Blackheath Rhinos
Coaches Season Planning Calendar
This calendar sets out what coaches should be doing and when across the season to keep teams organised, compliant, and well prepared. It is aligned to the Selkent League structure and reflects key milestones such as recruitment, registrations, pitch format transitions, friendlies, and end-of-season planning.
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The aim is simple:
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Reduce last-minute scrambling
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Keep teams compliant with league rules
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Prepare players properly for age-group and pitch-size changes
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Create consistency across all Rhinos teams
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Coaches are expected to use this as a planning guide, not a suggestion. Tasks should be completed in the indicated windows wherever possible, and any issues or delays raised early with club management. Good organisation off the pitch leads to better football on it.

July
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Primary Focus: Early squad building for next season.
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Launch player recruitment and trials, advertise on website/socials.
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Arrange initial friendlies for transition in age groups (especially if moving from 7v7 → 9v9 or 9v9 → 11v11 pitch formats).
August
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Primary Focus: Registration and pre season
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Open player registrations as soon as League permits
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Confirm team lists and age groups with Club Secretary.
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Book and confirm friendly fixtures throughout August/early September (5v5 → 7v7, etc. depending on age).
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Start pre-season training.


September
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Primary Focus: League starts
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Expect league fixtures to start 3rd Sunday of September
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Ensure all players have valid registrations submitted ideally by the first week.
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Final pre-season match(es) if needed.
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Coach brief on matchday standards and rotation policies.
October & NOVEMBER
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Primary Focus: Settling into season
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Monitor attendance and development identify gaps early.
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Review training consistency.
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Friendly mid-season connecting with other clubs.


December
Primary Focus: Mid-season break & conditioning
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Light training blocks.
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Organise small internal tournaments.
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Plan player development reviews.
January
Primary Focus: Mid-season planning
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Start thinking about next season’s age groups.
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Early recruitment push for teams needing depth.
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Confirm player feedback.


February & March
Primary Focus: Deadline month
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Last month for player registration and transfers.
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Confirm squad heading into final third of league season.
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Arrange local friendlies on off weekends.
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Finalise plans for end-of-season events (cup runs).
APRIL
Primary Focus: End of league
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Fixtures usually wrap by end of April / early May.
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Celebrate improvements, trophies, certificates.
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Parent and player feedback start Early Bird registrations.


May & JUNE
Primary Focus: Off-season wrapping
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Review season performance with coaches/parents.
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Collect equipment, assess losses/damages.
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Host trials and recruitment for next season.
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Arrange friendlies for new teams moving up pitch formats.
PITCH FORMATS

u7 - 3v3
Every session should include:
A clear objective.
A simple warm-up.
One or two focused practices.
A game or conditioned match.
A short wrap-up.​​

u10 - u12 - 7v7
Every session should include:
A clear objective.
A simple warm-up.
One or two focused practices.
A game or conditioned match.
A short wrap-up.​​

u8 - u9 - 5v5
Every session should include:
A clear objective.
A simple warm-up.
One or two focused practices.
A game or conditioned match.
A short wrap-up.​​

u13 - u14 - 9v9
Every session should include:
A clear objective.
A simple warm-up.
One or two focused practices.
A game or conditioned match.
A short wrap-up.​​

u15 - 11v11
Every session should include:
A clear objective.
A simple warm-up.
One or two focused practices.
A game or conditioned match.
A short wrap-up.​​
HELP & ASSISTANCE
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YEARLY CALENDAR
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TRAINING SESSIONS
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TRAINING SESSIONS
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