Football NSW welcome ISCA as education partner

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ISCA & Football NSW
Image credit: ISCA

The International Sport College Australia (ISCA) has been named as Football NSW’s Official Education Partner.

In early 2023, ISCA opened its North-West Sydney Campus at Valentine Sports Park, providing both a Diploma of Sports Management (High Performance) and an online Certificate of Sport Management.

The unique program allows students to combine their passion for sports into a complete grasp of the worldwide professional sports sector. The Diploma, created by prominent industry professionals, offers students an innovative combination of training, coaching, learning, and mentorship.

The new Valentine Sports Park campus, the Home of Football in NSW, offers an exciting opportunity for players wishing to broaden their knowledge and take their initial steps towards a career in football or, more generally, sport.

The Diploma is a stand-alone certification, but it also serves as a stepping stone into a bachelor programme at the International College of Management Sydney (ICMS). Former ISCA students have also gone on to pursue Bachelor’s degrees at other Sydney universities.

Football NSW CEO John Tsatsimas is ecstatic to be collaborating with an institution dedicated to football and the broader sports business..

“We’re excited to be partnering with ISCA as our official Education Partner,” he said via press release.

“ISCA provides a great fusion of high-performance training with sports business principles, beneficial to anyone wishing to start their career within the sporting industry. We look forward to welcoming some of the next generation of sporting professionals to Valentine Sports Park over the coming years.”

ISCA General Manager Ian Evans believes the offering of first-class sporting facilities and coaching staff, coupled with a high-quality academic program, will be a game-changer for young athletes.

“ISCA is positioned as an alternative pathway for Year 12 students who love sport but are just not sure what area of sport to focus on,” he added via press release.

“Being non-ATAR based, and offering a blend of business, high performance and sport management subjects, we want to encourage and work with school-leavers who are interested in sport business, coaching, and athletic development, but are unsure about what to focus on in future years, whether it be employment, further study or continuing to play the sport they love.”

The ISCA Diploma of Sports Management (High Performance) course provides students with an innovative blend of training, coaching, learning and mentoring to develop an edge in the sports industry, whilst offering a platform for students to improve athletic ability in a high-performance environment.

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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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