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The WAY FORWARD for TITCHFIELD FOOTBALL
by Doc Iman Blak on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 11:14am
Review of 2010 da Costa Cup Campaign
Preamble
In my many discussions with Richard Coore , the chief architect behind my return to Titchfield School,the outline idealized and projected for TS was to move beyond the mentality of just ‘getting to the (D Cup) Final’ - and like the 1991 U16 team- actually “execute the Will” to WIN the Only national schoolboy TITLE in make it to the East. Over the last six months working ‘in the field’ coaching high school football , I was able to achieve the target/goal set by the school’s administration, namely, that the Titchfield DaCosta Cup team Qualify for the Inter Zone round of the competition..
Under my leadership the team was able to meet the target for the first time in five years, largely because I was given full support from assistant coach Mr. Oral McKenzie and was able to develop a program that promoted synergy between players/students, administrators, parents, the virtual community, donors, and the Port Antonio football community at large.
PRE SEASON
Assistant coach Oral McKenzie suggested it would require at minimum, 20 practice games for the boys of Titchfield to reach the level of confidence required to play CHAMPIONSHIP football to which I fully agreed. Our summer program facilitated only 12 games, with 8 coming in the zone matches. In that regard, there is need to increase number of training games during pre-season and summer months.
Training Camp at William Knibb Memorial in Trelawny during month of July was positive and successful. However, funding is needed for coaches while on away camps. Games in Kingston were equally important. Camping at school needs greater planning and organization with greater room for spontaneity.
SEASON (in brief)
School Gp W D L Gf Ga Pts
Buff Bay 8 5 1 2 14 10 16
Titchfield 8 4 3 1 9 3 15
Team faced harsh criticisms, after opening round loss (0-2), to eventual zone winners Buff Bay. Faced toughest encounters away to Fair Prospect and Happy Grove. Team end first round in third place with emphatic 3-1 victor over Grove at Carder Park. Return 2-0 victory over Buff Bay set team on course for dramatic finish to second round.Needing a victory in fainal group match, Titchfield turn back Fair Prospect 3-1 to secure place in inter zone round. Port Antonio Compre needing only a draw to advance fall to Buff Bay 1-0. Buff Bay narrowly win zone while Titchfield displaced ‘derby’ rival Port Antonio Compre as flagship team for Port Antonio (Portland). Players face difficult travelling and accommodation issues, including bus fares.
POST SEASON
Team QUALIFY to Inter Zone round. Team well organized and motivated against first opponent Old Harbor high. Scouting of opposing team during Ben Francis tournament assisted in preparation. Win first match with dominant 1-0 victory in Carder Park. Extremely poor travel arrangements for second match at Jamalco in Clarendon destroy hopes of the team. The intervention of Tropical storm TOMAS did not help much creating great disruption in preparations. Match scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Team prepared to depart Port Antonio at 6:00 a.m. Team bus arrive one hour late for 7:00 departure. To add to the wound, driver declares lack of funds ($700) to pay Highway Toll forcing team to drive the longest possible route to May Pen for a belated breakfast stop. Titchfield team arrive at Jamalco totally ‘disheveled’. Team concede goal in 2nd minute and never recovered. Lose to Garvey Maceo 0 -3. The team’s spirit is wounded.
Titchfield’s Final group match was against Paul Bogle (losing Ben Francis Finalist) a team out-of-contention, but playing for pride . Titchfield required a victory by 4 clear goals for a mathematical chance of qualifying for the Group of 8 (Quarter Finals). Injuries and indiscipline forced 5 starting players from lineup …lose 0 – 2. Disappointing end to the Campaign, albeit, the primary objective was met.
Importantly, From the 2010 squad of 25 players, there are 14 ’experienced players’ with potential talent that are eligible to return to the school’s football program, barring any unforeseen and or unfortunate circumstances and/or events. The players are Darien Morgan, Anthony Layne, Jemeil Brown, Romaine Chisholm, Theodore Dunckley, Marlon Wilson, Sean Campbell, Jamie Osbourne, Leighton Gray, Adrian Dehaney, Khandean Smith, Kevon Grey, Sheldon Hill and Demoy Orgill. The group includes two goal keepers. Again, with continuity, Titchfield can mount a determined challenge to the Da Costa Cup in 2011.
Rx:
• 2011 Campaign planning should begin in earnest at the start of the New Year (Jan). Concentration must be focused on developing strength and power at the individual/player level through sustained nutritional (peas protein-based) and gym/weight training programs commencing in February. Make arrangements/link with Gym in Fahmi Building.
• Human infrastructure needs clear definitive roles and responsibilities : managers, cooks, drivers, etc.
• Meet with parents in June for sensitizing and support
• Make “petty-cash” funds available for coaches
• Coaches should be provided with lunch on a daily basis.
• Accommodations and food for ‘out-of-towners’ must be regularized
• Establish TITCHFIELD INVITATIONAL XI…with support from MP as “vehicle” for maintaining ‘continuity in play’ for Titchfield DCup players (present, past, and future); playing away matches on a monthly basis and ‘fund raising’ home matches
• Make camcorder, vcr, etc. accessible
• Need Ground Staff and more equipment(gramoxone, engine oil,etc.) to keep football field cut and mark
• Fund raising concerts on school premises.
• Formation of a support network of “available teachers’ to address ‘make-up’ of study time.
• OBSERVATIONS
The synergy developed between the Da Costa Cup U19 squad and U16 squad has facilitated a relatively smooth transition from U16 to U19 program. The incompatibility of Mr. Mckenzie’s methodology and philosophy (DCup template) at the U16 level and Peter Peart’s U14 “program”, was obvious during the just concluded ISSA U14 & U16 competitions. The “dis-continuity” in coaching’ at the U14 and Grade 7 level poses a problematic to which the administration must be cognizant of. The arrangements set out in my contract stipulates that my previous role as Technical Director is null and void, as such my duties now relate only to the Da Costa Cup team . The demise of a vibrant Grade 7 (U12) program established by myself and coach Mckenzie during the months of February – March 2010, to facilitate ‘recruiting’ from the top primary schools has been compromised. A football program without direction is like a ship without a rudder. A very real and serious ‘dis-connect’ exists at the lower levels of the school that the administration ought to address; or face the inevitable.
2010 marks the end of the first full campaign. With continuity, the target mark set for 2011 campaign MUST be to Qualify for the Group of 8…and beyond.
by Doc Iman Blak on Friday, January 7, 2011 at 11:14am
Review of 2010 da Costa Cup Campaign
Preamble
In my many discussions with Richard Coore , the chief architect behind my return to Titchfield School,the outline idealized and projected for TS was to move beyond the mentality of just ‘getting to the (D Cup) Final’ - and like the 1991 U16 team- actually “execute the Will” to WIN the Only national schoolboy TITLE in make it to the East. Over the last six months working ‘in the field’ coaching high school football , I was able to achieve the target/goal set by the school’s administration, namely, that the Titchfield DaCosta Cup team Qualify for the Inter Zone round of the competition..
Under my leadership the team was able to meet the target for the first time in five years, largely because I was given full support from assistant coach Mr. Oral McKenzie and was able to develop a program that promoted synergy between players/students, administrators, parents, the virtual community, donors, and the Port Antonio football community at large.
PRE SEASON
Assistant coach Oral McKenzie suggested it would require at minimum, 20 practice games for the boys of Titchfield to reach the level of confidence required to play CHAMPIONSHIP football to which I fully agreed. Our summer program facilitated only 12 games, with 8 coming in the zone matches. In that regard, there is need to increase number of training games during pre-season and summer months.
Training Camp at William Knibb Memorial in Trelawny during month of July was positive and successful. However, funding is needed for coaches while on away camps. Games in Kingston were equally important. Camping at school needs greater planning and organization with greater room for spontaneity.
SEASON (in brief)
School Gp W D L Gf Ga Pts
Buff Bay 8 5 1 2 14 10 16
Titchfield 8 4 3 1 9 3 15
Team faced harsh criticisms, after opening round loss (0-2), to eventual zone winners Buff Bay. Faced toughest encounters away to Fair Prospect and Happy Grove. Team end first round in third place with emphatic 3-1 victor over Grove at Carder Park. Return 2-0 victory over Buff Bay set team on course for dramatic finish to second round.Needing a victory in fainal group match, Titchfield turn back Fair Prospect 3-1 to secure place in inter zone round. Port Antonio Compre needing only a draw to advance fall to Buff Bay 1-0. Buff Bay narrowly win zone while Titchfield displaced ‘derby’ rival Port Antonio Compre as flagship team for Port Antonio (Portland). Players face difficult travelling and accommodation issues, including bus fares.
POST SEASON
Team QUALIFY to Inter Zone round. Team well organized and motivated against first opponent Old Harbor high. Scouting of opposing team during Ben Francis tournament assisted in preparation. Win first match with dominant 1-0 victory in Carder Park. Extremely poor travel arrangements for second match at Jamalco in Clarendon destroy hopes of the team. The intervention of Tropical storm TOMAS did not help much creating great disruption in preparations. Match scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Team prepared to depart Port Antonio at 6:00 a.m. Team bus arrive one hour late for 7:00 departure. To add to the wound, driver declares lack of funds ($700) to pay Highway Toll forcing team to drive the longest possible route to May Pen for a belated breakfast stop. Titchfield team arrive at Jamalco totally ‘disheveled’. Team concede goal in 2nd minute and never recovered. Lose to Garvey Maceo 0 -3. The team’s spirit is wounded.
Titchfield’s Final group match was against Paul Bogle (losing Ben Francis Finalist) a team out-of-contention, but playing for pride . Titchfield required a victory by 4 clear goals for a mathematical chance of qualifying for the Group of 8 (Quarter Finals). Injuries and indiscipline forced 5 starting players from lineup …lose 0 – 2. Disappointing end to the Campaign, albeit, the primary objective was met.
Importantly, From the 2010 squad of 25 players, there are 14 ’experienced players’ with potential talent that are eligible to return to the school’s football program, barring any unforeseen and or unfortunate circumstances and/or events. The players are Darien Morgan, Anthony Layne, Jemeil Brown, Romaine Chisholm, Theodore Dunckley, Marlon Wilson, Sean Campbell, Jamie Osbourne, Leighton Gray, Adrian Dehaney, Khandean Smith, Kevon Grey, Sheldon Hill and Demoy Orgill. The group includes two goal keepers. Again, with continuity, Titchfield can mount a determined challenge to the Da Costa Cup in 2011.
Rx:
• 2011 Campaign planning should begin in earnest at the start of the New Year (Jan). Concentration must be focused on developing strength and power at the individual/player level through sustained nutritional (peas protein-based) and gym/weight training programs commencing in February. Make arrangements/link with Gym in Fahmi Building.
• Human infrastructure needs clear definitive roles and responsibilities : managers, cooks, drivers, etc.
• Meet with parents in June for sensitizing and support
• Make “petty-cash” funds available for coaches
• Coaches should be provided with lunch on a daily basis.
• Accommodations and food for ‘out-of-towners’ must be regularized
• Establish TITCHFIELD INVITATIONAL XI…with support from MP as “vehicle” for maintaining ‘continuity in play’ for Titchfield DCup players (present, past, and future); playing away matches on a monthly basis and ‘fund raising’ home matches
• Make camcorder, vcr, etc. accessible
• Need Ground Staff and more equipment(gramoxone, engine oil,etc.) to keep football field cut and mark
• Fund raising concerts on school premises.
• Formation of a support network of “available teachers’ to address ‘make-up’ of study time.
• OBSERVATIONS
The synergy developed between the Da Costa Cup U19 squad and U16 squad has facilitated a relatively smooth transition from U16 to U19 program. The incompatibility of Mr. Mckenzie’s methodology and philosophy (DCup template) at the U16 level and Peter Peart’s U14 “program”, was obvious during the just concluded ISSA U14 & U16 competitions. The “dis-continuity” in coaching’ at the U14 and Grade 7 level poses a problematic to which the administration must be cognizant of. The arrangements set out in my contract stipulates that my previous role as Technical Director is null and void, as such my duties now relate only to the Da Costa Cup team . The demise of a vibrant Grade 7 (U12) program established by myself and coach Mckenzie during the months of February – March 2010, to facilitate ‘recruiting’ from the top primary schools has been compromised. A football program without direction is like a ship without a rudder. A very real and serious ‘dis-connect’ exists at the lower levels of the school that the administration ought to address; or face the inevitable.
2010 marks the end of the first full campaign. With continuity, the target mark set for 2011 campaign MUST be to Qualify for the Group of 8…and beyond.
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