KELLY Stanger’s junior coaching focus has shifted somewhat this season.
After coaching Swan Hill’s 17 and under side last year, the A grade premiership player has taken charge of the 13 and under squad for 2013.
And the team rewarded her efforts on Saturday with a first up 26-11 win over Cohuna Kangas.
“It is [exciting to switch]. With the under 13s you have to teach them the basics, whereas the 17s have already learned the basics so it’s more about strategising,” Stanger said.
“I’m really excited to be coaching the under 13s team.”
On Saturday, Stanger gave awards to Maddy Wright, Phoebe Power, Charlie Meney and Demi Meney.
She said the team had plenty of potential.
“We have nine players [in the 13 and under squad] and they’re all really talented,” Stanger told The Guardian yesterday.
Importantly the team is also versatile and while Cohuna was competitive, Stanger said the Swans appeared to gel immediately as a team.
“They were just able to play like they had played together before,” she said.
Stanger said the Swans’ junior teams would now train in a single group from 15 and under through to 13 and under reserve.
“We did do them all individually but now we’re doing a junior squad sort of thing. We just want to get all the girls developing at the same level,” she said.
“It will also give them the chance to learn from four coaches instead of just one.”
