Finalists announced for Inaugural FCA XV Mind Games Cup

In December 2020, 30 globally located teams of coaches and players from grassroots to professional participated in Round 1 of the Inaugural FCA XV Mind Games Cup.

This global first in football provided teams the opportunity to remotely step into a football -themed virtual world, compete against each other, whilst developing and honing essential skills such as communication, collaboration, leadership, resilience, trust and teamwork.

To be successful teams had to prepare themselves prior to the session and keep their emotions in check, with the key being able to deal with uncertainty under pressure. Teams who were able to adapt quickly, performed well.

Congratulations to all teams who participated. The top six teams from Round 1 will now progress through to the Final, to be scheduled for early 2021. Teams in the final are:

  • Mixed Bag (representing several community clubs) (QLD)
  • Maverick FC (representing Sydney FC Sporting Schools) (NSW)
  • Manly United FC (NSW)
  • Curl Curl FC (NSW)
  • Riversdale Maestros (NSW)
  • Taylor’s Lakes Soccer Academy (VIC)

Krishneel Maharaj, Mixed Bag team member, AFC/FFA Advance Licence Coach, Psychologist and FCA member stated:

“I’m a big fan of any quality program that highlights the importance of the oft-forgotten and important ‘soft skills’ of coaching like communication and leadership.

Our team has had fun and a few laughs working together through the Mind Game challenges. It gave us an opportunity to practice our communication, team work and decision-making skills in a challenging and unfamiliar context. We look forward to participating in the final in February 2021”

All participants also received an exclusive presentation delivered by Prof. Mike Conway, who is the Founder of XVenture and the emotional agility and mind coach for the Socceroos. In his tutorial, Mike introduced participants to the EARL Measure (emotional agility, resilience and leadership), a tool he uses in creating performance improvement programs for individuals and teams including the Socceroos, Sydney FC, the Joeys, Olympians and many business organisations globally.

The FCA XV Mind Games Cup is the first initiative under the new partnership between Football Coaches Australia and XVenture. Under this partnership, Coaches will be able to explore, read, watch and experience five subject matter areas, including leadership, emotional agility/ intelligence, culture, communication and resilience. Everything in this exciting program is football themed and includes real cases and examples of essential skills in practice.

The FCA XVenture Essential Skills Program, available from early 2021, is highly relevant and suitable for all levels of coaches, from community to elite football.…but you can already start your self- improvement journey and learn about the EARL Measure and approach by completing the EARL Measure HERE (earl.xventure.com.au) completely free of charge. You’ll receive your results and interpretations upon completion.

Do you want to be the first to know the Essential Skills Program is available?

Send an email to: info@footballcoachesaus.org.au and simply put into the Subject Line: Tell me more about the Essential Skills Program and include your full name in the emai

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Football QLD to team up with Restore Function Physiotherapy

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DedovStock / Shutterstock

Football Queensland announced last week it will be partnering with Restore Function Physiotherapy in a multi-year collaboration.

Elite preparation and performance

By establishing a long-term partnership with a business dedicated to supporting athletes in the region, Football Queensland are showing their commitment to supporting current and future players in their physical preparation.

Furthermore, by ensuring injuries are kept at bay through physiotherapy, strength and conditioning services, Restore Function Physiotherapy will help Football Queensland to keep their most talented players fit and firing throughout the season.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, expressed his delight at establishing the alliance and what it means for Football Queensland’s football development going forward.

“Our partnership with Restore Function Physiotherapy is a key step in continuing to raise the standard of FQ Academy and State Team programs,” Cavallucci said via press release.

“Restore Function Physiotherapy will deliver a range of services across our boys’ and girls’ pathways, including training and match coverage, injury screening, rehabilitation and high performance support,” he continued.

“The experience everyone at Restore Function Physiotherapy bring from elite sport will help to further professionalise our programs and support the long-term development and wellbeing of Queensland players.”

 

Supporting long-term development

As Football Queensland looks to build a sustainable footballing future across the region, prioritising players’ health will be essential. With training partners like Restore Function Physiotherapy, clubs can help their players become elite athletes, ultimately improving the footballing standards on the pitch.

Restore Function Physiotherapy Owner and Founder, Miranda O’Hara, revealed her pride at having established an alliance with Football QLD for the upcoming season and beyond.

“We’re proud to partner with Football Queensland and support its Academy and State Team players with high quality, evidence-based physiotherapy and high performance programs,” O’Hara said via press release.

“Our role is to work closely with players and staff to deliver injury prevention, rehabilitation and S&C programs that support sustainable high performance and long-term athlete development.”

It is clear that the impact of a partnership between Football QLD and Restore Function Physiotherapy goes far beyond a mere commercial venture. It is an alliance which can help a local business, as well as nurture future talents coming through the Football QLD system.

Ultimately, by providing Queensland players with elite training and support networks, a distinct culture of excellence and professionalism is created before they step onto the pitch.

 

Read more about Restore Function Physiotherapy and the services they provide here.

 

Is the FW Regional Girls Training Camp bridging the access gap for talent?

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Image Credit: Football West

In Western Australia, the tyranny of distance has historically functioned as the primary barrier to talent identification.

For regional footballers, the logistical and financial burden of accessing elite pathways often renders the concept of “equal opportunity” a theoretical ideal rather than an operational reality. However, the recent Regional Girls Training Camp, hosted at the Sam Kerr Football Centre, suggests that Football West is moving to operationalise the structural changes announced in its 2026 academy overhaul.

Earlier this week, nearly 100 players aged 10 to 17 converged on the State Centre for Football in Cannington. The three-day camp invited participants from the previous year’s Country Week carnival, represents the first tangible application of the “real-match” and high-performance philosophy outlined by Football West Development Manager Gareth Naven late last year.

While the previous announcement of the Regional Academy model focused on the structural shift from training camps to competitive “State Carnivals,” this current initiative addresses the resource gap. For stakeholders and policymakers, the camp serves as a case study in how centralised infrastructure assets can be leveraged to service a decentralised demographic.

Infrastructure as an equity lever

A lack of high-performance environments defines the economic reality of regional football. The facility gap between metro NPL setups and regional clubs is often vast. Football West uses the Sam Kerr Football Centre to subsidise the “professional experience” for regional talent.

Sarah Carroll, Female Football & Advocacy Manager, notes the purpose extends beyond simple engagement. The curriculum fused on-pitch technical training with athlete development workshops.

Geography usually blocks access to this sport science for a 14-year-old Pilbara or Goldfields player. By centralising this education, the governing body helps standardise the player pool’s knowledge base. Naven’s alignment strategy demands closing the “knowledge gap” alongside the technical one.

The economics of the “Legacy”

Critically, the WA Government funds the camp through the Female Community Legacy Program. This highlights the Legacy Program’s ROI for the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.

A stated aim to “enhance club capability” acknowledges that player development requires an ecosystem. The funding mechanism here is significant. Without state intervention, the cost per head would prohibit many families from attending.

Targeted funding bridges the gap between community participation and elite commercial viability. Regional Lead Tanya Amazzini calls these opportunities “essential” for player growth and confidence.

Strategic alignment with the 2026 pathway

Observers must view this camp alongside the Regional Academy system overhaul. The new “State Carnival” model demands players physically prepared for elite competition. This camp functions as the preparatory phase for that new competitive reality.

Football West uses elite exposure to mitigate the shock of transitioning to state programs. Furthermore, involving players from the Pilbara to the South West keeps the talent net wide. Maintaining sight on remote talent requires constant investment.

The residual challenge

However, the long-term impact warrants caution. The “re-entry” phase remains the primary challenge. Players return to clubs with significantly fewer resources than the Sam Kerr Football Centre.

Success depends on the “trickle-down” effect of the education provided. If players transfer this knowledge locally, the aggregate standard of regional football rises. If isolated, the experience may simply make the regional gap feel more pronounced.

Integrating 100 regional girls into the state’s premier facility executes the strategic plan. It signals that the Centre delivers dividends to the broader ecosystem, not just the elite.

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