Valentine Sports Park Comes to Life as 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference International Guests Inspire Coaches  

Valentine Sports Park came alive on Thursday as coaches from all levels of the game descended on the home of football for a full day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.

Football NSW (FNSW) proudly delivered a series of free CPD workshops for coaches, technical directors, and coach education tutors  headlined by a world-class lineup of international guests as part of the 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference. 

The day began with a Coach Education Workshop for FNSW Member Associations, featuring insights from three international heavyweights: Damir Dugandzic (DFB, Germany), Silvia Piccini (Italian FA), and Kimura Yasuhiko (JFA, Japan). Each shared their federation’s unique approach to developing coaches and raising national coaching standards. 

Simultaneously, Football NSW hosted NSW-based A-League Academy senior technical staff for an exclusive session with Ian Buckman from Brighton & Hove Albion. Buckman provided an inside look into managing a high-performing academy environment and the key factors behind sustained player development success. 

To round off the afternoon, Amy Price, the Women’s Coach Development Lead from the English FA, met with the FNSW Female Football Working Group to share England’s grassroots initiatives and strategies driving the growth of the women’s game. 

As the sun set over Valentine Sports Park, more than 300 coaches from across NSW gathered for an evening of free two-hour CPD workshops with FNSW’s esteemed international and domestic guests. 

• Silvia Piccini delivered a dynamic on-field session for FNSW Girls Youth League coaches, offering a first-hand look at training methods used within Italy’s youth national teams. 

• Jack Rolfe from The Coaching Lab led an engaging workshop for Grassroots coaches, inspiring participants to become the “best grassroots coaches ever.” 

• Ian Buckman returned for an intimate session with NPL Technical Directors, deepening discussions around building and managing elite academy programs. 

• FNSW JDL Coaches and Heads of Program explored the DFB Talent Development Program with Damir Dugandzic, gaining insights into the junior formats that have revolutionised German football. 

Meanwhile, Football NSW Coach Education Tutors from Foundation of Football to B Diploma level spent the evening with Kimura Yasuhiko from the Japanese FA, learning about Japan’s approach to coach education and the JFA’s focus areas for course delivery. 

Thursday also marked the beginning of a two-day Female Coach Education Tutor Course, led by Amy Price. Fourteen current and aspiring female tutors began their residential program, focusing on creating positive learning environments and delivering impactful on-pitch feedback sessions. 

All of these events form part of the 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference, which will see more than 1,000 coaches gather at Valentine Sports Park – making it Australia’s biggest celebration of coaching and development. 

Football NSW Coach Education Manager Chris Adams praised the launch event.

“The energy at Valentine Sports Park was incredible. To see coaches from all backgrounds learning from international experts and each other shows the strength and passion of our football community. This conference week truly showcases Football NSW’s commitment to continuous coach education and development for every single coach within our game.” 

The 2025 Football NSW Coaching Conference continues throughout the weekend, promising more world-class learning opportunities for coaches at every level of the game.