Posts by Football NSW
2026 Sapphire Cup Round 4 Draw Released
16 teams continue on their journey to potential Sapphire Cup glory with the release of the Round 4 draw. After defeating League One Women’s opposition in Round 3, Dunbar Rovers from Eastern Suburbs Football Association will host current NPL Women’s NSW leaders and two-time Sapphire Cup winners APIA Leichhardt. The two remaining association teams, East…
Read MoreFootball NSW Celebrates Successful Local Sports Grant Program Recipients
Football NSW is pleased to congratulate the successful grant recipients from the Local Sports Grant Program, administered by the NSW Office of Sport. Across the Football NSW footprint, 65 clubs (69 projects) have been successful in securing a total of almost $600,000 in funding through this important initiative. The Local Sports Grant Program continues to…
Read MoreRussell Vale Junior FC awarded April Club Changer Club of the Month
Football NSW has named Russell Vale Junior Football Club as its Club Changer Club of the Month for April, recognising the club’s outstanding commitment to creating a positive environment for players, officials, and supporters. Club Changer is Football Australia’s Club Development Program which aims to protect and enhance clubs to make them stronger and more…
Read MoreFootball NSW clubs honoured at 2025 Good Sports Awards
Several clubs from Football NSW were acknowledged at the 2025 Good Sports Awards ceremony hosted at Parliament House, Canberra in late March. Holroyd Rangers Soccer Club from Granville & District SFA was recognised as the NSW Good Sports Club of the Year, while Granville Waratah Soccer Football Club, also from Granville District SFA, was the runner…
Read MoreReferee Development Wrap-Up: February and March 2026
During February and March, the Football NSW Referees Department has been actively engaging with local associations across the state, delivering targeted referee education sessions aimed at strengthening consistency, confidence, and understanding at the grassroots level. A key focus of these sessions has been ensuring referees are up to date with the latest changes to the…
Read MoreApplications open for Non-Executive Director
Applications are currently open to join the Football NSW Board as a Non-Executive Director. Football NSW is the governing body for football (soccer) across New South Wales and is the largest state sporting organisation in Australia, with more than 250,000 participants and 636 clubs under its remit. The Board meets ten times per year at…
Read More2025 Player Development Report Released
Football NSW is proud to release the 2025 Player Development Report, which provides insights into the processes and outcomes of Football NSW programs and initiatives within the Talented Player Pathway. The Talented Player Pathway (TPP) encompasses the Football NSW Youth Leagues, Talent Support Program (TSP) and Football NSW State Teams. View the Full Report The…
Read MoreRound 10 Preview – League One Men’s
Both the top two and bottom two face off in round ten of the FNSW League One Men’s competition this weekend. A big weekend as we cross the one-third mark of the season, our Match of the Round gives us a look at Newcastle Jets for the first time this season. Match of the Round:…
Read MoreFormer Manchester United Academy expert leads Club Capability Building Workshop
Heads of Programs from Football NSW Leagues clubs were able to learn from Mick Matthews, former English FA Coach Developer and Manchester United Academy Coach Development Manager, at a Club Capability Building Workshop in late March at Valentine Sports Park. With over 90 technical staff in attendance, the focus of Mick’s session was on how…
Read MoreRound 6 Review – League One Women’s
Round 6 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition was a feast of football across all four days with some exciting results. There were six games to enjoy, headlined by the Match of the Round between South Coast Flame FC and Sutherland Strikers FC. Let’s get onto the review! Match of the Round: South…
Read MoreCoach Education February Wrap-Up
In line with its ongoing commitment to technical development and the growth of football across the state, Football NSW has delivered a record number of coach education courses throughout the 2025/2026 coach education season. With an expanded course schedule, the focus has been on strengthening football knowledge across the state, particularly within the crucial Skill…
Read MoreFootball NSW and Heartbeat of Football continue partnership to improve heart health
Football NSW and Heartbeat of Football have agreed to a three-year extension of their partnership to support player welfare and safety with a focus on heart health. The alliance will continue to raise awareness about heart health issues, encourage people to make positive health choices and work to ensure a safe sporting environment for NSW…
Read More2026 Sapphire Cup Round 2 and Round 3 Draws Released
The first steps to potential silverware have been revealed with the completion of the Round 2 and Round 3 draws for the 2026 Sapphire Cup. 41 teams are vying for the trophy – 21 Association Clubs, 7 Football NSW League One Women’s Clubs and 13 NPL Women’s NSW clubs. Round 2 consists of nine matches…
Read MoreRound 7 Review – League Two Men’s
More statements were made in Round 7 of the Football NSW League Two Men’s season, with plenty of action to dissect. The Match of the Round this week saw Camden Tigers FC hold on late for their first win of the season, against Inner West Hawks FC. Match of the Round: Camden Tigers 2-1 Inner…
Read MoreRound 4 Review – League One Women’s
Round 4 in the Football NSW League One Women’s competition had plenty of moments to enjoy across the six games which included a pair of derby contests. It also meant through four weeks, the whole competition has collected some points. Let’s get onto the review! Match of the Round: SD Raiders FC 4 defeated South…
Read MoreBox Hill Rangers AFC named Football NSW Club Changer Club of the Month for March
Football NSW has named Box Hill Rangers AFC from Hills Football as its Club Changer Club of the Month for March, recognising the club’s outstanding commitment to creating a positive environment for players, officials, and supporters. Club Changer is Football Australia’s Club Development Program which aims to protect and enhance clubs to make them stronger…
Read MoreFootball NSW set to host inaugural Grassroots Referees Conference
Football NSW is proud to host the inaugural Grassroots Referees Conference at Valentine Sports Park on Saturday, 21st March, 2026. Headlining the conference will be FIFA referee Tim Danaskos and A-League Men’s referee Lachlan Keevers, who will share their experiences officiating at the highest levels of the game in Australia. Through presentations and discussions, they…
Read MoreFootball NSW Metro and Regional squads confirmed for 2026 Emerging Socceroos Championships
Football NSW has confirmed the players set to represent the Metro and Regional teams in the 2026 Emerging Socceroos Championships, to be held in Sydney in April. Centred around Valentine Sports Park, the home of Football NSW, the tournament will take place over seven days from 18 – 24 April 2026, showcasing the top Under…
Read MoreFootball NSW Metro and Regional squads confirmed for 2026 Emerging Matildas Championships
Football NSW has confirmed the players set to represent the Metro and Regional teams in the 2026 Emerging Matildas Championships, to be held at the Home of the Matildas in Melbourne in April. The tournament will run across seven days from 9 – 15 April 2026, showcasing the top Under 15 and Under 16 female…
Read MoreClub Capability Building Workshop supports development of Football NSW Leagues coaches
Football NSW recently delivered a Club Capability Building workshop focused on match day communication and sideline manner for coaches as part of the Club Technical Development Program. The purpose of the workshop was to support Heads of Programs and coaches across Football NSW Youth Leagues and Junior Development Leagues clubs in developing consistent, effective match…
Read MoreRound 5 Review – League One Men’s
In a 30 game season, Momentum can play a key role in how a team fares and many teams rode the wave of having it in round five of the FNSW League One Men’s Season. Our match of the round saw Bankstown City secure their second straight win in ominous fashion. While Northern Tigers kept…
Read MoreDeploy Confirmed as Naming Rights Partner for Association Championships
Football NSW is proud to announce Deploy as the Naming Rights Partner of the newly launched Football NSW Association Championships, set to take place from Tuesday 7th to Thursday 9th July 2026 at the state-of-the-art Glen Willow Regional Sports Complex in Mudgee. Alongside the announcement, Football NSW (FNSW) has unveiled the official new logo for the Championship, marking the beginning…
Read MoreRound 1 Preview – League One Women’s
The Football NSW League One Women’s competition gears up for another exciting instalment to play out across 26 rounds in 2026. Round 1 offers up plenty of interesting games and mouth-watering matchups to kick us off. The weekend is headlined by the Match of the Round between Blacktown Spartans FC and Inter Lions FC. Let’s…
Read MoreFootball NSW League One Women’s 2026 Season Preview
The Football NSW League One Women’s season will spring back into action this weekend, with thirteen teams all primed and ready to go to test themselves across 26 rounds. After Hills United secured the Premiership, Championship and promotion through the Club Championship last season, who will lift silverware in 2026? We’re going to run the…
Read MoreFemale Para Football Program Coach Applications Open
Football NSW is now accepting coach applications for the Female Para Football Program. Positions are available for a Head Coach and Assistant Coach, who will manage the individual development of selected female Para Football players in NSW. The Coaches will create and prepare sustainable session within the FNSW Female Para Football program in order to…
Read More2026 First Nations Scholarship Applications Open
Football NSW is pleased to announce the opening of scholarship applications to provide opportunities and increase the representation of First Nations participants in the game. Developed in conjunction with the Football NSW Indigenous Advisory Group, applications are now open for player and coach scholarships. These scholarships are aimed to: reduce barriers for Aboriginal & Torres…
Read MoreEnsure your Club is Rescue Ready in 2026
Football NSW, together with Heartbeat of Football and Heart of the Nation, are encouraging Clubs to ensure they are Rescue Ready for the 2026 community winter football season. The Rescue Ready initiative encourages clubs and the wider football community to make Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) more widely available and accessible at local sporting facilities and…
Read MoreFootball NSW ready for 2026 National Futsal Championships
Football NSW will be looking to retain the Member Federation Champions trophy this week at the 2026 National Futsal Championships on the Gold Coast. Kicking off tomorrow and running through to Saturday, January 17 at the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre, 30 teams have been selected to represent Football NSW at the tournament across…
Read MoreMember Protection Webinar: Managing Sideline Behaviour
Sport Integrity Australia are hosting a webinar designed to equip club leaders and officials with practical strategies to manage sideline behaviour and uphold a safe, respectful sporting environment for all. Join a panel of experts for a deep dive into the member protection risks linked to poor sideline behaviour in community sport. Learn how aggressive…
Read MoreFootball NSW seeking Match Commissioners for 2026 season
Football NSW is seeking expressions of interest for numerous volunteers for Match Commissioner roles for the 2026 season. The Role of a Match Commissioner is to assist the Football NSW Competitions Department in the operation and delivery of Competitions and Tournaments administered by Football NSW. These Competitions and Tournaments include but are not limited to:…
Read MoreMember Protection Update – September 2025
Confusion around Verifying WWC Numbers Several clubs have contacted FNSW recently to clarify the difference between the legal requirement to verify WWC Numbers with the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG), and the requirement to cite WWC Numbers in Play Football. FNSW confirms that the two are not linked, and that verifying WWC Numbers…
Read MoreHow to Defend Set Pieces Effectively
Set pieces—such as corners, free kicks, and throw-ins—offer an excellent opportunity for the opposition to score. Defending set pieces effectively requires organization, discipline, and clear communication. To prevent your team from conceding during these critical moments, here are five key tips to improve your defending of set pieces. Organize a Clear Defensive Structure Before a…
Read MoreValentine Sports Park to host 2025 Waratah Cup Final
Tickets are now on sale for the 2025 Waratah Cup Final, which will be held at Valentine Sports Park on Wednesday, July 2nd (7pm kick-off). NPL Men’s NSW side Sydney United 58 take on League One Men’s representative Northern Tigers in a showdown for the first major piece of silverware this season. United are looking…
Read MoreBundanoon Rebels named Football NSW Club Changer of the Month
Football NSW has named Highlands Soccer Association’s Bundanoon Rebels as its Club Changer Club of the Month for June. Club Changer is Football Australia’s Club Development Program which aims to protect and enhance clubs to make them stronger and more resilient while planning for long-term viability and success. Highlands Soccer Association Secretary Sarah Packer was…
Read MoreHow to Play a 4-2-3-1
The 4-2-3-1 formation is one of the most popular and effective tactical setups in modern football. Known for its balance between defence and attack, it offers structure and flexibility, making it suitable for a wide range of teams. In this article, we’ll break down how to play a 4-2-3-1 formation, focusing on the key roles…
Read MoreHow to Ensure Equal Playing Time Within Your Team
As a football coach, providing equal playing time for all players is essential for team morale, development, and fairness. While this can be a challenge, especially in competitive environments, it’s possible to maintain balance and give every player the opportunity to grow. Here are five key tips to help ensure equal playing time for your…
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