SIT Down to Coach Round on May 3 will require all coaches and team officials to be seated in the designated coaching zone on the sidelines during play for all AFL North Coast Juniors competitive matches on May 3.
Host clubs will be asked to provide seating in the interchange area for all coaches and team officials to sit on as well as the players on the bench.
The Seated Coaches Rounds were first introduced as a pilot in SANFL Juniors late in the 2022 season to help teach and improve positive behaviour towards umpires, and in general at matches.
Since then it has been introduced in other Leagues across Australia with success.
Community Football and Competition Manager for AFL Northern NSW, Brad Greenshields, highlighted the importance of having initiatives such as Sit Down to Coach Round to help ensure that both players and umpires enjoyed a positive match day environment.
“With junior umpire numbers increasing as they are, it’s important that we retain them and by sitting down to coach, it helps takes a lot of the emotion out of coaching,” Greenshields said.
“By sitting down, coaches are more calm and less likely to yell out or rob model some negative behaviours.
“We want everyone to have a great matchday experience, with sitting down to coach a great step towards creating a better, more positive matchday environment.”