CHELSEA Baseball Club has put out the welcome mat for a new coach. It is seeking expressions of interest from a “suitably qualified, dedicated and experienced person” to fill the role as a playing or non-playing summer head coach for next season.
Founded in 1949, the Dolphins field teams in the Dandenong Baseball Association over winter and Baseball Victoria’s Summer League.
Vice president Trevor Johansen said the senior appointment was needed to take the club to the next level. “We are a growing club,” he said. “We only had eight players two years ago and have 116 now. The number of juniors is growing, too – from six to 40 in the Under 12s.”
Senior sides at the Edithvale Recreation Reserve club are open to men and women of all ages and abilities.
What was primarily a social club has become more business-like. “We really put our heads down and now have a five-year strategic plan and business goals.”
He said former coach Brendan Robinson after three years in the role was instrumental in helping rebuild the club from one team to four in the Division 3 summer competition.
In 2013, Kingston Council showed its support with a multi-million dollar facilities and ground development project, giving the club confidence in the future of baseball in Chelsea. The facilities opened last year.
Some of the coach-selection criteria includes being able to lead senior training on Wednesdays, manage team selection and oversee team coaches and officials of four senior teams, plan and implement a high performance training program and specialised skills training for senior teams, actively support and encourage senior players to assist in the junior program, and work with the junior development manager to implement the junior program.
Written applications for the head coach role close on Friday 24 July.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 1 July 2015
