Future of the sports industry discussed at LALIGA Extra Time event

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LALIGA EXTRA TIME
Image credit: LALIGA

The first edition of ‘LALIGA Extra Time’ was recently held in Melbourne at the end of last month.

The event, organised by LALIGA, looked to bring together experts from the sports and entertainment industry in a two-panel format. It also served to introduce the new identity of LALIGA.

The LALIGA Extra Time event included the participation of Villarreal CF, EA Sports, Optus Sport and Matildas international footballer Elise Kellond-Knight.

“We are proud to have been able to publicly present here in Melbourne LALIGA’s revolutionary new identity to the biggest players in the country’s sports and entertainment industry. For us it is not just a change of symbol, but the symbol of change: with a new partner like EA SPORTS, with a profound transformation in the strategy, positioning, business, technology and audio-visual broadcasts… As we all have been able to enjoy during the first exciting matchdays of LALIGA EA SPORTS and LALIGA Hypermotion in the season 2023/24 that recently started,” stated Glen Rolls via media release, LALIGA delegate for Australia and New Zealand.

The first panel focused on the digital transformation of football, and how partners, broadcasters and rights holders are working collaboratively to the grow the sport across the world.

Theresa Bray, EA Sports’ Head of Marketing and Communication ANZ & Emerging Markets, and Aaron Lea, Associate Director of Digital Media & Platforms at Optus Sport were involved in the panel discussion. Bray expanded on the recent partnership between LALIGA and EA Sports, as well as the ever-changing viewing habits of the younger generation. She claimed that the partnership between the two companies was exciting for EA Sports, as it brings together two global brands that have a strong focus on innovation and authenticity.

Lea explained that Optus Sport, who broadcasts LALIGA in Australia, have focused heavily on displaying the competitions across the company’s digital and social platforms in an effort to find new and increased audiences.

“LALIGA content is playing a key role in our shortform digital video strategy, and we’ve seen strong viral engagement across YouTube Shorts, Tiktok and Instagram Reels,” Lea added via media release.

The second panel focused on the future of football and the vital importance of having a well-constructed foundation in grassroots football, in order to be successful at the elite levels of the sport.

LALIGA clubs are well aware of this notion, as within the competition itself it gave the most playing time to youth players out of the top five major European leagues this past season (this equated to 17.2% of the minutes in 2022/23, according to a CIES study).

One of the LALIGA clubs with the best youth development structures across the world is Villarreal CF. In 2021, they became Europa League champions – becoming the smallest city ever to win a European trophy. The club have a strong presence within Australia, with Nano Márquez, Villarreal’s International Academies Coordinator, attesting to this.

“Australia is a very important market for Villarreal CF as we have three academies in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane all of which focus on the development and growth of the players with the hope that this contributes to the local football ecosystem as well as opening up possibilities in Spain,” he said.

The future of the women’s game was also discussed heavily through this panel section. The success of the recent World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, where Spain beat England in the final in Sydney, was huge boost to the women’s game.

Australian international player Elise Kellond-Knight shared her experiences and expectations for the future during the event.

“The Women’s World Cup was incredible as it brought everyone together here in Australia to cheer on the Matildas and celebrate football. Spanish football has always been very technical and skilful and perhaps lack what we talk about in Australia to be ‘physical’,” she said.

“However, in the World Cup we saw a very complete Spanish team with not only the skills and technical ability, but also the physicality with the likes of Salma Paralluelo, who in my opinion played a decisive role in helping Spain lift the trophy.”

This first edition of LALIGA Extra Time event in Melbourne also featured the trophy of the “LALIGA EA SPORTS” champions and the 2023/24 Puma LALIGA ball.

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GIS and ACPE join forces to strengthen football coaching and tactical development

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The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) will support Hills Football Association in delivering a specialist coaching workshop designed to improve player development, tactical understanding and performance analysis.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the ACPE campus in Sydney Olympic Park, the workshop will bring together experienced football coaches and performance analysts to explore practical approaches to developing players’ tactical awareness, decision-making and understanding of the game.

Titled Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding, the event will run from 6pm to 8.30pm and feature two workshops focused on translating coaching theory and performance analysis into practical learning environments.

Former Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni, who has also led the national women’s teams of the United States, Canada and New Zealand, will present the first session, Working with International Players.

The workshop will examine how coaches can design training sessions that develop tactical execution under realistic match conditions, with an emphasis on practice design, player decision-making and effective coaching behaviours.

The second session, From Video to Understanding, will be facilitated by experienced performance analysts from GIS and ACPE.

Participants will explore how match footage can be used to strengthen tactical learning, encourage player reflection and develop independent decision-making.

The session will also examine how coaches can structure effective video reviews that align with coaching objectives and a team’s playing model.

Supporting the next generation of football coaches

The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining traditional coaching methods with modern performance analysis to support player development across Australian football.

As clubs and football organisations increasingly seek to improve coaching standards, access to practical education and industry expertise remains an important component of developing more effective learning environments.

The workshop is designed for coaches seeking player-centred approaches that encourage footballers to read the game, understand tactical situations and make better decisions on the pitch.

Participants will receive two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition.

For GIS, the collaboration provides another opportunity to connect its specialist sports education and analytics expertise with the practical demands of football coaching.

The institute delivers postgraduate sports education through online learning and stadium-based campuses internationally, including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and SCG.

Its Sydney offering includes the Master of Sports Analytics and Master of International Sports Business, supporting the development of professionals across the sporting industry.

ACPE, established in 1917 and based at Sydney Olympic Park, brings extensive experience in sport, health and physical education, with a strong emphasis on industry-focused learning and practical professional development.

Together with Hills Football Association, the two education providers aim to equip coaches with practical knowledge that can be applied directly within their football environments.

Event details

  • Event: Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding
  • Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
  • Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
  • Venue: ACPE Campus, 10 Parkview Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
  • Presenter: Tom Sermanni
  • Facilitators: Performance analysts from ACPE and GIS
  • CPD: Two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development

Coaches interested in attending are encouraged to register through the event’s official registration channel.

For more information about the education providers, visit Global Institute of Sport and Australian College of Physical Education.

Football NSW backs 20 female coaches with qualification scholarships

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has supported 20 female coaches to complete their AFC/Football Australia C Diploma qualification in 2026, using scholarships funded through Football Australia and CommBank’s Growing Football Fund to reduce the cost of coach education.

The initiative included a dedicated female-only C Diploma course delivered by Football NSW in April and May, attended by 13 coaches. An additional seven received support to complete courses closer to their local communities, improving access for coaches across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Football NSW Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd said the scholarships had helped address a key barrier to coaching development.

“These scholarships have helped remove a significant barrier for many female coaches seeking to progress their coaching journey,” Todd said.

Todd said the combination of a female-only course and support for locally accessible qualifications had created pathways for 20 women to develop their skills and contribute to football in their communities.

The program reflects an ongoing challenge for the sport: increasing women’s participation also requires investment in the coaches who lead teams, develop players and help shape club environments.

By helping cover qualification costs, the scholarships give recipients an opportunity to strengthen their coaching knowledge and leadership capabilities while expanding the pool of qualified female coaches available to clubs.

The support also connects to the wider Growing Football Fund, a joint Football Australia and CommBank initiative aimed at creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game.

The fund’s community grant program offers eligible clubs and associations grants of up to $5,000 to help attract or retain women and girls in football, with applications for the 2026–27 round closing on 20 October 2026.

The governing body also offers Women in Football Coaching Scholarships worth 50 per cent of course costs, with applications limited.

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