball grids into your training as we have seen over the years, players as young as 7 really benefiting from these activities.
Coaches of older teams, remember grids are used by AFL clubs, so make sure you try and incorporate them into your training schedule.
Vida Fitness is excited to announce our new athlete development Sports Performance Strength & Conditioning Program.
Athlete development or sports performance strength and conditioning is about developing key athletic skills that are at first fundamental, and then specific to someone’s sport or sporting position. All athletes need to learn how to squat, lunge, hinge, push, and pull for strength while gaining appropriate flexibility and mobility. All athletes need to learn how to move efficiently; run, land, jump, hop, stabilize, accelerate, decelerate etc.
For junior athletes, learning these fundamentals takes time, and needs to be consistently worked on and monitored. A strength and conditioning program should develop the athlete’s strength, ability to move effectively and efficiently, and then specific qualities that are important for their chosen sport.
This program is designed to help develop each individual to give them the best chance of achieving their goals in sport. This is not a quick fix, do it once program. This is about developing athletes to have long term results, improve sporting performance, reduce injuries, creating training habits and increase their love for the game.
The program also enables the junior athlete to be surrounded by like-minded people, creating an environment to thrive and achieve. The Vida Fitness vision is to create life opportunities for each individual through exceptional experiences.
Who should do this program?
If you are a junior sporting athlete aged between 15 & 18 looking to develop yourself to achieve an increase in performance and achieve your goals, this is the program for you.
Who is Dan Bailey?
Dan is a strength and conditioning coach with a background in track and field. As a junior Dan represented Australia in the Decathlon at the underage World Championships, in Ostrava, Czech Republic.
He now coaches a private track and field squad of national-level hurdlers and sprinters. He was Head of Strength and Conditioning, Athletics and Track and Field at Carey Baptist Grammar School for 5 years before taking a full-time position with Richmond Football Club as an AFL strength coach and VFL Performance Manager.
Dan has also worked in the Richmond AFLW program since its inception in 2018. Dan has a Bachelor of Sports Science from ACU, a level 1 ASCA Strength and Conditioning Coach, and an Athletics Australia Level 2 Advanced Sprints, Hurdles, Middle Distance, and Jumps Coach.
Dan’s strengths include running/movement mechanics, technical lifting coaching, and performance programming from the developing athlete to the elite.
So what is in the program?
Initial one on one consultation to ensure the athlete meets the criteria and is a good fit for the program
Individualised S&C program
Access to your personal program via the Teambuildr App
Gym access and in gym support from the Vida Fitness team
Program monitoring
Program Update and small group tech/education session every 6 to 8 weeks
When does the program start?
Our first intake will start from Monday the 14th of December 2020
Can I start at any time during the year?
Yes you can start at any stage. The best time to start was yesterday, but the next best time to start is today. After you have done your initial individual assessment you will receive your program and complete the remaining weeks of the 6 to 8 week block.
How do I get access to my program in the APP?
You will be sent details on how to create and log into your program via email.
How do I register?
To register, simply click on the following link and select the Sports Performance S&C Program membership option and set up your account.
As a member, you are able to receive a FOB which gives you access to the gym between opening hours. The FOB can be arranged with the Vida team for a $20 refundable deposit.
What is the cost of the program?
$44 per week billed fortnightly
Speak to us about a 6 month or yearly price if you prefer
How is the payment made?
The program will be billed fortnightly via direct debit through your membership account. Please speak with the Vida team if you would like to pay for the program upfront for a year.
What if I need help understanding my program?
If you are unsure about any part of your program or technical support, please feel free to speak to a Vida Fitness team member in the gym. Otherwise, email coach Dan and he will come back to you.
Did you know the biggest killer of men aged between 16 and 44 is…… themselves!
Each day 7 men in Australia take their own lives and another 82 men call an ambulance due to suicidal thoughts or attempts. We are sure you are all as shocked as us when we first heard these stats, and to be honest, it shocks us every time we have heard it since.
Vida is excited to announce our partnership with 100 Words Mate to Mate, as we look to help make a difference through awareness, connection, and education. Mental health has or will touch someone close to us all!
100 Words mate to mate’s vision is to create a national network of active local communities to improve men’s mental health and reduce male suicides. The mission is to create happier generations of men through real conversations and connections to local communities.
We aim to support 100 Words Mate to Mate to bring about the following outcomes:
Stronger Connections: We want males to get beyond the superficial discussions with each other and be open and honest about their mental health.
Reducing stigma: We want all parts of the community talking about suicide and mental health. Taking action to maintain good mental health and reduce judgment of those struggling.
Encouraging help-giving: We want more men to be confident and capable of checking in on those mates whom are experiencing emotional distress.
Encouraging help-seeking: We want people experiencing emotional distress to have a way to seek help from the people around them as early as possible.
Education: We want to create learning opportunities to build awareness of mental health issues, triggers, and tools to support those around them.
OUR VISION FOR THE PARTNERSHIP
The Vida Vision for the partnership is to encourage guys to connect more with their mates, dads, brothers…all the good blokes in their lives! Tennis, sport, physical health, and fitness will be our vehicle for community connection, awareness creation, and education for men’s mental health. We want to promote long term sustainable community connection opportunities to create happier generations and prevent suicide.
Tennis, Fitness & Footy, for us, are the vehicles to connect our community and create sustainable programs.
HOW WILL WE FACILITATE CONNECTION?
To launch the partnership we will be hosting an event at the Veneto Club in Bulleen which will include tennis, fitness, footy, and sporting opportunities for the men in our community. Our aim will be for the men in our community to bring a mate along for the evening.
Following the sporting fun, there will be a social BBQ function, a guest speaker panel, and plenty of time to connect. On the night will introduce case studies, real-life experiences, and our ongoing Mate to Mate at 8 programs in 2021.
More details about this event will be made available in the coming weeks.
You can find out more about 100 words Mate to Mate on their website but first, you can view an interview with tennis player Sam Groth on their weekly mate to mate at 8 podcasts.
Sam actually played competition tennis for the Veneto Club at age 16 and 17 and was part of the club’s state grade team.
Transitioning out of defence is one of the most important parts of your tactics on game day. Not only does it get you out of defence, but it can, if done quickly, move the ball into the forward line fast.
One of the best ways to use this defensive to attacking tactic is when the ball is intercepted or possession gained on one side of the ground, the player with the ball quickly switches the play to the other side of the ground.
The reason why this can work is:
– Most players will be on the side of the ground where the ball was previously, opening up space to the transition side.
– Because the defending team was previously attacking forward, they may not be manned up on their player, leaving the attacking team open to transition the ball forward.
– Opens the field up, making room for fast play
How to practice and Implement this strategy.
First of all keep using the term “in one way out the other”. This will remind your players to scan the field when they are in this position to potentially use it. Get your players to swivel their heads to scan for options every-time they get the ball. Therefore if a player gets the ball, they have an option to kick the ball down the line. They can also transition the play across the ground, or into the middle (only if a player is well and truly open).
Kicking the ball down the line should be encouraged only when there are no options left, or the player feels that is the best tactic to use in that particular situation. Maybe their best marking player has a mismatch, or you are winding the clock down and kick it close to the boundary line, looking for a stoppage.
This article will go over some of the best activities to use when trying to develop your forwards. Furthermore, in doing these activities you will also be working on your defenders’ techniques and positions. Most of these activities require both attackers and defenders.
Remember to always rotate your players back and forth between being attackers and defenders as the overall development of the player is extremely important. A lot of AFL players get drafted to play certain position and are converted to another during their first few years.
Most of these activities have small numbers and can be implemented differently into your training times. You could have multiple groups doing the same activity all around the ground. You can use it as one of your rotations along with other activities in a circuit.
At our recent holiday program, we had special guests Matt Rowell, Noah Anderson and Trent Bianco attend to help teach the kids a few things.The kids really enjoyed learning from some of the future stars of the AFL. We just wanted to thank the boys for giving up their time and would like to wish them well in the upcoming AFL draft. Good luck boys! (more…)
Vida Fitness is excited to announce our new athlete development Sports Performance Strength & Conditioning Program.
Did you know the biggest killer of men aged between 16 and 44 is…… themselves!
