NSW Coaches take part in FIFA-Football Australia Coach Educators’ Development Pathway Program
It’s been a fantastic experience for 4 lucky NSW coaches as Bronwyn Kiceec, Eilidh Mackay, Sam McGowan and Jacob Timpano all took part in a joint FIFA-Football Australia Coach Educators’ Development Pathway Program this week.
Seventeen coaches in total from across Australia converged in Sydney to take in this once in a lifetime opportunity hosted by FIFA.
Football Australia was one of five Member Associations selected by FIFA to run this pilot program,
focusing on the development of home-grown coach educators through 150 hours of theory and
practical learning linked to the fundamental coach educator’s competence, which will ultimately lead to graduates supporting Football Australia and Member Federations to develop more qualified
coaches.
Commencing in November 2021, selected participants from the Australian football community
embarked on this 12-month program featuring 40 online modules, with this 5-day (2 – 6 May) in-person element providing the opportunity to deliver sessions in the classroom and on-pitch, enabling attending FIFA and Football Australia technical experts to guide and provide feedback.
Leading this week’s in-person modules are FIFA experts Branimir Ujevic (FIFA Head of Coaching &
Player Development), Dany Ryser (FIFA Technical Expert and current U17 Men’s Switzerland Head
Coach) and Mohamed Basir (FIFA Senior Manager, Coaching Development Department).
Joining them are Trevor Morgan (National Technical Director & U17 Men’s Head Coach), Rae Dower
(Women’s Technical Advisor & U17 Women’s Head Coach) and Ron Smith (Technical Consultant) from Football Australia.
Australia joins Brazil, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, and the United States in being selected to roll-out this pilot program, which Trevor Morgan said is a nod to the ongoing work of Football Australia and the Member Federations in the development of coaches at all levels.
“Football Australia is looking to evolve coach and player development and participating in this coach
educators’ pathway program, as developed by and delivered in collaboration with FIFA, will enable
Australian coaches to get a head start on this new program which will be implemented the world over in the coming years,” explained Morgan.
“In this program, FIFA brings a certain methodology, a pathway to follow step by step, and the
necessary tools for the current course participants – and ultimately coach education instructors – to
perform as effectively as possible.
“If Australian football can develop and grow a pool of highly skilled coach educators in all parts of the country, the multiplier effect this will have on not only on coach development but in delivering elite player training, will have a huge impact on both the volume and quality of footballers we produce as a nation.”
FIFA Football Australia Coach Educators Development Pathway Program NSW Participants
Bronwyn KICEEC
Head Coach – Football NSW Institute Football New South Wales
Eilidh MACKAY
Head of Female Football – Northern Suburbs FA
- U18 Girls Head Coach – Northern Tigers FC
- Girls SAP Technical Director – Northern Tigers FC
Sam McGOWAN
Football NSW Game Development Coordinator -Schools, Women’s & Girls
- WNPL1 U14 Head Coach at Football NSW Institute
Jacob TIMPANO
• SAP Technical Director – Wollongong Wolves
