5 Star Community Coach overall national and state winners - 2012
There are two 5 Star Community Coach Award award levels - state and national. There is one state award per state/territory, per term and one overall national winner announced in Term 4 each year. The national award considers nominees from Term 4 the previous year and Terms 1 - 3 of the present year.
The National Award winner and state/territory nominees for 2012 are:
National Award Winner
WA – David Kerr
David Kerr from the Great Southern and Esperance region, Western Australia is the National 5 Star Community Coach Award winner for 2012.
David has been involved in the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program since 2010 and during this time has worked across four sites, providing tennis activities to over 300 children, with over 50 transitions into local clubs across the Great Southern and Esperance region.
David is an excellent ambassador for the AASC program, representing multiple tennis clubs as well as being a strong advocate for the Playing for Life philosophy, promoting the importance of a games based approach to coaching in both the AASC program and its participating clubs.
David has been involved in countless AASC initiatives as well as mentoring several young coaches and newly formed clubs. He was a key organiser in arranging Hot Shots ambassador, Alicia Molick to visit Albany for a community event. This resulted in a number of AASC and grassroots sports participants meeting the tennis legend in person and experiencing some world-class action on court.
Local AASC Regional Coordinator, Tim Widdison said, “It has been great working with David over the past two years. He has been an invaluable asset to the AASC program and a true ambassador of the Playing for Life philosophy.
“When out at sites it is obvious to see the respect that both participants and staff have for David and his coaching methods. I gave no hesitation in recommending him for the National award,” Widdison said.
National Award Nominees (State Winners):
ACT – Kelly Smith
NSW – Aubrey Judge
NT – Joseph White
QLD – Michael McShane
VIC – Peter Devine (photo to come)
TAS – Shelly Dodd
SA – Barry McFadyen
ACT – Kelly Smith
Kelly Smith from Canberra is the 2012 Australian Capital Territory state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
Kelly is a committed and enthusiastic coach in the AASC program as she strives to develop a love of not only tennis, but physical activity in all participants she coaches.
Kelly has been associated with the AASC program throughout the ACT and NSW since January, 2011. During that time, she has delivered ten programs to over 360 children. She is also the AASC coordinator for Tennis ACT, administering 59 tennis programs in 2011 and 2012.
Kelly’s sessions,as well as her sessions with Tennis AC, are always fun and filled with activities that foster inclusiveness of all ages and abilities. She works hard to prepare sessions of a high standard and quality, and consistently adopts the Playing for Life philosophy in all activities.
Kelly’s sessions are always in high demand from students, schools and after school care centres. This has become increasingly notable as the years progress.
AASC Regional Coordinator, Liz Chester said, “Kelly demonstrates perfect practice as a community coach in the AASC program and she has done fantastic things for both Tennis ACT and our program. Kelly’s enthusiastic and professional approach while coaching and coordinating tennis programs is second to none and she is an invaluable asset to the AASC program.”
Kelly is an outstanding ambassador for the AASC program and thoroughly deserves the recognition this award brings.
NSW – Aubrey Judge
Aubrey Judge from Port Stephens and Great Lakes is the 2012 New South Wales state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
Aubrey is a highly motivated and enthusiastic community coach who understands the potential of the AASC program to grow the sport of lawn bowls in the Port Stephens and Great Lakes region.
Aubrey is a member of Pacific Palms Bowling Club and has utilised his relationship with the club to get them involved in the AASC program and deliver lawn bowls sessions to children from Bungwahl Public School.
Due to the regional isolation of the school, students are required to take two small busses to get to the club however, this has not curbed the students’ enthusiasm with 35 of them now taking part in lawn bowls programs at Pacific Palms Bowling Club. This is an overwhelming result considering there are only 38 children at the school.
Aubrey demonstrates initiative as a community coach within the AASC program, organising the junior champion from Pacific Palms Bowling Club (who is only nine years old) to come out and role model for the younger students at the school.
Aubrey also works with the Tuncurry Bowling Club and has arranged lawn bowls sessions for children at the Great Lakes Tuncurry After-school Care Centre. There are now 15 children participating in lawn bowls programs at this club. Additionally, Aubrey contacted another local club, Hawks Nest Bowling Club, and worked with them to host four AASC sessions at the club for 15 children from Great Lakes Tea Gardens after school care centre.
Aubrey is continuously encouraging local clubs and club members to become involved in the AASC program as coaches. This is a show of support from Aubrey, who is helping the AASC program reach its goals of engaging children in organised sport.
Before sessions begin at the start of each term, Aubrey contacts the sites to arrange a time to meet with the AASC site coordinator and discuss the program and its pathway focus into sport. Sites have responded well to Aubrey’s enthusiasm and commitment to the program. AASC site coordinators, who work closely with Aubrey, are reporting on the success of lawn bowls programs at their sites.
Aubrey is currently in the process of putting together a junior program at the Pacific Palms Bowling Club as well as looking into an inter-school competition based on the success of the program.
Aubrey is a fantastic ambassador of the AASC program and thoroughly deserves the recognition of this award.
NT – Joseph White
Joseph White from Darwin is the 2012 Northern Territory state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
At the age of 15, Joseph demonstrates exceptional coaching and leadership skills as part of his involvement in the AASC program.
Joseph runs a number of sporting sessions including athletics, football (soccer), squash and triathlon and has developed a positive report with the children he coaches.
Joseph is always organised and comes well prepared to run his sessions. In addition, he demonstrates a sound understanding of coaching children under the Playing for Life philosophy.
YMCA Nightcliff site coordinator, Amelia Mentor said, “Joseph is very active and approachable and has done an excellent job in getting the children active. He always arrives well ahead of time so he can set up and get his session ready for the children. He is always enthusiastic and has been in high demand, especially with the older boys on site. He makes a fantastic community coach and is very committed to what he does.”
Joseph is able to demonstrate great versatility, offering a variety of sporting programs to the children, which are easily adapted to suit the needs of each.
In addition to his involvement in the AASC program, Joseph is currently ranked third in the Australian junior squash rankings and took part in the Australian Championships during October, 2012. He has also competed at national levels for school sport and received the Darwin Triathlon Club Junior of the Year award. This is a reflection of Joseph's dedication to sport and ability to balance his involvement in club sport with his commitments to the AASC program.
Joseph is a wonderful coach and thoroughly deserves the recognition this award brings.
QLD – Michael McShane
Michael McShane from Capricornia Coast is the 2012 Queensland state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
Michael has been with the AASC program since January, 2012 offering basketball programs to children throughout the coast. During that time, Michael has made a very significant impact on the children in his program.
Michael is an excellent ambassador of the AASC program and the Playing for Life philosophy, promoting it throughout local basketball communities and the media.
Many site coordinators on the Capricornia Coast are highly impressed by Michael’s approach to the AASC program and his ability to consistently engage with the children and retain their interest in all sporting activities. Parents have also been impressed by his delivery of the program, with many staying to watch their children and sometimes get involved in the activities. This has really helped to maintain the quality of the program.
The flow on from Michael’s sessions has been that 90 per cent of children attending a basketball event promoted through the pilot program and supported by Basketball Australia have expressed interest in joining the local Rockhampton Basketball Club.
Michael has also mentored several junior coaches around the region involved in the AASC program as well as supporting AASC site coordinators. One site coordinator said, “Michael’s ability to hold the attention of the children at our centre, who are normally not interested in playing sport, has been amazing. Seeing them have a go and really enjoy themselves has been fantastic. The children are always excited when Michael arrives and don’t want their sessions to come to an end.”
Michael is an outstanding ambassador for the AASC program and thoroughly deserves this award.
VIC – Peter Devine (photo to come)
Peter Devine from Melbourne is the 2012 Victorian state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
According to AASC Regional Coordinators, Simon Rodder and Jim Lekkas, Peter Devine is one of the best community coaches they have seen delivering soccer sessions in the AASC program.
Peter thoughtfully plans each session to ensure that all games are fun, safe and inclusive by encouraging high involvement. This effort is made all the more impressive given the challenging demographic of the inner north of metropolitan Melbourne that he delivers to.
Peter runs his sessions in a style that is consistent with the with the Playing for Life philosophy. He employs innovative techniques to maintain the interest of participating children like using music to accompany games, changing the the tempo to suit each activity.
Outside of his sessions, Peter is an extremely proactive community coach by communicating with schools, contacting them soon after receiving the Site Booking Form to ensure he is aware of the dynamics of the group (numbers, ages, gender and ability levels), facilities and equipment available. Peter has been very successful at maintaining a successful relationship with each school community. This is highlighted by the fact that he is continuously rebooked by the same sites, including two sessions a week at Abbotsford Primary School. A school that has perpetually suffered from low numbers, now averages 22 participants a week.
According to Abbotsford Primary School Principal, Merridy Patterson, “Peter has reenergised the AASC program by providing sessions kids want to keep coming back to. I am really happy that someone is coaching the kids from a local club. It encourages them to join that much more.”
Peter is an outstanding ambassador for the AASC program and thoroughly deserves recognition for his efforts within the program.
TAS – Shelly Dodd
Shelly Dodd from North West Tasmania is the 2012 state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
Latrobe and Districts Softball Association President, player and community coach, Shelly Dodd, is highly committed to the AASC program and uses it to create a pathway to her club and build junior membership.
In 2010, Shelly placed an advertisement in the local paper advising of a free Come and Try Day for the Latrobe and Districts Softball Club. This advertisement was the catalyst which lead to a superb partnership between the club and the AASC program.
Already an accredited softball coach, Shelly and other members from her club attended a community coach training program so they could become accredited to deliver the AASC program to local sites in their softball community.
AASC Regional Coordinator, David Munns said, “Having Shelly involved in the AASC program has been brilliant for programs in Latrobe. She is an excellent example of how a partnership between a committed coach, a receptive club and the AASC program can help kids become active members of sports clubs. Her sessions are first class with excellent communication, organisation and delivery skills.”
Apart from coaching in the AASC program, Shelly provides coaching every Saturday morning for their Baby Batters program, where she is working with many of the children who have travelled the path from AASC to local club involvement.
Shelly is the engine that drives the Latrobe and Districts Softball Club. She has delivered sessions at Latrobe Primary School and Shamrock After-school Care. She has also organised Play for Life – Softball Gala Days at Latrobe Primary School, Sassafras Primary School and Spreyton Primary School.
SA – Barry McFadyen
Barry McFadyen from Bridgewater Tennis Club is the 2012 state winner and nominee for the National 5 Star Community Coach Award.
Barry is an inspiring coach who has consistently delivered high quality tennis programs throughout his involvement with the Active After-school Communities (AASC) program.
AASC Regional Coordinator Christie Rogers said, “Barry is a very positive person who is full of life and energy. His enthusiasm and passion for tennis and his club is inspiring. His promotion of the Bridgewater Tennis Club has made many AASC participants excited about tennis and many families have been looking to join the club as a result.
"Barry is highly regarded by AASC sites and has been recommended as a fantastic coach that delivers an excellent tennis program that engages participants of all ages and abilities,” Rogers said.
By establishing a Hotshots Tennis program at his club, Barry has provided an immediate pathway for students into local club sport. This pathway is proving popular as participants get to experience the club environment in a modified format before they commit to joining.
“I am delighted to receive this award. I very much enjoy working with AASC and providing fun-based programs as tasters and non-threatening platforms to get kids into sport,” Barry said.
Barry has also implemented a mentoring program within his club that aims to assist junior coaches in their development. He coaches alongside a junior coach at all AASC sessions as a way to pass on his knowledge, skills and passion for the game.
Through this initiative, the AASC program successfully engaged 60 children in after-school sport and both the school and the club have experienced growth in all sessions. One site doubled its AASC participation numbers and Bridgewater Tennis Club has been successful in attracting over 20 children to its Tennis Hotshots programs each week.
“There is no doubt that the feedback from the AASC sessions was pivotal in getting such a good turnout at the club,” Barry said.
Barry is an outstanding ambassador for the AASC program. His contribution to the AASC program and tennis in South Australia is commendable. He thoroughly deserves the recognition of this award.
