As CEO of Soccerscene, I’ve been watching Australian football grow and evolve. Crowds are bigger, clubs are modernising, and communities are reconnecting with the game. But there’s a gap that can’t be ignored.
Australian football is growing fast. Crowds are bigger, clubs are modernising, and communities are reconnecting with the game. However, football administrators CPD membership and professional development are still lacking. The people running clubs and governing bodies operate without clear frameworks or accountability.
For too long, administrators have worked without structured professional standards. If we want a sustainable future, professionalising football administration must match the standards we already require from coaches, agents, and other key roles in the game.
The Gap in Professional Development for Football Administrators
The gap is obvious. Coaches must earn AFC coaching licences or Football Australia equivalent qualifications and complete Continuing Professional Development every three years. Agents must earn 20 CPD credits each year with an 80 percent pass rate.
Administrators, who run clubs and federations, have no similar rules. Consequently, there are no CPD requirements, baseline standards, or accountability measures. This is not a small problem. Instead, it is a major gap in how we see football administration standards.
Membership and CPD Frameworks for Football Administrators
A membership-style framework for administrators would fix this. It could include mandatory CPD, accredited courses, recognition for good work, and clear accountability rules. Importantly, this is not bureaucracy. It helps administrators make better decisions, lead with purpose, and manage football responsibly.
Learning from Chartered Accountants to Guide Football Administrators
Other sectors offer a model. Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand CA ANZ represents over 140,000 professionals. Members follow strict ethical rules, ongoing education, and recognition programs. Their Member Benefits Program supports members personally and professionally through technology, business services, and lifestyle tools.
Chartered Accountants are known for their skill and integrity. Therefore, if football administrators had similar structured professional standards, the game off the pitch could match the ambition on it.
Global Inspiration: Made in Korea and Football Administration Reform
There are strong examples nearby. Over the past two years, the Korea Football Association Made in Korea project has overhauled coaching and administrative systems. It created a clear philosophy, fixed gaps in development, and built a national identity.
Korea Republic has qualified for every FIFA World Cup since 1986, but it has never broken into the top tier of world football. The Made in Korea project shows that progress needs structure, planning, and shared purpose. Australian football needs the same.
Encouraging Moves at Home for Football Administrators
Positive steps are happening locally. For example, the recent Football Convention in Queensland empowered all stakeholders and lifted the discussion about governance and professional development.
Michael Connelly from CPR Group, who spoke at the convention, highlighted Stewardship. This means making decisions for the long-term health of clubs, not just today. He also discussed pathways to sustainable growth from strategic partnerships to small practical changes. These examples show that we have people ready to lead reforms in football administration.
Strategic Planning and CPR Group in Football Administration
CPR Group is Australia’s leading provider of sports governance, planning, and community development. They help national and state bodies, councils, universities, and grassroots clubs. CPR Group delivers master plans, governance advice, constitutions, feasibility studies, and sport and recreation plans.
Michael Connelly’s leadership demonstrates how strategic planning provides a clear roadmap. It aligns decisions with a club’s vision and communicates values to members, sponsors, and funders. Many committees want to transform their clubs but struggle with day-to-day tasks. Strategic planning gives focus and confidence.
Keeping Pace with Growth: CPD for Football Administrators
Victorian football is growing fast. Crowds are bigger, clubs are modernising, and communities are more engaged. Growth brings opportunity but also responsibility. Therefore, administrators need tools, training, and frameworks to manage it effectively.
Professional development would give administrators access to digital membership tools, community engagement models, and financial planning strategies. Without this support, administrators risk falling behind. Structured training helps them lead rather than just react.
Recognition and Motivation for Football Administrators
Recognition helps build a professional culture. CA ANZ rewards excellence through fellowships, service awards, and honours. Football could do the same for administrators who innovate, lead inclusively, and strengthen clubs. Recognition motivates administrators to stay engaged and improve the game.
The Time to Act for Football Administrators CPD and Membership
Australian football is at an important point. Crowds are growing, investment is rising, and community support is strong. However, if this growth is to last, administrators must be prepared to lead professionally.
The CA ANZ model shows how professional standards can transform a sector. The KFA’s Made in Korea project shows how structure can redefine football identity. The Football Queensland Convention shows how stakeholders can elevate the debate. CPR Group shows how planning brings clarity and focus.
By introducing football administrators CPD membership programs, we can create a generation of ethical, capable, and accountable leaders. Football is more than what happens on the pitch. It is the reawakening of the game’s heart and identity. To protect that, we must invest in the people who manage, grow, and sustain football every day.
The time to act is now.
