My Core Values
To encourage a life long love of sport!
By being a positive role model by meeting with parents and children on arrival; introducing them to coaching staff; building relationships by communicating with parents what GS United is about and who we are; allowing parents to observe sessions; ensuring children and their parents feel safe and secure in a positive, fun and engaging learning environment. Modelling good behaviour

Child development first, football second.
By focusing on the individual person and supporting their learning of life skills through football (holistic approach) by using the FA Four Corners model and having a philosophy built around development.

Respect.
Ensuring coaches follow our ‘Best Practice Policy’. By developing positive relationships through effective communication gaining trust and understanding. Shake hands policy for all players and coaches, ensuring coaches meet and greet every player on arrival getting to know the player by talking about other things in life aside from football. ‘

Continuous education.
By gathering more knowledge to help educate all involved. Having a professional approach and dedication to learning, striving to be better always. Growth mind set. By attending CDP events, Webinars and being a member of FALCC I cascade information to parents and players through writing articles and passing on information from the FA through Social Media and email.

Hard work.
By being prepared. By planning, organising, delivering and reviewing with players, parents and coaches to ensure all are included. Self reflection. Encouraging the same in others. By responding quickly and appropriately to any queries; Plan, Do, Review practice sessions with coaches and players giving feedback. By working to improve on all aspects of coaching.

Integrity.
By having the moral and ethical conviction to do the right thing. Setting an example. By ensuring all registered players’ parents complete Codes of Conducts and challenging inappropriate behaviour swiftly and effectively.

Game Sense United Football Club was formed in January 2015 with the desire to reach out and introduce, involve and educate players from all walks of life in a fun safe environment.  We aim to provide football opportunities for young players of all abilities to play and enjoy the game.
 
Through the support of the Jersey Football Association GS United Football Club was formed and obtained the FA Charter Standard kitemark.

GS United success development program has meant that our club has expanded year on year from 9 players to currently over 60 players. We provide football from Reception Class currently up to Under 12s. 

PARENT TESTIMONIAL
"Hi Aaron, thought I would just drop a line to say how good the lads were today. A great team performance today with not just individual performances but the team play and build up was a joy to watch.
 
A thoroughly entertaining game and you could just see the confidence growing within the group. I thought that the opposition would come on stronger in the latter part of the game but it was not the case and the way GS kept their shape and responded after being 2-1 down was a credit to them.
 
But even more so, a huge credit to you guys for the work you are putting in to them is starting to really show on the pitch. It was an excellent all round performance and long may it continue. Terrific stuff, well done”

​The following notes are to assist our coaches with the successful delivery of their practice sessions and to also provide further information to players and parents on what to expect from GS United Football Club.

• “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” – our coaches are advised to plan a coaching session the day BEFORE they are due to coach.
• Always coaches will arrive to training sessions at least 30 minutes before they are due to start coaching.
• Our coaches ensure First Aid kits are appropriately stocked and water bottles are provided.
• A player register is encouraged be taken every coaching session, and coaches MUST know who is picking the children up before allowing them to leave the venue.
• Coaches should shake hands with each and every player on their arrival and after the training session ends.
• The provision of a technical area for all players and coaches equipment.
• Our coaches show enthusiasm throughout their session and encourage learning in a fun environment!
• Our coaches are encouraged to have our players working as soon as possible each day.
• We will never use exercise as a punishment.
• Our coaches will be positive in our feedback, and positive with our comments to improve players. Absolutely no borderline swear words, religious references or derogatory comments.
• We will be flexible within their practices, but stay within the progression of the session.
• Do not allow players to wander off without permission e.g toilet breaks
• Do not allow emotionally upset players to leave the group before the end of the coaching session.
• Coach individuals; try not to become a commentator.
• Our coaches are encouraged to continually challenge our players as much as their ability will allow.
• We shall make a point of talking individually with each child (outside of coaching)
• Absolutely no smoking or drinking alcohol in front of players before, during, or after practice sessions.
• Our coaches work together as a team. We support each other, share coaching ideals and seek out advice from each other.
• Our coaches are advised to treat players, coaches, families and all venues with the respect they deserve. Adhere to any rules. We understand our interaction and behaviour reflects on the prestige of GS United Football Club.
• Our coaches intend to communicate efficiently with parents / guardians and keep them up to date with latest developments. 

The biggest influence on my Coaching/Football career was Alan 'Micky' Porter. Without going into further detail here and now, I have already written an article about Micky that you will be able to read about on https://acoachesview.weebly.com/blog/coaching-influences-1. A local legend, and an inspirational man.

The next influence at a young age was Mr Charlie Daze. This blog entry can be found here https://acoachesview.weebly.com/blog/coaching-influences2 

Coaching Influences  -  Jim Kelman & Richard Horner
Jim Kelman  -  A brief period back in 2004 completed the first ever Level 2 CCF in Jersey was an experience I’ll never forget. Grainville Playing fields, 10 consecutive and intense days of learning with a man whose technical knowledge of the game was unbelievable!
The most difficult and challenging course I have ever been on. A total eye opener into the world of coaching. Jim pushed us hard to learn a great deal in a short amount of time. I still refer to his booklet even now! This short interaction influenced me massively and I guess stoked the fire even more to make me want to become one of the best coaches in the island.
 
Richard Horner  -  A very articulate tutor! I returned from Australia in 2010 probably a little too confident in myself. Several years of successful trophy winning with St.Pauls, developing a strong Academy for ID Elite/Grouville FC meant I probably thought I knew more than that I actually did.
Enter Richard Horner and the newly introduced Youth Modules. Richard and the course revolutionised my thinking, making me question a lot of the practical delivery and content of my sessions and how to try and get the best out of every individual in the squad. Due to my professional job, I like to think I had a decent base of understanding in the Psychological and Social Corners however this improved dramatically looking holistically at all four corners simultaneously. I would like to think I up skilled in every corner through my FA Youth Licence Education, and that in part is with great thanks to Richard.

Coaching Influences  -  Darren O’Connell
My partner in crime! Darren and I joined forced with the rebrand of Grouville FC minis and launching ID Elite/Grouville Academy. We have very similar attributes in the way we like to learn and develop our own coaching skills.

We are each other sounding boards through the good times and the bad when trying to solve various coaching dilemmas. We have the confidence to question each other’s thinking and give honest feedback. We don’t always agree with each other, but we can always see the others point of view that helps us question our own ideals.

Coaching Influences  -  Brian Oliver & Paul Renton
Brian Oliver   -  I first met Brian as a young player at St Pauls FC in the nineties to be honest wasn’t too keen on him! His win at all costs mentality and unwillingness to give you a chance if he thought you weren’t good enough was not for me. However a few years down the line, Brian supported Jim Kelman deliver the 2004 Level 2 course in Jersey and this is where he influence turned into a positive. Brian understanding of the game, and the change I saw in his approach to coaching was amazing. It was inspiring to see someone evolve so much through coach education that at this stage of my own journey I realised that I will need to continuously keep learning myself to keep getting better.
 
Paul Renton   -  I first met Paul when I returned from Australia too when starting the Youth Module courses. I can still remember picking his brains outside the Rozel Rovers club house during the lunch break and the advice and support Paul gave around the course was fantastic. Having accepted his offer to join the Jersey FA Centre of Excellence working alongside Paul each week, reviewing sessions, games, players and driving the program forward, Pauls influence over the past several years has been instrumental in my own development.

The conversations with this dynamic duo are always insightful and thought provoking. Both have become a great influence in recent years in developing my own coaching knowledge and ability.

Coaching Influences  -  Ken Brawley
Having coached Ken’s son when he was a young child, Ken became part of the our coaching team at Grouville FC when I returned from Australia. Over the years Ken and I have built a strong friendship that started through football that has included the good, the bad and the ugly! 

We share similar values and beliefs in the way we provide football opportunities for young players whilst also showing the respect for each others differences in opinions. Ken has been a great sounding board and through numerous discussions over the years has also given me food for thought by offering different perspectives through his own experience. Ken supported me as I launched GS United in its infancy and we continue to work hard in developing the club, our coaches and our players.


Coaching Influences  -  Parents
Where would we be without parents? A lesson I learnt early from Micky Porter was that as a coach your values and beliefs will be tested when making decisions. Usually tough decision where others may disagree with you. I understood early that I would have to stand my ground, and ensure I have a valid and justified reason for any decision I make. Certain parents may not always agree with your decision, but if they understand your rationale, then they may be able to accept it.

For every pessimistic, over bearing, over involved parent, there are usually many more positive, open minded and supportive parents. I am fortunate enough to have learnt from both over the years and am always grateful for some of the journey’s I’ve been on with some of them as I believe this has made me a better coach.

Coaching Influences  -  Books
Bill Beswick  -  Focused For Soccer
Massimo Lucchiesi  -  Coaching the 343 and 433

Coaching Influences  -  Players!
Last but not least, obviously a huge influence in my coaching journey has been, and will continue to be the hundreds of players I have had the privilege to know and to coach. Through the ups and downs, the good and the bad, honest feedback from payers has been vital to moulding my own characteristics as a coach. No doubt I’ll have lots of stories and anecdotes that can be provided throughout this course.

​My main aim personally is to learn as much as possible throughout this Level 3 course. Being from an island and working in the environment I do, I would like to hear and learn from other coaches about their experiences working in different areas and communities around the country.

As for the U11s teams I shall be running, I hope they the players enjoy their season learning a new format of the game. They are now being introduced to 9 aside football with the Offside rule, the back pass rule and the exclusion of the ‘retreat lines’ that are in place for minis football. Of course the size of the pitch, the size of goals and more players playing at the same time adds another layer of challenge we are looking forward too.

We have introduced player packs and blocks of work to try and achieve a variety of team targets within our system of play and this information has also been passed on to parents through re-season parents meeting and a follow up email so they too have an understanding of what we are trying to achieve with this group of players.

Having submitted my application for the highest Grassroots coaching award back in May this year, I was delighted to be accepted onto the UEFA B Level 3 coaching through the Royal Navy FA in Portsmouth.

Alongside seven fellow coaches from Jersey, as part of our pre-coursework we were asked to complete a section of work named "My Coaching Journey" that involves some personal milestones (in and out of football) whereby looking back at life lessons learnt and how these may influence our own coaching philosophy and values. 

Below you will see the first half instalment of my personal Coaching Journey. 

1995  -  Finished Secondary School
1996  -  Finished Highlands College / Started full time employment
2001  -  Dad diagnosed with Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP)
2002  -  Travelled to Thailand, Singapore, Bali and Australia
2003  -  Dad passed away / Met Jade
2005  -  Travelled Fiji, N & Australia. Started work in Children’s Service. Proposed to Jade
2008  -  Married Jade
2009  -  Moved to Melbourne, Australia
2010  -  Returned to Jersey, lots had changed
2011  -  Family planning, returned to Finance Sector
2012  -  Ziva was born
2013  -  Left Finance Sector, Horrible experience, joined Back to Work at Social Security         
          -   Launched Game Sense Soccer Coaching (9 kids)
2014  -  Brought our first home, Lani was born
2015  -  Ziva started Nursery, Formed Charter Standard Club GS United FC in January
2016  -  Ziva started School
2017  -  Lani started Nursery
2018  -  10th Wedding Anniversary, Lani joined Pre-School Nursery at Ziva’s School

I got involved in coaching from a young age through my passion for the game and wanting to learn more about it. I loved talked football with my coach and understanding tactics and different positions from the age of 14.

The older I got, the more I learnt and the more I realised that my real passion is about child development. Helping young people learn something new, succeed in a new tasks, a new skill, to recognise a problem and overcome it.

Guiding young people achieve something they never thought they could, to support them grow in confidence, increase their self-esteem and believe in themselves is an absolute privilege and it keeps me coming back for more.

Being so long ago I don’t really remember my actual first coaching session. As I had been working with Micky Porter for a good period of time, my first memory of taking the group was when he went in for a hip operation and therefore I ensured we had continuity of practice and completed the remaining games program for the season.

Session wise we keep things similar that included possession football, rondo’s and a match to finish.

My first memory of feeling very nervous was actually the first competitive game I covered with the group down at FB Fields. So much thinking the night before, planning the team, trying to remember the key messages to provide in the pre-match team talk, trying to make sure all players and parents were happy. Trying to time the substitutions and manage the players. Trying to be engaging with the players at half time and pass across the correct messages.

At the start I remember the feeling of being overwhelmed, but once we kicked off things got easier. It probably helped that we had a very good team too and we won the game which was a great relief!

In the coming days I will share the second half of My Coaching Journey and those who have influenced me, as well as some self reflection on how I have changed my coaching style from when I first started out to where I am now.

I look forward to sharing my experiences with you over the coming season(s) whilst working through this coaching licence.

​I hope you enjoy the ride as much as I will!

​AT