The SANFL has been proactive to ensure that all people who spend time at the ‘coalface’ as coaches are recognised and acknowledged for the key role they play in the development of individuals, teams, and clubs/educational institutions and the associated role modeling in the community as developed over the past 125 plus years.

The SANFL Coaches Association is the name that has been allocated to provide the medium through which the League can perform this task. After approximately 25 years of concern about the ‘lot’ of the coach in 1995 the SANFL employed a person, the State Coaching Manager, to specifically manage this role on behalf of the League and its 9 clubs.

The Coaches Association is just that, an association between the SANFL Clubs who have accepted a role in development through the allocation of League Club zones in which there is a responsibility to develop all facets of the game, and the League Administration. Coaching is acknowledged as a prime responsibility in that role.

Below is an outline of the Coach Recognition Program.

Key Principle:

To acknowledge the performance of coaches at all levels in the SANFL and its Affiliated Leagues, Associations and Educational Institutions.

Aims:

• To relate the performance of coaches to the ideals set out in the SANFL/AFL Coaches Code of Behaviour.
• To present SANFL League Club Regional (country & metropolitan) Awards to coaches selected in SANFL Affiliated Leagues in League Club zones.
• To present SANFL Statewide Awards to outstanding coaches in a given year in SANFL Regions.
• To identify and acknowledge outstanding service of coaches in either of the following categories:
• Coaching
• Coach Education
• Coaching and Coach Education.
• To conduct a SANFL Coach Awards Dinner to recognise and acknowledge:
• All Coach contributions
• Level 2 Coach Accreditation
• Level 3 Coach Accreditation
• SANFL League Club Country & Metropolitan Zone Coaches of the Year
• AFLAuskick Country & Metropolitan Coach of the Year
• Female Coach(es) of the Year
• Youth Squad & Youth Development Squad Coach of the Year
• SANFL League Coach of the Year
• Outstanding Service.