Football Queensland appoint former Matilda Amy Chapman

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Football Queensland has ticked yet another box as it continues to make good on its promises.

Their Strategic Plan has been adhered to thus far and they continue to go from strength to strength.

Last week, they announced that former Matilda Amy Chapman would be joining the Board of Directors, as well as a future role as Chair of the Women’s Advisory Council.

FQ’s full statement can be found here:

Football Queensland (FQ) is pleased to announce the appointment of Amy Chapman to the FQ Board of Directors.

A former Matilda and Westfield W-League player, Chapman brings a wealth of experience in the football landscape as a player, commentator and analyst for Optus Sport, Fox Sports and Channel 9.

As a Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) delegate, Chapman led negotiations for the W-League Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) and initiated the first ever PFA corporate partnership designed to assist players in transitioning to life after football.

With a passion for growing football in Australia and giving back to the game, Chapman also boasts an understanding of the need to strengthen pathways in regional areas having grown up playing football in a regional town.

In addition to her appointment to the FQ Board of Directors, Chapman will bring her vast experience to the role of Chair of the Women’s Advisory Council, to be established by FQ in the coming weeks.

Supporting the implementation of the 2020-2022 Strategic Plan for football in Queensland, FQ’s Women’s Advisory Council will work to grow and strengthen the women’s game across the state.

*ENDS*

Chapman, 33, is a long-time servant of the game in Australia, especially in Queensland. She signed with Brisbane Roar’s W-League side in 2010 and clearly, with FQ appointing her in this position, she has rubbed people off the right way over the last 10 years.

As mentioned in the press release, Chapman has also worked in the media with Channel 9, Optus Sport and Fox Sports, showcasing her in-depth knowledge of the game.

Bringing Chapman onto the Board of Directors seems, on paper, to be a fantastic move. She has a lot of experience on the field and she can use that to help FQ gain more understanding as to what the players desire most. Players can only do so much on and off the field with little to no decision making ability.

Her inclusion onto the Board, once again as mentioned above, will lead into her role as the Chair of the Women’s Advisory Council that has the ability to shape things up off the field.

Football Queensland only recently committed to growing the women’s game on the Sunshine Coast. Now, with the establishment of the Advisory Council in the next few weeks to go with Chapman’s arrival at FQ, the Sunshine State now seems to be setting the standard off the field for representation.

The introduction of this role could potentially lead other states into following suit, which, in theory, could potentially change the women’s game in Australia.

Assuming the Advisory Council would be made up of women and with the purpose of growing the game for both aspiring juniors and current professionals, it would be a project everyone would be on board with.

It’s fair to say that giving young girls all the support and funding they need is one of the most important areas that Australian soccer needs to address. Currently, we’re going well both on home soil and overseas.

But if you don’t plan for the future, then you pay the price down the track. Planning for the future is the overarching purpose of any Strategic Plan and FQ seem to have the right idea on how to approach this significant issue.

In this everchanging world we live in, everyone deserves a chance to do what they have always wanted to. This Advisory Council, when officially formed, will have the ability to fulfill the hopes and dreams of many young girls in Queensland.

We here at Soccerscene once again praise Football Queensland and their commitment to fulfilling their Strategic Plan. It’s great to see them with so much passion for changing the game for the better off the field.

What are your thoughts on Chapman’s arrival at FQ? Get involved in the conversation on Twitter @Soccersceneau

 

 

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GIS and ACPE join forces to strengthen football coaching and tactical development

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The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) will support Hills Football Association in delivering a specialist coaching workshop designed to improve player development, tactical understanding and performance analysis.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the ACPE campus in Sydney Olympic Park, the workshop will bring together experienced football coaches and performance analysts to explore practical approaches to developing players’ tactical awareness, decision-making and understanding of the game.

Titled Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding, the event will run from 6pm to 8.30pm and feature two workshops focused on translating coaching theory and performance analysis into practical learning environments.

Former Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni, who has also led the national women’s teams of the United States, Canada and New Zealand, will present the first session, Working with International Players.

The workshop will examine how coaches can design training sessions that develop tactical execution under realistic match conditions, with an emphasis on practice design, player decision-making and effective coaching behaviours.

The second session, From Video to Understanding, will be facilitated by experienced performance analysts from GIS and ACPE.

Participants will explore how match footage can be used to strengthen tactical learning, encourage player reflection and develop independent decision-making.

The session will also examine how coaches can structure effective video reviews that align with coaching objectives and a team’s playing model.

Supporting the next generation of football coaches

The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining traditional coaching methods with modern performance analysis to support player development across Australian football.

As clubs and football organisations increasingly seek to improve coaching standards, access to practical education and industry expertise remains an important component of developing more effective learning environments.

The workshop is designed for coaches seeking player-centred approaches that encourage footballers to read the game, understand tactical situations and make better decisions on the pitch.

Participants will receive two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition.

For GIS, the collaboration provides another opportunity to connect its specialist sports education and analytics expertise with the practical demands of football coaching.

The institute delivers postgraduate sports education through online learning and stadium-based campuses internationally, including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and SCG.

Its Sydney offering includes the Master of Sports Analytics and Master of International Sports Business, supporting the development of professionals across the sporting industry.

ACPE, established in 1917 and based at Sydney Olympic Park, brings extensive experience in sport, health and physical education, with a strong emphasis on industry-focused learning and practical professional development.

Together with Hills Football Association, the two education providers aim to equip coaches with practical knowledge that can be applied directly within their football environments.

Event details

  • Event: Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding
  • Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
  • Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
  • Venue: ACPE Campus, 10 Parkview Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
  • Presenter: Tom Sermanni
  • Facilitators: Performance analysts from ACPE and GIS
  • CPD: Two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development

Coaches interested in attending are encouraged to register through the event’s official registration channel.

For more information about the education providers, visit Global Institute of Sport and Australian College of Physical Education.

Football NSW backs 20 female coaches with qualification scholarships

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has supported 20 female coaches to complete their AFC/Football Australia C Diploma qualification in 2026, using scholarships funded through Football Australia and CommBank’s Growing Football Fund to reduce the cost of coach education.

The initiative included a dedicated female-only C Diploma course delivered by Football NSW in April and May, attended by 13 coaches. An additional seven received support to complete courses closer to their local communities, improving access for coaches across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Football NSW Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd said the scholarships had helped address a key barrier to coaching development.

“These scholarships have helped remove a significant barrier for many female coaches seeking to progress their coaching journey,” Todd said.

Todd said the combination of a female-only course and support for locally accessible qualifications had created pathways for 20 women to develop their skills and contribute to football in their communities.

The program reflects an ongoing challenge for the sport: increasing women’s participation also requires investment in the coaches who lead teams, develop players and help shape club environments.

By helping cover qualification costs, the scholarships give recipients an opportunity to strengthen their coaching knowledge and leadership capabilities while expanding the pool of qualified female coaches available to clubs.

The support also connects to the wider Growing Football Fund, a joint Football Australia and CommBank initiative aimed at creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game.

The fund’s community grant program offers eligible clubs and associations grants of up to $5,000 to help attract or retain women and girls in football, with applications for the 2026–27 round closing on 20 October 2026.

The governing body also offers Women in Football Coaching Scholarships worth 50 per cent of course costs, with applications limited.

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