Flinders Uni & Football SA partner for youth development

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Image credit: Football SA website

Football South Australia and Flinders University have launched a new partnership to strengthen youth football in South Australia and support Football SA’s expanding community.

Led by Flinders’ College of Education, Psychology and Social Work, the university will serve as the major sponsor and naming rights partner for the Football SA Pathway Programs.

The Football SA Pathway Programs offer multiple entry points for talented players aged 9-16 across the state, providing a structured development pathway.

Through this partnership, the university will engage with players and their families at Football SA’s development centres, fostering greater community involvement.

Football SA’s development centres serve as the foundation entry program for club-based players who are eager to train and play more regularly. There are ten centres located in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa, Gawler, Fleurieu Peninsula, Limestone Coast, Metro, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie, Riverland, and Whyalla.

Players train once a week in addition to their club training and matches, with opportunities to progress into the full-time Football SA/Football Australia Academy and potentially further to Adelaide United.

Football South Australia CEO, Michael Carter expressed his excitement about the new partnership.

“Flinders University have a reputation as one of the leading tertiary education institutions in the country and we are delighted to partner with them,” Carter said in a press release.

“We are constantly looking at ways to provide well rounded programs and opening the door to tertiary opportunities to players within the state will add to the experience of boys and girls within the pathway programs. We look forward to seeing the partnership flourish in years to come.”

Vice-President and Executive Dean, College of Education, Psychology & Social Work, Professor Deborah West spoke about the importance of connecting education for communities through sport.

“We know that education is a powerful force for change and this partnership is making a positive social impact that supports youth in the South Australian community through our innovative education initiatives,” she said in a press release.

“We’re delighted to be collaborating with Football SA to provide career-oriented entry pathways and educational opportunities in South Australia. This partnership demonstrates Flinders commitment to bolstering educational outcomes through the combination of sport and community programs and we look forward to working with Football SA.”

As part of the partnership, Flinders University’s logo will be prominently displayed at ServiceFM Stadium, as well as at RAA NPL and Apex Steel WNPL matches.

It will also feature on the front of shirts worn by players in the Football SA full-time programs for boys and girls aged 12 to 16.

Flinders University are clearly invested in the growth of one of the countries’ most promising development centres and want to utilise their partnership with Football SA to grow closer to the grassroots community.

This collaboration is a significant step in nurturing young talent and ensuring a stronger future for football in South Australia.

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FCA to Host Exclusive Two-Part Goalscoring Workshop Series with Dr Ron Smith

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One of Australian football’s most respected coaching minds shares decades of research ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has announced an exclusive two-part coach education series featuring renowned coach educator and football analyst Dr Ron Smith, offering coaches a rare opportunity to explore the evolving science of goalscoring through the lens of one of Australia’s most influential football thinkers.

The online workshops, scheduled for June 1 and June 8, will examine the historical development, modern trends and future direction of goalscoring in football, drawing on extensive research that formed the foundation of Dr Smith’s doctoral studies.

For FCA, the sessions represent the culmination of more than a year of planning and provide a timely opportunity for coaches to deepen their understanding of attacking play ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

“Ron’s work on goalscoring has been years in the making and continues to evolve,” FCA President Ian Greener said.

“We felt there was no better time to bring this knowledge to the coaching community than in the lead-up to the World Cup, when coaches around the world will be analysing the game’s best teams and players.”

Across the two sessions, Dr Smith will present findings from his extensive research into goalscoring patterns and trends, examining how the game has changed over time and what coaches can learn from football’s biggest tournaments.

Topics covered throughout the series will include:

  • Historical analysis of goalscoring trends
  • How goalscoring has evolved in the modern game
  • Key patterns identified through Dr Smith’s research
  • Scoring trends across the last six FIFA Men’s World Cups
  • Comparisons between men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments
  • The role of pressing, transition moments and direct play in creating goals
  • Practical coaching implications for improving attacking performance

The two-part structure has been intentionally designed to build upon itself. Session One will focus on the evidence, data and research underpinning Dr Smith’s findings, while Session Two will explore the practical applications and coaching interventions that can emerge from that analysis.

Football Australia has accredited both workshops with one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour each, allowing coaches to earn two CPD hours by attending both sessions.

Dr Smith’s coaching and coach education credentials span decades. He has worked extensively with Football Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Socceroos, while also holding coaching roles internationally in Iceland and Malaysia, as well as within the A-League.

His contributions to coach development have helped shape generations of Australian coaches, making this series a valuable opportunity for coaches across all levels of the game.

Event Details

History and Future of Goalscoring – Session One
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Format: Online
CPD: 1 Football Australia-accredited CPD hour

Following the completion of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, FCA is also planning a special panel discussion featuring leading Australian and international coaching voices to analyse the key tactical developments, trends and lessons emerging from the tournament.

Further details regarding that event are expected to be released later this year.

FCA members can attend the workshops free of charge, while guest registrations are available through Eventbrite.

Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

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