Recently I was fortunate to sit in on the Football Coaches meeting at IFS/ITS. The meeting was headed by Paul, our mighty CEO, and Julie, our fantastic Sports Director. The general conversation was about the direction IFS/ITS takes moving forward and how we can continually develop our program to provide the best opportunity for the youth of Australia.
I greatly appreciated the chance to be part of the meeting as it allowed me to wear two hats. One as the Tennis Director, and the other as a parent – our two boys are in the football program at IFS. Yes, you read it right. My boys are in the football program and not the tennis program… I tried to sway them, but hey, everyone has to follow their passion and our two are thriving under the guidance of their IFS coaches and teachers.
The meeting was an open floor with coaches offering their knowledge and providing input into an amazing structure that will continue to place IFS/ITS at the top three in sports player development. One of the areas discussed at length was player pathways – making sure each child has the opportunity to not only reach their potential, but the possibility to obtain their goals and fulfil their dreams of being professional athletes.
The discussion continued… forging the IFS model into the future, key people who visit the college, A-League clubs and coaches involved, key scouts from around the world and so on. All amazing possible additions to the IFS program.
It was at this moment that I sat back and looked around the room….wow, what an amazing group of people involved at our School:
Paul Chapman, our visionary CEO. Julie Dolan, Hall of Fame Matilda. Joey Peters, most capped Australian football player and inducted into the Hall of Fame. Hesterine De Reus, former Matildas and Dutch National under 19’s Coach. Damien Brown, first Mariners player signed to the Hyundai A-League. Brad Porter, former Mariners player for seven seasons. Andre Gumprecht, former German top flight player and Mariners Guru. Dan Barrett, heavily involved with Sydney FC and highly credentialed professional coach. Matt O’Neil, our Sports Science and Functional Movement Guru. Will Piriz, renowned Central Coast professional coach. Daegal Richardson renowned Sydney professional coach. Sandra Awondatu, Royal Netherlands Football Association coach, plus me, all there.
Our children are surrounded by greatness every day.
We can and will continue to provide all kinds of pathways for our players at IFS/ITS, but the major thing we all need to continually see, is that our children are surrounded by greatness every day.
If they embrace the coaching and teachings of our college, their names will be spoken to key people in our sports. The opportunity is there for every student, every single day.
The academic staff, led by Laura, are an amazing group of people providing our children with knowledge for a lifetime.
Our children are surrounded by greatness every day.
The IFS/ITS Cafe, led by Ash, is providing our children with the nutrition to not only assist in making professional athletes, but providing a platform for healthy human beings.
Our children are surrounded by greatness every day.
The ITS staff are providing an elite tennis environment for all players from year 3 to year 12, and creating a platform to rival all world renowned tennis facilities.
These are just some of the key areas that make up the amazing model that is the Central Coast Sports College.
Every section functioning together to make a place where our children are surrounded by greatness every day – our IFS/ITS DNA.
Wow Greg, you are so right, THANKYOU ifs/its!
So proud to be part of this wonderful community, that has the most passionate role models. All staff should all be proud of the fantastic environment you promote.couldn’t ask for anything more.well done!