National Volunteer Week is here, and Football Canterbury is looking to spread the word about the amazing work done in our community.
Words by Liam Cook
In this article we explore the good work done by Tony Reed, a life member of Leichardt Saints who has served as Coaching Coordinator and Committee Member, as well as being the Chairman of Football Canterbury’s Small Sided Grading Committee.
For over two decades, Tony Reed has exemplified the positive influence of volunteers at his beloved Leichhardt Saints.
Initially coaching his three children – two sons at Leichhardt and one daughter at Russell Lea – Reed’s first involvement in volunteering lured him in.
“It was all about my kids but it quite quickly became about all the kids,” Reed told Football Canterbury.
From that time on, Reed has become a life member of the Leichhardt Saints thanks to his exhaustive involvement in youth player development as a long-standing member of the committee.
So, how did Reed’s connection to his club come about?
“I gauged the character of a club by watching their teams play and what happens on the sideline,” Reed said.
A contrast between the culture of his children’s clubs and that of rival team’s emerged as the primary motivation for the volunteer.
“The two clubs my kids were at both have an equal time on the field policy for their players, and I didn’t know too many other places that did that at the time.”
This guiding principle, equal opportunity for all kids, propelled Reed towards the concept of small-sided football.
Joining the Saints’ committee enabled him to influence the inception of the idea and lead the way.
“We were one of the clubs that trialled small-sided football for U6s before Football Canterbury adopted it. You only had to go down there for the first game to realise it was the right thing to do: it’s quite amazing how obvious it was.”
Always eager to commend others for their work, Reed cites international input as another catalyst for his passionate volunteer work.
A German football coach stationed in Australia opened Reed and the association’s eyes to the impact small-sided football might not just have locally, but at an elite level.
“Germany was the second last major football nation in Europe to adopt small-sided football as a learning format but they were forced to adapt because they could see their teams weren’t as skilful anymore at the top level.
“He could see it was working at the top level by around 2008 and of course they went on to win the World Cup.”
Small-sided football was picked up as a result and young players reaped the benefits of more focused, equitable football.
Still involved with the concept and junior teams alongside Coaching Director, Tom Alexakis, Reed’s legacy is represented in the younger generations, just as he has intended it to be.
“That was my role and my interest at Saints, I tried to keep it all with young players and player development rather than admin stuff.
“It’s important you focus on all kids equally and give them equal time on the field, because it works.”
Recognised for his contribution to the game in 2014 with a Cec Barlow Award, volunteering is not simply an outlet for Reed to spend time in the beautiful game, it’s almost a calling.
A belief that children thrive when they are given equal opportunities still motivates him to this day.
“If you play your stars all the time like some clubs do and neglect the players who are still developing, then eventually you only have half your team.
“They don’t play to win – that’s not why kids play – they play because they want to participate, they want to have fun and they want to get better through learning.
“When they realise they’re getting better they want to stay in the game, that’s their primary motivation.
“That’s the message I’ve continued to tell anyone who will listen. It’s worth it.”
