POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title:
VU Western Lightning Netball Club Head Coach Position (Victorian Netball League)
Reports to:
VUWL President
VUWL Netball Operations Manager
Direct Reports:
VUWL Championship, Division 1, 19/u & Development Squad Senior Team Coaches
Specialist Coaches, including strength & conditioning specialists.
A senior coach and assistant coach will be appointed to each VUWL Team. The senior coach shall
oversee the training program for the team and will be supported at all training sessions by the
assistant coach.
Locations:
Training/Match Day venues as specified upon confirmation of training and VNL competition fixture.
Remuneration
Package
Negotiable based on skills and experience.
Conditions
Attend all VUWL Club training sessions and matches where practical.
Attend the annual Club Player Induction Day.
Attend monthly coaching panel meetings.
Attend monthly meetings with the Club Committee of Management and scheduled review meetings
as required.
Attend compulsory Netball Victoria meetings and professional development sessions.
Attend Club promotional activities as required.
The Head Coach, will be employed in accordance with the terms and conditions outlined in their
contract. Weekend and evening work will be required, due to the nature of the sporting industry.
Environment
VUWL Netball Club is a not for profit, incorporated member based organization which is governed
by a volunteer Committee of Management. The Club holds one of the ten Victorian Netball League
Licenses.
Primary Purpose of Position
To lead the VU Western Lightning Netball Club (Victorian Netball League (VNL) teams), in a coaching capacity, in pursuit of its
competitive and developmental objectives. This includes, but is not limited to:

Overseeing the Club’s athlete selection process as per the Club Selection Policy, including in competition team selection
and player movement between teams.

Leading all Club coaching matters relating to training, preparation, game day and review.

Mentoring and developing coaches within the Club coaching panel.

Identifying and maximizing underlying potential to deliver long term growth in current and future VUWL athletes.

Utilizing and maximizing available resources to ensure individual athletes are technically, tactically, physically and
mentally prepared to perform to the highest possible standard.

Achieving consistent success and competitive performances across all three VNL teams.

Overseeing the Club’s talent identification and junior athlete development programs; Development Squad and VU
Academy program.

Working with Netball Victoria to maximize opportunities for potentially talented athletes to progress through Netball
Victoria’s High Performance Pathway.
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Relationships
With
Purpose
Committee of Management
 To establish & maintain positive working relationships with, and be accessible to
the Club Committee of Management.
VUWL Coaching Panel
 To work closely with the VUWL senior team coaching panel, maintaining open
communication and the collaborative sharing of best practice coaching
experiences and ideas.

To establish & maintain positive working relationships with all members of the
coaching panel, including specialist coaches and team support staff.
 To work in consultation with the assistant coaches to establish guidelines and
responsibilities to maximize their development opportunities.
VUWL Team Managers
 To liaise with the appointed Team Managers regarding program requirements
for all training sessions and scheduled matches.
VUWL Athletes

To provide effective communication and a link between athletes and the
coaching panel.

To communicate openly and appropriately with athletes to ensure that
expectations are met by both the athletes and coaching panel.

To communicate clearly, concisely and with a high level of integrity to the
player and parent group.
Netball Victoria
 To liaise with Netball Victoria’s high performance team with respect to athlete
requirements and the overall pathway.
ANL & Junior State Team Coaches
 To liaise with ANL and Junior State team coaches regarding selected VUWL
athletes and their training and competition requirements.
Key Responsibilities
Accountabilities
1. Coaching
Overview of Tasks

Have a high level netball specific technical knowledge and an ability to
understand state and national trends.

Establish & document the Club coaching vision, values and performance
culture.

Ensure team dynamics are strong and sustainable including the playing group
and the coaching panel.

Ensure that the coaching panel provides athletes with direct learning at a
practical level through individual, specialist and team coaching instruction.

Develop a club style of play & strategies across all teams, Development Squad
through to Championship level.

Introduce the coaching panel to varied approaches to athlete learning & the use
of innovation to effectively enhance performance.

Ensure the coaching panel utilizes appropriate data and technology to improve
performance.

Supervise, support and mentor the coaching panel in both the training and
competition environment.

Determine in consultation with the coaching panel the specialist coaching
requirements of the program & liaise with such specialist support coaches as
required.
Liaise with the coaching panel in relation to coaching strategies, structures and
planning.

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2. Program Administration

Coordinate the annual Club team selection trials in conjunction with the Netball
Operations Manager.

Liaise with the Committee of Management, re the development and
implementation of the annual player induction program.
 Liaise with Netball Victoria staff, including High Performance Manager & Athlete
Programs Coordinator with respect to the training and competition loads of
VUWL athletes selected in ANL / Junior State Teams.
 Submit reports as requested by the VUWL Committee of Management, ensuring
that the senior coach of each team meets all pre-determined reporting
requirements and deadlines.

3. Athlete Performance
Lead the coaching panel in the development of the team training program
including skill development sessions, fitness and conditioning sessions and
recovery sessions (both pre-season and in competition) that include:
-
effective written periodised season plans which are reviewed regularly and
adjusted accordingly allowing for possible barriers /challenges;
-
integration of all aspects of sports science into training programs; and
-
well-structured training sessions that maximize usage of time and available
resources.

Ensure, where practical, that all players within the team are qualified prior to
the commencement of the finals series.

Ensure that the coaching panel keeps up to date records of all training sessions,
match play, matters pertaining to players including injuries & interviews,
training attendance etc. and make these available upon request to the
Committee of Management.

Liaise with the Club Netball Operations Manager, re the organization of practice
matches against other teams and clubs.

Liaise with the Club Netball Operations Manager, on all matters of team
organization and administration.
 Oversee the monitoring and management of ongoing athlete performance and
future team and individual athlete requirements.
 Ensure the coaching panel prepares programs to facilitate athletes meeting
agreed performance targets, including improvement in performance at skill
development, competition, training and testing.
 Assist the coaching panel with the effective management of athlete
rehabilitation using medical feedback.
 Mentor the coaching panel in the provision of digital/ written / video feedback
to their athletes regarding training and match performances.
4. Leadership


Effectively lead the coaching panel and team support staff, demonstrating
interpersonal skills that include:
-
Being approachable and available to athletes, the coaching panel and
team support staff.
-
Listening well, demonstrating empathy, being attentive to and
understanding of the views of others.
-
Being open to feedback and criticism.
-
The capacity to resolve interpersonal differences in a constructive
manner.
-
Recognizing issues and problems early and resolving them effectively
and with integrity.
-
Leading and delegating appropriate responsibilities to the coaching
panel and appointed support staff.
Ensure that clear and appropriate team protocols and standards are established
and maintained by the coaching panel.
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
Qualifications
Essential

Hold a current Advanced Coaching Accreditation as a minimum.

Hold a current Netball Victoria Membership.

Hold a current driver’s license.

Hold a current Working with Children check.
Desirable
 Elite Coaching Accreditation or working towards this qualification.
 Tertiary qualifications in sports coaching or equivalent.
Experience, Skills & Values

Previous demonstrated successful coaching of teams at CBT/ANZ Championship, ANL, State Representative Team and/or
VNL level.

Previous experience in working independently and as an integral part of a team.

Understanding of sport culture and organisations, including working with volunteers.

Ability to set priorities, plan work programs, meet proposed deadlines and manage time effectively.

High level interpersonal, communication, and leadership skills & the ability to elicit cooperation of a range of people and
key stakeholders.

Preparedness to understand and model the Club values through demonstrating personal credibility, honesty and high
standards of integrity.

Ability to consult widely and successfully negotiate and influence positive outcomes in an environment where interested
parties may have different objectives.

Effective relationship management skills and capacity to engage the support of a range of internal and external
stakeholders, in achieving Club objectives.

Proven and trusted athlete manager whose style reflects the importance of team-orientation and individual motivation
within the team.


Preparedness to adhere to all VUWL and Netball Victoria policies and procedures regarding the VNL Competition.
Ability to meet the work requirements and responsibilities, attendance and reporting requirements as outlined in this
document.
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