One of the AFL’s most successful coaches will be in Shepparton next week, with Alastair Clarkson heading up the Hume Hwy.
Clarkson, who coached Hawthorn to four AFL premierships, will be in town on Tuesday and Wednesday next week to help football and netball coaches from across the region develop their skills, with two coaching development nights to be held.
On Tuesday night, Clarkson will be involved in the ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ program, a free mental health training program for community coaches, along with committee members and club support staff.
On Wednesday, he will deliver his coaching masterclass, ‘Creating Quality Coaching Environments at Training and on Game Day’.
The two programs are sure to be of a great benefit to coaches across the region, with the ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ program run in a partnership between AFL Goulburn Murray and Valley Sport.
Delivered by a local psychologist, the program aims to provide coaches and club members with the tools to understand, recognise and respond to concerns regarding the mental health of their players.
Valley Sport project officer Tristan Zito said there would be a quick question-and-answer session with Clarkson before the session, with the tactician to stick around to work with the coaches throughout.
“It will be good to have him here, good for the community,” Zito said.
“I think every year he tries to get out to a couple of sessions so ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ engaged him to be a part of it and I think he said he wanted to make the trip down to Shepparton so I think it was just a bit lucky for us.”
Zito said the program, that is run nationally, had received plenty of good feedback, with the Clarkson factor set to attract more coaches to Tuesday’s session.
“That’s definitely the idea, get as many coaches from around the region as we can,” Zito said.
“I think having Clarko there will definitely help that as I’m sure there will be a lot of keen Hawthorn and football supporters that want to meet him and hear from him.”
Tuesday’s ‘Tackle Your Feelings’ program will be from 7pm-8.30pm at the Shepparton Bears clubrooms at Deakin Reserve, Shepparton with free pizza to be provided.
Wednesdays coaching masterclass will also be from 7pm-8.30pm at the Shepparton Bears’ rooms.