A-League rivals unite to build sports industry career pathway

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A-League rivals Western Sydney Wanderers FC, Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory have joined forces off the pitch to provide a new education opportunity for students to further support their communities.

After the successful launch of the Melbourne Victory Sport & Business Program in Victoria this year, Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC have launched a new dual Diploma program for students in New South Wales in 2022.

The Sport & Business Programs are a one-year dual diploma powered by SEDA Group (SEDA), the leaders in applied learning in the sports industry. Students will have the opportunity to develop skills in everything from football specific high-performance activities, such as coaching and sports science, to other areas around the business, including sponsorship, fundraising, event management, media and marketing.

Despite the impact of COVID-19 on the sports industry, the first year of the Melbourne Victory Sport and Business Program has given inaugural students the opportunity to thrive.

Student Joel Martin had the opportunity to work with the Melbourne Victory coaching and membership teams working on a blended approach to his work placement.

“There were a lot of positives for me to come out of the program placement. In planning for large scale projects, I have learnt from not just from Melbourne Victory but also other experts in the sports industry,” Martin said.

Students will benefit from invaluable practical help on their career path, within the sports and recreation industry. Innovative new courses are designed to offer on-the-job training within professional football.

Football leads the way as the only Australian sport to have three A-League clubs offering this type of course for the benefit the sports community.

Melbourne Victory Managing Director Caroline Carnegie:

“Our partnership with SEDA has been essential to our education pillar. This has been an exciting way for Victory to identify and develop the next generation of talented off-field administrators and support staff just like Joel.”

Sydney FC Chief Executive Officer Danny Townsend:

“Sydney FC are committed to making an impact on the educational journey of students who want a career in sport. We aim to expose students to a range of learning opportunities which will help them in designing their own careers and make positive contributions to their community.”

Western Sydney Wanderers Chief Executive Officer John Tsatsimas:

“Students will not only have the opportunity to work directly on exciting projects such as our Community Development Programs but also connect in with some of our leading industry experts from the club across sports science and marketing.”

Applications are open to all eligible Year 12 graduate students for the new diploma program, beginning in February 2022.

Prospective students can head to seda.edu.au for more information.

Students and parents will have the opportunity to attend information sessions being held prior to upcoming A-League Men’s fixtures.

Sydney FC Sport and Business Program Information Session – Pre-game Saturday November 27 vs Macarthur at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium (5:30pm – 6:30pm)

Western Sydney Wanderers Sport and Business Program Information Session – Pre-game  Sunday November 28 vs Newcastle Jets at CommBank Stadium (4:30pm – 5:30pm)

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Isabella Mossin awarded Ninja A-League Women Referee of the Year

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Image credit: Football NSW

The youngest recipient since its inception, Mossin will officially receive the award after leading the Ninja A-League Grand Final 2026 on Saturday.

 

A rapid rise

After debuting in 2023, Mossin has quickly proved quality, composure and confidence as a referee in the Ninja A-League.

As a result of the achievement, Mossin will be the appointed referee for this weekend’s Grand Final between Melbourne City FC and Wellington Phoenix.

After beginning in the North West Sydney Football Association, Mossin then honed her craft with the Football NSW Referee Academy, a journey with foundations truly embedded in youth development and grassroots football.

Thus, Mossin is not just am individual success story, but a symbol of what institutional investment and opportunities can do for young women looking for a pathway to the game.

 

Celebrating success

The plaudits, unsurprisngly, are arriving from across Australia’s football landscape, with many emphasising the incredible standards set by Mossin since her debut just three years ago.

“This award is testament to Isabella’s hard work and dedication to refereeing, and a great reflection of the next generation of referees coming through the system in Australia,” said A-Leagues CEO, Steve Rosich.

“At just 25 years of age, she has consistently demonstrated composure, leadership, strong decision-making and the ability to perform under pressure in some of the biggest matches in the competition,” highlighted Football Australia Head of Referees, Jon Moss.

“Having someone refereeing their first Ninja A-league Women’s Grand Final at the age of 25 years should inspire all girls and young women referees (and potential referees) and show them that age is not a barrier to talent being recognised within Football Australia refereeing,” said Chair of Football Australia Referee Committee, David Elleray.

Given Mossin’s reputation and experience already at the top level of women’s football in Australia, there is no doubt that she will rise to the occasion this Saturday.

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