Step Inside the Inner Sanctum

On Monday night, junior coaches from across the YJFL alongside Love the Game

gathered at the AIA centre for a special professional development session, Step

Inside the Inner Sanctum – An evening with Matthew Boyd. The former Western

Bulldogs Star and current Collingwood midfield coach shared his journey, beginning

with his upbringing and experiences in junior sport, before detailing his pathway into

the AFL and eventually into coaching.

Matthew offered valuable insights into the highs and lows of working in an elite

coaching environment and how those lessons translate directly into junior footy. A

key theme throughout the session was the importance of coaching the person as

well as the player. He emphasised that every footballer learns differently, and

effective coaching requires adapting styles to suit the individual needs of each

player. YJFL CEO Dom Milesi, who was in attendance, reflected on the session, “It

was such a great opportunity to hear Matthew who works in an elite sporting

environment, but also to see there are so many synergies in football regardless of

the level when it comes to coaching. The engagement and positivity in the room was

a great sign we have many fantastic people volunteering their time and energy to

coach in the YJFL.”

During the presentation, coaches broke into small groups to share their own

approaches to coaching methods discussing both the challenges and the rewarding

outcomes of working with a range of different players and learning styles. The

conversations were open, collaborative and filled with practical takeaways that could

be applied at training and on game day. Following the presentation, it was thrown to

the room to ask questions, giving coaches an opportunity to tap into Matthew’s

wealth of knowledge where the coaches gained personalised insights on coaching.

The evening was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance and provided a reminder of

the impact that thoughtful, individualised coaching can have on young footballers.

The YJFL would like to thank Love the Game and the Collingwood Football Club for

hosting the event.