Warren Matthews has won an award for his skills as a coach. 68455 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By XAVIER SMERDON
A HOPPERS Crossing junior basketball coach has been hailed by the children he mentors for his tireless work.
Warren Matthews coaches the Woodville Basketball Club’s under 12 boys and under 16 girl teams.
As part of the Calling Out a Coach program, which is run by School Sports Victoria, Mr Matthews will receive a coaching session with the Collingwood Football Club.
The diehard Collingwood supporter said he was excited to meet some of his idols.
“It’s definitely going to be interesting meeting Mick Malthouse and Nathan Buckley,” Mr Matthews said.
“I just hope they don’t ask me for any advice because I won’t know what to tell them.”
Mr Matthews, who has coached his teams to five premierships, was initially nominated for the award by his son Jett.
“He is my dad but also a inspiring and motivating basketball coach for my under 12 team,” Jett said in his nomination.
“We have really improved because he spends all his spare time organising fun training drills and tactics for our game day. He loves sport just as much as we love sport.”
Mr Matthews said it was difficult at first to get the hang of coaching both a boys and girls team.
“It took me a year or so to get used to coaching the girls,” he said.
“You have to be a bit gentler with girls and winning or losing isn’t everything to them, so that was definitely a bit harder for me.”
For more information on Call Out a Coach visit vsfl.com.au.
