Posts by Football NSW

Stephen is currently Head of Football for the Gladesville Ravens NPL Women’s program. When did you first start coaching and why? I started coaching after I stopped playing at the age of 39 after an ACL injury. Football is a part of my DNA, so it was just a case of working out where I…

The game is the most exciting part of everyone’s football week, be it the over excited players who have been counting down the days since their last game on a weekend morning, or the equally excited parents and loved ones keen to see their sons and daughters emulate their heroes on the thousands of pitches…

March saw another milestone for the Football NSW Coach Education team, commencing the first Regional B Diploma course in Goulburn. Members of all three regional branches were in attendance, with the course being the culmination of several years’ work from Development Manager of Regional Football, Andrew Fearnley, building coaching capacity in regional areas through a…

Matt is the currently a coach at Dubbo Devils and South Dubbo Wanderers.  When did you first start coaching and why? I started in 2015 when my son took up the sport. I had played as a junior when I was younger and understood the game and thought it would be a good way to…

Details have been confirmed for a number of CPD workshops to be delivered in partnership with local associations during April, May and June in order to upskill local coaches. All workshops will contribute towards the CPD hours required for reaccreditation of qualifications required by Football Australia. Coaches who attend multiple workshops of the same CPD topic…

How often do we see the assistant coach out on the grass standing with their hands folded next to the head coach observing training?  Maybe they are asked to move some cones or collect some balls. For those of us fortunate enough to have an assistant coach, are you unlocking the best of that resource? …

With the grassroots football season picking up, Football NSW worked in conjunction with several associations in the delivery of local initiatives during February, including five C Diploma courses, a Foundation of Goalkeeping course and a Grassroots Coaching Festival. Valentine Sports Park played host to the first Foundation of Goalkeeping Course delivered by Football NSW, as…

Registrations are still open for three C Diploma courses and one B Diploma course to commence in March. The main focus of the required coaching competency on the ‘C’ Diploma is on the technical aspects of the game, which includes teaching the techniques of passing, receiving, striking the ball and running with the ball, along…

Football coaching has evolved significantly over the years, and one of the key factors that has revolutionized the game is the use of analysis. Through data-driven insights and the use of video, coaches can gain a deeper understanding of their team’s performance, opponents, and individual player development. In this article, we will explore the importance…

Zoe is the current Under 15 Girls Head Coach at South East Phoenix FC.  When did you first start coaching and why? When I was 17, I started to coach because I wanted to inspire the young footballers of the south coast what it is like to coach and play at the same time whilst…

The Football NSW Coach Education team kicked off 2024 with a number of courses across the state, including three regional C Diplomas to further develop coaches outside of metropolitan Sydney. Valentine Sports Park played host to two C Diploma courses and two B Diploma courses, including the first all-female B Diploma delivered by Football NSW…

For those coaches who are school teachers, you will understand that there are many attributes of a successful teacher that are the same as those attributes required of a successful coach, and vice versa. After twenty years as a coach, I have recently had the opportunity to undertake a teaching degree. The teaching profession has…

Steven is the current Women’s Goalkeeper Coach at Nepean FC.  When did you first start coaching and why? I first started around 7 years ago taking up SAP and Youth league goalkeeping coaching at the club I finished playing out of , we saw the club had a need in the younger age groups to…

Any group of players will have a range of interests and abilities, just because players are of the same age does not mean that their desires and needs are the same. This creates a challenge for the coach. How does the coach provide the best experience for each of the players in their group? As…

One of the great challenges for us as coaches is how we can best give every individual the stretch and support they need while coaching the collective. This is particularly the case for coaches who do not have support staff and/or assistant coaches to provide the laser focus while the head coach takes care of…

Rich Lacey is currently Youth Technical Director at Curl Curl Football Club. When did you first start coaching and why? I completed the English FA Preliminary Coaching Badge in 1993 encouraged by Andy Marchant my old PE Teacher as I was volunteering at my old secondary school (Dorothy Stringer in Brighton) and helping to coach…

23 coaches made the next step in the Coaching Pathway after completing a C Diploma course, run by Football NSW in conjunction with Eastern Suburbs Football Association, Football Canterbury and Football St George. The course was conducted across several weeks in November at Australian Catholic University, with a focus on introducing key processes around how to…

Football NSW will be hosting a B Diploma Course in Goulburn across multiple dates in 2024. Course Details Venue Cookbundoon Sporting Complex, Racecourse Road, Goulburn Course Dates March 8th, March 9th, March 10th (8:30am – 4:30pm daily) May 31st, June 1st, June 2nd (8:30am – 4:30pm daily) October 11th, October 12th, October 13th (8:30am –…

Football NSW are pleased to announce our first Foundation of Goalkeeping course for 2024 will be held in conjunction with Northern Suburbs Football Association at North Turramurra Recreation Area. The Foundation of Goalkeeping replaces the former Goalkeeping C Diploma and Goalkeeping Level One courses and is the first step onto the Goalkeeping Coach Education Pathway.…

Football NSW will be hosting our final CPD event for coaches for the year at Valentine Sports Park. The evening will start with a workshop from Football Australia Technical Director, focusing on developing players through match day coaching. This is followed by a Football Australia Talent Development Match, where coaches can support the National Teams…