Coach Education Continues To Boom Across NSW
Coach education continues to go from strength to strength across NSW, with another 176 coaches from across the state and Australia joining the Football NSW Coach Education team online for the latest Sunday CPD session.
The latest workshop featured Gabriel Bussinger, Technical Director at Brazilian club Vasco da Gama, who shared an insight into the club’s methodology and approach to player development.
Bussinger previously visited Sydney for the 2024 Football NSW Coaching Conference and has remained connected with Football NSW, continuing to share his insights, learnings and methodologies to support the ongoing evolution of the game in Australia.
The 90-minute CPD workshop provided coaches with an insight into the Vasco methodology, with Bussinger speaking passionately about junior and youth development and the importance of allowing the game itself to become the teacher.
Among the topics discussed was Vasco da Gama’s approach to developing players from a young age, including the use of full-size fields for Under 6 players, the introduction of flares at Under 9 games and the club’s long-term focus on individual development.
That philosophy has helped produce players who have gone on to reach the highest levels of the game, including Rayan, who is currently with AFC Bournemouth, and Andrey Santos, who has represented Chelsea and Brazil.
A key message throughout the session was the importance of coaches and clubs focusing on the individual player rather than becoming overly focused on the team unit, formation or tactical nuances of the game.
Individual development is a major feature of Brazilian football, with Futsal playing an important role in player development up until the age of 14.
Vasco da Gama has adopted this approach while limiting the emphasis on tactical coaching until after this period, instead prioritising technical development, creativity and the individual player’s relationship with the game.
Football NSW Head of Football Edward Ferguson said the approach aligns strongly with the organisation’s continued focus on individual player development.
“Over the past few years, Football NSW has continued to beat the drum around individual player development and its primary focus for those under the age of 14,” Ferguson said.
“To see this adopted so successfully by Vasco da Gama and producing players such as Rayan adds further weight to the philosophy and this approach.
“For the 176 coaches online on Sunday, it showcases that the coach’s role must be player-centric.
“We need to shift our focus more towards the individual rather than focusing primarily on the defensive unit, the formation or the style of play, which we too often see become the only focus of a coach during training sessions and matchday talks.”
The latest workshop is another example of Football NSW’s ongoing commitment to providing coaches across the state with access to leading international knowledge, methodologies and development philosophies.
Football NSW will continue its online CPD series this Sunday, with Sean Douglas, OFC E-learning Lead and former Football Australia Coach Education Manager, the next presenter.
Football NSW is also delivering a range of in-person coach education events across NSW, with coaches encouraged to visit the Football NSW Coach Hub to find and register for a workshop in their area.
The Football NSW Coaching Conference has also been announced, with limited tickets still available for the two-day event on 21 and 22 November.
Coaches can find upcoming workshops and register through the Football NSW Coach Hub, while further information about the Coaching Conference is also available online.
