Photo credit: North Ringwood Football Club Facebook page
By: Tash Gunawardana
NORTH RINGWOOD’s inaugural women’s team has started the season 5-0 in the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s North Division.
Senior women’s coach Joel Stephens is thrilled to be in the role after playing his junior and senior football at the Saints.
“It’s a huge privilege – I played all my junior footy at North Ringwood and I have always been into coaching from when I was little,” Stephens said.
“I was a PT for seven years as well, so I have brought a lot of knowledge and fitness and how to get the best out of each individual.
“I played high level football myself and passing on my knowledge of when I used to play.”
Stephens has been pleased with the start of the Saints’ season, particularly the make-up of the playing list.
“We have had six games and last week the other team could not fill a side in, but when I took on the role last year in November we had about 10 or 12 players and over about three or four months we have managed to get about 27 on the list,” he said.
“I took on the role more as a development coach, because a lot of the girls haven’t played before, so over that period I have just been trying to develop their skills, their knowledge of the game, (and) obviously their positioning they have got to do on the ground.
“They are a great group of girls, they are all willing to learn and have a thirst for the game, which is great.
“They have brought a lot of joy to the club as well, because it’s North Ringwood’s first women’s side, so they have added a lot of value around the club as well.
“They are quite a young group which is great, so I am sure we still have plenty of improvement to go and I couldn’t be happier with the way we have started.”
Stephens says the women are starting to form a close bond.
“I think that’s a big thing about our success (with) the coming together of us as a team and building that close bond, so when you are on the ground they can communicate better,” he said.
The perfect start to the 2019 campaign has made for a strong vibe around the club.
“The vibe couldn’t be any better I mean we are always getting good numbers to training and you know you play as you train,” Stephens said.
“Me as a coach, I am always trying to come up with new goals and challenges each week to make them improve so they don’t become complacent.
“I have had plenty of support from the club president and other people around the club, which has really helped and all of the parents are helping out each week with different duties.
“That sort of takes pressure off me and I can sort of focus on what I have to do as a coach.”
Stephens has seen North Ringwood evolve from his time as a senior player at the club.
“The girls have brought something different to the table from the moment they walked in with obviously bonding with the guys and I don’t know, it’s just sort of like the club has evolved with having the girls around as well,” he said.
“As when I played it was pretty much male-dominant and I think it’s great, (as) the energy around the club is great.”
The senior women’s mentor has also seen the transformation of the facilities at Quambee Reserve.
“From when I played it’s now a lot more professional, so we have great facilities there now with the gym and that type of thing,” Stephens said.
“In future, they are looking at building another change-room for females and toilets and stuff like that, which should be great but I am not too sure how long that will happen.”
As a coach, Stephens is all about developing his players and providing constant feedback.
“I think the biggest thing is in terms of getting the best out of each individual is listening to them and giving them feedback on what they have to improve,” he said.
“Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, so players will come up to me and say how did I go on the weekend and what do I have to do to improve and I just give them feedback.
“Whether it’s their attack on the ball or skills or positioning them where to go, so early stages we have plenty of numbers so players playing in lots of different positions and later on in the season I will set more key roles for each individual.
“We have got a big list so there will come a stage where players are going to miss out and I am going to have to unfortunately give them feedback and that type of thing to get back into the side.”
