CRAIG Deans knows a thing or two about coaching.
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The Jets' W-League gaffer was on hand in Port Macquarie with some of the Football Mid North Coast NPL teams benefiting from what he shared with them in a two-hour coaching session.
"I lived here for three or four years when I was younger so I understand the difficulties that the kids up here face," he said.
Not only did the players have the added bonus of having a different voice run them through a session, Deans also benefited from it.
"It's nice to have a different coach every now and then," he said.
"We all have players that get sick of us from time to time and I'm pretty sure most of my players are sick of me by now.
"The visit is to work with the girls who are going to the nationals in just under a month and see what talent is up in this neck of the woods."
Deans didn't believe singling players out who showed glimpses of what could potentially take them to the next level benefited anyone.
He preferred to look at a wholesome approach.
"If your coaching is good enough you can help all of them throughout the course of a session," he said.
"There might be someone with a bit of talent, but I don't like to single them out in front of the others.
"It can be a bit demoralising if you're not the one and also at this age you don't know who will develop into the best player.
"To focus on one or two at a young age is not the way to do it."
While female football still isn't a fully professional sport, the foundation is there to benefit players such as those on the Mid North Coast in coming years.
Deans said it gave them something to aspire to.
"In our side, Claire Coelho is from here so it's nice to give (the local girls) the opportunity to see there's a pathway," he said.
"Women's football isn't fully professional yet but it's getting better and by the time some of these girls are 18, 19 or 20 it might be something they can make a living out of.
"It's about making sure the kids know they're not forgotten about and if they want to work hard there's a club not too far away."