Capital Football halves fees for players and referees in ACT

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Capital Football have announced registration fees will be heavily discounted for the 2020 football season, providing the local football community close to $700,000 in financial relief.

Football players and referees in Canberra will have the Capital Football portion of their registration fee cut by 50 percent, to account for a shortened eleven-week season.

Those who participate in the National Premier League competitions will receive a discount of $85.46, whilst State League and Masters players will save $83.07.

Junior footballers will have discounted fees in the range between $17.32 and $33.36, based on the age of the player.

Players and referees who already registered and paid for the 2020 winter season, before the temporary suspension of competitive football, will also be refunded a portion of their fee.

CEO of Capital Football Phil Brown claimed the organisation was committed to keeping registration fees as low as possible, as a result of the implications caused by COVID-19.

“We want to ensure that the largest participation sport in the ACT remains affordable for all our participants, especially during this challenging time,” Mr Brown said.

“Working on the premise of ‘half season equals half fee’, the Capital Football Board decided to reduce our component of the registration fee by 50 percent, which will save our football community $685,000.

“I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the ACT Government for recognising the enormous strain COVID-19 has had on our local football community and deciding not to charge for field hire during the 2020 winter football season.

“Their decision has removed the biggest expense for many of our clubs and will save our football community a further $900,000,” he concluded.

The news comes after the governing body recently announced its plan to return to action, with Canberra’s NPL and other competitions set to begin by July 18.

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Weston Bears Park to Transform into a State-of-the-Art Sports Hub

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Weston Bears Park upgrade new clubroom facilities

The Weston Bears Park upgrade will deliver modern, accessible facilities for football players, spectators, and the local community in Newcastle. Construction is well underway and the project scheduled to finish by February 2026.

The upgrade is part of Cessnock City Council’s ongoing community projects. It will improve local sports infrastructure and support community engagement. Weston Bears Park hosts daily training and matches for Premier League and junior teams. Additionally, it serves as a venue for community events.

The project includes:

  • Refurbishing the grandstand to create new clubrooms, a canteen, office space, and members’ area

  • Building team change rooms, referee facilities, and a gym

  • Upgrading spectator amenities, including toilets and better access

  • Constructing a new car park and improving landscaping

The Weston Bears Facility Upgrade follows the adoption of the Weston Bears Park Masterplan in September 2020. Council consulted with Weston Bears Football Club, Weston Junior Football Club, Weston Workers Club, and the community. This ensured the upgrades meet the needs of all users.

Funding comes from the Australian Government’s Growing Regions Program and Council’s operational budget. This partnership shows a shared commitment to local sport and community wellbeing.

Cessnock City Council Mayor said: “This upgrade marks an exciting step for Weston Bears Park. It will provide modern, accessible facilities for everyone—from grassroots players to long-time supporters. We are proud to invest in infrastructure that brings people together and strengthens our sporting culture.”

Ultimately, the project will transform Weston Bears Park into a state-of-the-art sporting hub. Consequently, it will remain a key centre for football and community activity in Newcastle for many years.

Elite Coaching Secrets Revealed: Chris Ramsey MBE to Inspire Australian Youth Coaches

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Chris Ramsey MBE presenting youth coaching strategies

Football Coaches Australia has announced a special online CPD session featuring Chris Ramsey MBE on Monday, November 17th at 7:30 pm AEDT. The timing is significant: Ramsey will be joining the session immediately following his involvement with the FIFA U17 World Cup.

This means Australian coaches will receive fresh, real-world insights from one of the game’s most respected youth development experts while his observations are still current.

Elite Experience Meets Youth Development

Ramsey brings a rare dual perspective to the session. As a former Premier League coach and current Professional Development Phase Lead for England’s youth teams, he has worked across both elite senior and youth environments.

This combination gives him unique insight into what young players actually need to succeed at the highest levels. He’s not theorising about development pathways; he’s actively shaping them for England’s next generation of elite footballers.

The Maturation Factor

The session will focus on a critical but often misunderstood aspect of youth coaching: “The Need to Consider Growth and Maturation when Developing Young Players.”

Ramsey will explore how physical, psychological, and emotional maturity impact player performance. More importantly, he’ll share how the world’s best youth systems adapt their coaching to account for these differences.

This isn’t about treating all players the same. It’s about recognising that young athletes develop at different rates and adjusting coaching approaches accordingly.

Practical Takeaways From the World Stage

The U17 World Cup provides the perfect laboratory for observing these maturation differences in action. Players from different countries, backgrounds, and development systems compete at the same age level but often display vastly different levels of physical and mental maturity.

Ramsey will draw from these specific observations to illustrate how elite programs identify and work with these variations. Australian coaches attending the session will gain access to strategies currently being used at the highest levels of international youth football.

Session Details

The CPD session takes place on Monday, November 17th at 7:30 pm Australian Eastern Daylight Time online. This represents a valuable opportunity for coaches to learn directly from someone actively working at the forefront of international youth development.

With Ramsey’s MBE recognition and his current role shaping England’s youth teams, the session offers Australian coaches a direct connection to elite European development thinking and practice.

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