Wahroonga FC Tiger Rag June 2009 Under 9 Development Squad Congratulations to Benji Sneddon and Will Simister from Wahroonga FC U9A for being selected in the "KDSA U9 Development Squad Program" for 2009. The boys were selected after 3 weeks of trials involving the best young players across KDSA. The program is an established pathway to identify talented players, nurture their ability, and develop their technique and skill in a professional coaching environment. The program provides the boys with 14 training sessions where they have the opportunity to play alongside other talented players and to develop their game at a higher level. KDSA run Development Squad Programs for U9s and U10s and parents are encouraged to look out for these programs each year on the KDSA website and to consider entering their kids in the trials. Congratulations to Rachael Soutar from the Wahroonga U15A team. Rachael was recently Selected in the Football NSW Metro U15 team for Australian Titles in Coffs Harbour in July 2009 The titles act as final selection trials for the U16 Matildas Asian Cup later this year and hopefully U17 World Cup next year. Good Luck Rachael. 1
Wahroonga Tigers Under 9Fs The players in this side are only in their first or second year at the club and with only one or two years experience. Not surprisingly, it has taken a few matches to get the teamwork needed to play as a team. What is there, though, is the effort that every player puts in each week, even when things aren t going well. It is a credit to everyone that this happens. This, combined with the fact that training is well attended each week under the expert eyes of Karl (Guus) Berthold, means that the teamwork is improving each week. In our three matches leading up to the long weekend we have had a win and two losses, one of them by a goal and the other which saw a great second half performance after missing several chances in the first half. While the aim is to give everyone a chance to play in all positions, some players have done particularly well in some positions. Nathan van Zeyl and Lewis Steffkens really enjoy playing up front, especially Lewis who celebrates each goal by putting his shirt over his head à la Christiano Ronaldo. Tahlia Azzopardi, Ethan Park and Amelia Berthold are doing well in the midfield, creating many opportunities for the forwards. Josh Luton, Will Iles and Ryan Bernhardt turn away many opposition attacks at the back and the Bush School blondies Jonathon van Es and Liam de Meyrick give good support to the team wherever they play. We are having a great time, enjoying each game (including the lollies at the end!) and learning new things all the time. We are looking forward to this continuing for the rest of the season. Last but not least, thanks to the parents for their support of the team. Steven van Es, Manager U14Bs 8th June 2
2010 Men s All-Age Division Six Squad Most people associated with Wahroonga FC don t know that the bulk of our club s members are juniors in the age groups from U6-U18, with more than ¾ of our players in these age ranges. This wasn t always the case for substantial periods of our existence Wahroonga was very strong in both Men s and Women s football, winning championships at this level on a number of occasions. However, last season s success in winning the Men s All-Age Division 3 Trophy was the club s first victory in senior football for almost 20 years! Much of this has come about because of a very significant reduction over time in the number of players and teams Wahroonga fields at these senior levels. In Men s All-Age in 2009, we have just one squad in Division 2 and one team in Division 7 55 players in all. In Women s All-Age we have 3 teams, and a total of 47 players. Given that we are in the top 4 clubs in KDSA numbers-wise with more than 650 junior players, it is surprising that we are not able to field more teams at these higher age levels. In 2010 we re going to try to change this situation. We ve seen positive signs in Women s All-Age recently, with a 3 rd team playing for us in 2009. This is the direct result of bringing more players through the junior ranks into senior football, and now we want to do the same for our mens teams. Therefore, in 2010, at the instigation of our Men s All-Age squad, we are going to create a 2 nd All-Age squad, competing in Division 6 initially. We see this as the logical pathway into senior football for our young players coming through from the Under 18 s, and hope that the creation of a 2 nd squad will encourage these young men (and a lot of their friends!) to remain playing with our club, and progress their football further at senior levels. Too many of our young male players leave us at this stage of their footballing career because Wahroonga FC doesn t have an appropriate venue for them to follow we re now trying to reverse that, but we need the help and support of our club in order to do so. We re already getting drive from the All-Age men as I ve mentioned, but we need much more. We re going to need Coaches & Managers for the new squad, and we re also going to need people who can help your Committee established and administer the new squad. Most of all, we re going to need players! Wahroonga FC is a very big club which is under-represented in the senior levels of KDSA. Your Committee and the Men s All-Age squad are seeking to improve that situation, starting from next season, and we would really appreciate support and assistance from our club members in order to do so. If you d like to offer us help to get this new squad off the ground, please contact me the time to get things moving is now, so I d love to hear from you soon. Tony Batten pres09@wahroongafc.com.au 3
July School Holiday Clinic with Rob Wheatley Wahroonga FC Holiday Soccer Clinic Conducted by Rob Wheatley former Socceroo and Wahroonga Junior Dates: Monday 20th, Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd July Times: 9.00am - 12.00pm Venue: Karuah Oval, Turramurra Ages: U6 - U12 Girls and Boys Limited Places, please register early to avoid disappointment. Cost: $110.00 for 3 days Closing Date: Thursday 9th July or when camp is full Qualified coaches will be conducting the program What to bring: ball, water bottle, morning tea and drinks, hat, sunscreen, wet weather jacket & towel in a bag. Wear: Soccer clothes, shin pads and boots. Please go to www.wahroongafc.com.au for a registration form Designs for expanded Storage Facilities at Karuah Park can you help? Most people who visit Karuah Park on a Saturday morning will find it a hive of activity, as Karuah is one of KDSA s designated Small-Sided Games centres and hosts a large number of games for U6-U8 players each weekend. Karuah is also Wahroonga FC s home we store our kit there, and there s an awful lot needed to keep some 80 teams playing each week. In recent years the club has doubled in size resulting in a need for us to store much more equipment than we have previously. Also, Small-Sided Games has changed the size and shape of the goals used in junior games, and we now have a large number of portable goals which are also stored at Karuah. The upshot of this is that the canteen/storeroom at Karuah is jam packed, and we no longer have room to store all our equipment there we have a large amount in storage elsewhere, which is costly and inconvenient. We recently approached the Council about increasing the size of the building at Karuah modestly to enable us to store our equipment in one place and reduce the clutter we currently have. Council is receptive to the idea, but wants to see some specific proposals before they will comment further. In order to create such proposals, we need assistance from someone who is an architect/builder we ve got to be able to show the council some drawings of what we need, and give them some idea of the expected cost. None of your Committee is expert in these matters, and so we need some help to determine what is do-able and what it might cost. Are you an Architect or Builder? Can you help us put together a simple proposal that will help us get approval to expand our current facilities? If so, I d love to discuss this matter with you and seek you assistance to make it happen we need it badly. U8 Orange 16th May Tony Batten pres09@wahroongafc.com.au 4
THE WAHROONGA TIGERS TRACKSUIT You can now order your Wahroonga FC tracksuit at Kaurah. These tracksuits look great and you have the option of buying the jacket, pants or both. Please get your orders in by June 27th. Any questions, please contact sec09@wahroongafc.com.au Jackets: Price $55 each The jackets include the printing shown above. They have an elastic draw string at the bottom, zip up pockets, a zip up the front and adjustable velcro on the cuffs. They are made of Microfibre and have a full brushed cotton lining on the inside Unisex Size S M L XL 2XL 3XL Length 72 74.5 77 79.5 82 84.5 cms Chest 119 124 129 134 139 144 cms Kids Size 4# 6# 8# 10# 12# 14# Length 52.5 56 59.5 63 66.5 70 cms Chest 84 90 96 102 108 114 cms Trackpants: Price $20 each The trackpants are Microfibre with brushed cotton lining. They have a zip up both legs, (which makes them easy to remove while wearing football boots). Sizes: Children 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 Adults S, M, L, XL, 2XL, 3XL 5