Central Coast Mariners team up with NSW Police to aid youth

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Image credit: NSW Police Force Facebook

The Central Coast Mariners have confirmed that they are teaming up with the NSW Police and Police Citizens Youth Clubs (PCYC) NSW to deliver the Fit for Life program aiming to help young people across the state.

Fit for Life is an intervention program engaging youth aged between 10 to 17 at risk of poor choices and antisocial behaviour while aiming to improve overall well-being, promote a healthy lifestyle and divert young people from offending behaviours.

The program also focuses on linking physical, emotional and social well-being, nutrition and building resilience skills.

This partnership will see Mariner’s players, coaches and staff join these sessions at Bateau Bay, Morisset and Umina Beach PCYCs and Windale Public School once a month.

Superintendent Samuel Crisafulli, Youth Command, said the partnership with the Mariners will provide the youth with a new, safe and fun environment to develop and improve their well-being:

“NSW Police are dedicated to improving the lives of young people through engagement and empowering youth to make the right decisions with programs like Fit for Life,” he said in a media release on the Mariners’ website.

“I’d like to thank the Central Coast Mariners for joining us to help mentor young people across the Central Coast, and give them a sense of purpose, belonging and the tools they need to make good decisions.”

Ben Hobby, PCYC NSW Chief Executive Officer, showed his appreciation to all parties involved in the Fit for Life Program:

“Our collaboration with NSW Police and the Central Coast Mariners will be instrumental in continuing a positive, engaging program that inspires youth to lead healthier, more active lives,” he said in a media release on the Mariners’ website.

“This partnership demonstrates our shared commitment to fostering community well-being and providing young people with opportunities to thrive.”

Central Coast Mariners Men’s Head coach, Mark Jackson, said he is looking forward to taking part in this initiative to help youth across NSW:

“We’re excited to be part of the Fit for Life program and make a positive impact to the lives of young people on the Central Coast,” he said in a media release on the club’s website.

“Football has the power to inspire, and through our involvement, we hope to help people develop not just on the pitch but in life. Empowering them to make choices that lead to a bright future.”

Central Coast Mariner Women’s Head Coach, Emily Husband, added that the program will help the club strengthen their connection to the broader community:

“This partnership is a wonderful opportunity for our players and staff to connect with the community in a meaningful way,” she said in a media release on the club’s website.

“We believe in the power of sport to influence positive change. Engaging with these young people we hope to be part of their strong support system.”

For more information about the Fit for Life program, visit PCYC’s website.

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Football Australia Expands Mental Skills Program for Match Officials Amid Sustained Focus on Referee Retention

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football Australia has confirmed a second national webinar for match officials, led by sports psychologist Dr Liam Slack, extending a referee development series introduced after strong engagement with an initial session on managing match-day pressure.

The upcoming session, themed “parking with purpose,” will focus on decision-making strategies designed to help referees process on-field calls and reset attention quickly across a match that can present hundreds of individual decisions. Dr Slack, who also consults with The Football Association and the AFC Referee Academy and previously spent over a decade as a performance psychologist with the Professional Game Match Officials Limited in England, brings substantial elite-level experience to a program open to officials at every level, from grassroots to professional.

The theme builds on work Dr Slack has already delivered within Australian officiating. He recently led a session with Football Australia’s National Referee Academy on the same concept, framing the ability to consciously park a decision and refocus on the next phase of play as a trainable skill rather than an innate trait, one that separates officials who reset quickly under pressure from those who don’t. He has also addressed more than 100 Football Australia elite match officials and staff on developing a stronger match-day mentality, an indication of how embedded this psychological framework has become across the officiating pathway rather than remaining a one-off intervention.

The expansion of the webinar series reflects a broader shift in how football administrators are approaching referee attrition. Rather than treating retention purely as a recruitment or pay problem, the program signals an institutional acknowledgment that the psychological demands of officiating, particularly the compounding pressure of split-second decisions under public scrutiny, are a material factor in whether officials remain in the game.

It rests alongside other measures adopted across Australian football in recent years, including visible identification programs for junior referees and structural reviews of referee departments at state federation level, all aimed at the same underlying issue: a shrinking pool of match officials relative to demand.

Football Australia has not detailed metrics for assessing the program’s impact on referee numbers, though the recurring engagement of an internationally credentialed specialist across multiple tiers of the officiating pathway suggests sustained institutional investment in the approach.

Football Victoria elevates fan enjoyment with Streets partnership

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Image credit: Prostock-studio / Shutterstock.com

Football Victoria (FV) revealed last week a new partnership with ice cream giants, Streets. The brand will become an exclusive ice cream partner for the next three years.

 

An iconic brand for joyful experiences

As a well-known and popular ice cream brand with people all around the nation, Streets will now look to support the fan experience in Victoria through its products.

It reflects FV’s commitment to delivering a family-friendly and memorable experience for spectators. Both on and off the pitch, the organisation is striving to elevate the experience for fans and families alike.

“Football Victoria is always looking for ways to elevate the experience at The Home of The Matildas, and this partnership does exactly that,” explained FV Executive Manager of Commercial and Facilities, Chris Speldewinde.

“It’s a fantastic fit for our community and we’re looking forward to what the next three years will bring.”

Furthermore, Senior Brand Manager at Streets, Ryan Katz, emphasised the brand’s role in community sport and in creating memories beyond the action on the pitch.

“Streets is proud to join Football Victoria as its exclusive ice cream partner,” Katz said.

“There’s nothing better than enjoying a great game with a classic ice cream in-hand, and we’re excited to be part of those moments across the state.”

 

Understanding community football

Community football is all about these moments. Sunny days, the family together, and a sweet treat in-hand while supporting a local team alongside friends and neighbours.

This is why a partnership between FV and Streets is particularly important.

Not for its commercial value, but for what it tells us about both parties’ understanding of what matters to fans. From young fans to experienced matchday-goers, everyone wants to find enjoyment while watching the game.

And while the 90 minutes of action is the focus, the experience of a local matchday is truly defined by interactions with fellow supporters and smaller – but no less significant – moments of happiness during the day.

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