Team Management Handbook SHM Football
Thank you for volunteering to be the team manager for your football team. SHM sports club exists due to people like you who volunteer their time. Here you will find all the information you need to know to manage the team this season.
The most important thing that you can do as a team manager is to communicate. Communicate often with the coach, players and other parents.
Good communication means that the team will work smoothly.
A BIT OF BACKGROUND INFO …
SHM plays in the Northern Suburbs Football association (NSFA) MINIROOS COMPETITION and U12’s MIXED JUNIORS.
In 2024 we have once again engaged INSPIRE UK to be part of our training program and assist volunteer parent coaches.
GET READY…
Set up the WhatsApp group using the name of your team and your level (TEAM U# YEAR For example, Bolts U6 2024) as the name of the group.
Set up your Dribl account and link your team.
Contact your coach, and ask around for potential game leaders from the team (who will help ref games) Please note as U12 are playing in the junior league refs are organised by the NSFA.
Organise rostered off players where applicable. This is only done when a team has more than the maximum number of players allowed at a game.
DRIBL…
In 2022 the NSFA implemented the use of Dribl. A copy of instructions on how to setup Dribl can be found HERE.
Once the season starts you can access fixtures, results and ladders. All managers (also called club recorders) will use Dribl to register match results (the score). Please note the team manager must register match results, the coordinators cannot do this on your behalf.
GAMES…
Remember games should be fun.
We want to foster a love for sports.
We want the kids to enjoy the game, regardless of the results.
Encourage kids with no pressure.
Be kind to each other and the opposition.
Recognise that co-ordinators, game leaders, team manager and coaches are all volunteer parents and we are all learning.
WHATSAPP USAGE & GUIDELINES
This year we will be using WhatsApp to manage communication with teams.
• The team manager is responsible for the group as the group admin.
• Each team will have a WhatsApp group with this naming convention TEAM U# YEAR For example, Bolts U6 2024.
• Only add phone numbers to the WhatsApp group that you have been provided with via the registration details, or that p[arents have provided directly. Be mindful of privacy. Requests to add other people to the group should come from the contact person from the registration only.
SUGGESTED WHATSAPP MESSAGES
You will be writing your WhatsApp group messages, however below are the first messages to send and some example messages to get you started. The first post after you have set up the WhatsApp group can be as follows:
Welcome to the 2024 football season at SHM. All team correspondence will be managed through this group. Can I please have all group members respond so we know we are all set up and ready. Each week I will send the game locations and any information to you via this group. If your player is unable to make a game, please advise me via this group. Once all members are confirmed I will send season information.
ONCE EVERYONE HAS RESPONDED PLEASE SEND:
SHM football group guideline
Please only discuss team related matters in the group.
Do not share photos of children outside of this group.
Do not post photos of children on social media.
Season Dates
First training session Thursday 4 April
First game Saturday 6 April
Last game Saturday 17 August
Gala Day Saturday 24 August
Uniforms
Full players kit, shin pads and boots are to be worn to training. Water is also a must! Children will not be allowed to go to the water fountain. Please note that SHIN PADS are COMPULSORY. We will adhere to the strict rule of NO SHIN PADS – NO PLAY!
Kindy do not need to order uniforms; these have been organised. Those who have ordered uniforms – we will be distributing uniforms ASAP and will aim to distribute these to children in class next week or at our first training session.
Should your child require a new uniform or replacement pieces such as socks, shorts or jersey please contact the coordinators directly shm.football@gmail.com.
EACH WEEK ON SUNDAY/MONDAY PLEASE SEND THE FOLLOWING MESSAGE:
Hi Team,
This coming Saturday’s game time is Located at:
Game time is:
Arrival time is: (15 mins before)
Jersey colour is: Blue or Yellow
Coach (Name) and Manager (your name)
Can I have a volunteer for Game Leader (ref) please.
• If you cannot attend the game you will also need to organise 1 or 2 scorers who will check the score at the end of the game with the other team and then message it to you via WhatsApp. You will then need to register the match results in Dribl.
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE MESSAGE AS A GUIDE:
Hi Team,
This coming Saturday’s game time is Located at Tunks Park Brothers Ave, Cammeray NSW 2062 (map link)
Game time is: 8.40 am
Arrival time is: 8.25am
Jersey colour is: Yellow
Coach: Kylie and Manager: Emily
Game leader: Can I have a volunteer for Game Leader (ref) please? (or if you have a ref roster then just list the person’s name)
I am unable to attend the game this week so can I please have 2 volunteer scorers (1 for each field). The scorers will need to check the score with the team we are playing against and post it in this WhatsApp straight after the game.
Please see below other details which may help answer any questions parents may have throughout the season:
Website
www.shmsportsclub.org.au/football
Training Location
Training is conducted at Middle Head Oval, 1110 Middle Head Road, Mosman opposite HMAS Platypus naval base. Our volunteer parent coaches together with our INSPIRE UK training partners will be running our training sessions every week.
** Please send the one relevant to your team*** Time Slot: 3.45 - 4.30pm U6 and U7 or 4.45pm-5.45 pm U8 U10 U12
Parents need to stay and supervise children.
Uniforms:
Full players kit, shin pads and boots are to be worn to training. Water is also a must! Children will not be allowed to go to the water fountain.
Please note that SHIN PADS are COMPULSORY. We will adhere to the strict rule of NO SHIN PADS – NO PLAY!
Those who have ordered uniforms – we will be distributing uniforms ASAP and will aim to distribute these to children in class next week or at our first training session.
Should your child require a new uniform or replacement pieces such as socks, shorts or jersey please contact the coordinators directly shm.football@gmail.com.
GAME LOCATIONS
These are listed on the NSFA WEBSITE all map links are on the website.
Here are a list of the ones that we are most likely to be playing on for miniroos, this is not a complete list. U12 will be playing in a variety of fields in the lower and upper North Shore.
Bales Park 42 Stanley St, Chatswood NSW 2067 (map link)
Blackman Park Lloyd Rees Dr, Lane Cove West NSW 2066 (map link)
Tunks Park Brothers Ave, Cammeray NSW 2062 (map link)
***At many of these venues parking is really difficult so it’s a good idea to remind parents to allow adequate time to park in order to get to the games on time***
TRAINING, GAMES AND PARKING
Middle Head Oval is located in a NSW National Park. You will need to pay for parking for training each week, however, you can purchase a NSW NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE PARKING PERMIT which will not only cover you for Middle Head but many locations around Mosman.
Weekend games are very busy and sometimes it’s difficult to find parking. Players might message you to say they are late, cannot find parking etc. Keep your phone on hand and encourage families to message if there is a problem. Might just be a quick WhatsApp message to say they cannot find parking and then someone could pop up to the car to walk the player to the field. It's all about teamwork.
MINIROO RULES
Miniroo rules are available HERE. Each team plays on a small modified field depending on the age group. Please make sure you read through the rules for your team so you are familiar with the game.
DRAW
Will be listed on Dribl and if needed can be found HERE
RESULTS
The score of each match should be verified by the opposition manager. Match cards are not required for Miniroos but are required for U12 junior mixed. Scores MUST be entered into Dribl on the day of the match.
AT THE GAME
• Bring a ball to the game and for U8 and above goal keeper gloves and a bib to the game each week.
• Goalies are required to wear a bib and gloves.
• Check the playing field for safety: ensure no health hazards if no Ground controller is present.
• Ensure all players are promptly attired in the SHM football kits with shin pads and correct shoes.
• Agree game leaders with the opposing manager. For Miniroos any parent can be a game leader as long as they know the rules. A whistle is helpful but not essential. It is good to organise a game leader in advance. Info for parents on the role of the game leader is HERE.
• Assist the Coach on Saturdays with working the substitutes or arrange for other parents to help out with this where necessary. All players should spend time on the field at every match.
• Be familiar with the basic rules and keep a copy of the regulations handy at matches just in case.
FORFEITS
Please advise the Football co-ordinators and register it on Dribl 72 hours prior to the game if your team will forfeit. Teams will need to forfeit if they do not have enough players. Teams can borrow players from the same grade (for example u6 can borrow from another U6 team) or players can play up from the year below, for example U11 players can be used for U12 if needed. SHM football club will be fined if we do not give enough notice of a forfeit and we don’t want to waste our registration fees on fines.
WET WEATHER AND GROUND CLOSURES
All wet weather information can be found on the NSFA website . You will need to communicate to your teams if the ground is closed.
But here is a quick summary
• Rain on the night before or on the morning of the match does not necessarily mean your match will be cancelled. We do not cancel games for rain. We only cancel games if the ground has been closed or is deemed unfit for play.
• Decisions on weekend ground closures are generally not made until Friday. Councils and schools assess their grounds and advise NSFA by 2:30 pm which grounds are unfit to play. NSFA policy is to play as many matches as possible on any ground that is left open by councils and schools.
• A wet weather message will be communicated on the NSFA website by 5:00 pm Friday. (link)
Mostly we would just ask our players and parents to be patient. The weather cannot be controlled however we will do our best to communicate early and often.
The club coordinators will advise you if Middle Head Oval is closed for training. We endeavor to do this as early as possible.
FINALLY …
This handbook will be updated as needed. We will advise you directly of any changes or updates.
