Football leads in Australian participation, AusPlay reveals

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Image credit: Football Australia

Football Australia proudly acknowledges the Australian Sports Commission’s latest AusPlay survey, highlighting football’s enduring popularity in Australia.

The Australian Sports Commission’s recent AusPlay survey conducted between July 2023 and July 2024, surveyed 40,000 Australians and highlights several key data supporting the sustained growth of football in Australia through high participation rates and engagement.

The survey indicates football as the highest-ranked sport in Australia, beating out other popular team sports, such as basketball, netball, and Australian rules football. 

The survey uncovered a few positive health trends for Australians, 84% of Australian adults engage in physical activity, and informal participation in sports is increasing, seeming to be the preferred option for individuals or Australians exercising with family and friends. 

Football Australia CEO, James Johnson, spoke about football’s position in Australia, the sport’s inclusivity, and community recognition that supports FA.

“The AusPlay findings reaffirm football’s place at the heart of Australian sport. These participation numbers speak to football’s inclusivity and its power to connect people of all backgrounds, genders and ages, whether they are new to the game or lifelong fans. I want to thank the entire football community – including our Member Federations, the A-League clubs, all the community clubs around Australia, the participants, and the countless volunteers – who contribute so much to our game’s success and growth,” he said via press release.

FA initiatives can be credited with increasing participation rates for youths and adolescents across Australia, the Coles MiniRoos program has created an environment where young Australians feel supported and enjoy playing football.

The Club Changer program is a partnership initiative between the FA and the Australian Sports Commission that assists football clubs in creating an inclusive environment, safe spaces, and sustainability for long-term success. 

Impact factors that occur away from FA, state governing initiatives and programs that contribute to football’s success in participation across Australia are the successes of international football teams, the Matildas, and the Subway Socceroos. FA has grown a strong volunteer culture, with 145 million hours being annually contributed by volunteers supporting football in Australia. 

FA is aligning with the Australian Sport Participation Strategy Play Well. FA is leaning into the report findings to tailor its programs to participation needs, arranging informal and less structured play options and emphasising its focus on building stronger communities through football. 

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More than 220 coaches attend Football South Australia’s second NOVA Youth Club Championship workshop

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Football South Australia drew more than 220 coaches to its second NOVA Youth Club Championship Coaches Workshop in late May, underlining the scale of engagement clubs are generating through the state’s restructured youth competition framework.

The online session was facilitated by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper, who also serves as Junior Matildas Head Coach. Cooper shared observations from the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup and Australia’s qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, giving club-level coaches a window into the demands and standards of elite international football.

The presenter line-up extended that international lens further. Lachlan Tosh and Cristiano Dos Santos spoke to their experiences in national tournament environments, while legendary Australian coach Tom Sermanni addressed the fundamentals of youth coaching. Colin Sanctuary from the University of Newcastle examined coaching language and its direct influence on player learning.

Themes running across the session included the primacy of long-term player development over short-term results, with presenters consistently emphasising technique, ball mastery, individual improvement, and decision-making under pressure. Coaches were encouraged to expose players to varied styles of play, facilitate practice outside organised training, and help young players retain possession longer in match conditions.

Post-session feedback pointed to strong practical value, with coaches singling out clear communication, relationship-building, and age-appropriate feedback as key takeaways.

The workshop series sits within the broader transition from the Youth Premier League to the Club Championship model, which ties coaching participation to championship points for clubs and CPD credits toward individual coaching diplomas. Six workshops are scheduled across the season, with four still to come.

Premier League backs grassroots football in Singapore

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Image credit: Premier League

The NEXTGEN coach programme saw past legends and current coaches unite to deliver an activity intent on supporting grassroots football through high quality and inclusive coaching.

 

Creating new leaders

To reach the top in elite football requires tactical education, personal guidance and consistent support throughout the development journey.

Coaches therefore take on a great deal of responsibility for players seeking a top-flight dream.

Yet even for those who never make it to the top, there is always one coach who stands out. Not necessarily for the silverware achieved or results on the pitch, but for the way they helped build a person off the pitch to play better on it.

The Premier League’s NEXTGEN Coach programme in Singapore aims to equip coaches with the skills and knowledge to do exactly that: creating welcoming environments which nurture confidence and a love for the game.

“This will hugely benefit local coaches, providing them with expert training and skills that will cascade into the communities they coach in,” said Premier League Director of Community, Nick Perchard, via media release.

“After opening the League’s first international office in Singapore more than seven years ago, we are now building on our commitment to the country with a structured coach development programme.”

 

What does the programme include?

The programme initially saw Premier League coaches deliver training sessions to coaches from StarHub – the League’s broadcast partner in Singapore who engage with local community football.

Furthermore, the training was consolidated through stakeholder engagement events and talks from 150 students at the Institute of Technical Education about their careers in the game.

In total, the programme saw 30 coaches take part – all from diverse backgrounds selected by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to maximise community reach and positively impact as many young individuals as possible.

“Youth development is a key priority for FAS, and it starts at the grassroots level,” explained FAS General Secretary, Badri Ghent via media release.

“Coaches play a central role in shaping not just how young players learn the game, but how they experience it, building confidence, character and a lifelong connection to football.”

Through high quality programmes like NEXTGEN, grassroots football can grow to ensure future coaches and players are confident in themselves and their future roles in the game.

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