Football Queensland invest heavily into referee development  

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Football Queensland have announced a significant investment into referee development, with seven Referee Coach and Development Officers appointed across the sunshine state.

The officers will work closely with the FQ referee department to raise the standard of officiating in Queensland.

“On behalf of Football Queensland, I’d like to congratulate the Referee Coach and Development Officers who have been appointed to the newly-created roles,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.

“In the 2020–2022 Strategic Plan, we identified the need to grow referee numbers across the state whilst improving the quality and standard of refereeing. The appointment of these seven Officers represents the biggest investment Football Queensland has made in match officials and a step change in achieving our strategic referee outcomes.

“This announcement follows the implementation of a range of new FQ referee initiatives in the last 18 months, including the first-year referee pack, referee e-learning platform and the Referee Academy.

“It was fantastic to see these new initiatives result in an 18% increase in referee registrations in February 2020 compared to February 2019, however we know there is still more important work ahead to realise our Strategic Plan target of reaching 2,200 referees by 2022.”

“These appointments will ensure that we have consistency across the state with regards to referee education and coaching, fitness training and assessments, and will be critical in supporting the delivery of FQ’s Strategic Plan outcomes.”

FQ State of Referee Manager, Jacqui Hurford, said of the new developments: “The Referee Coach and Development Officers will assist the FQ Referee Department with the recruitment and retention of referees in each zone, while providing a new level of support to match officials from a local perspective.

“The zone-based Referee Coach and Development Officers will also provide valuable guidance to FQ on how we can better assist the zones in strengthening referee development and support.

“With additional development coordinators, appointment coordinators and quality coaches now supporting the work already being undertaken at a zone level, particularly in regional areas, we are confident that FQ is heading in the right direction and on track to increase referee numbers across the state.”

The seven Referee Coach and Development Officers are Marsh Camille (Sunshine Coast), Brad Burton (Wide Bay), Trevor May (Mackay), Sam Williams (CQ), Cory Skilton (North Queensland – Southern Conference) and Nathan O’Connor (North Queensland – Northern Conference).

In the Gold Coast zone, Mark Simon-Green will oversee the role with the help of locally appointed referee coaches.

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Manchester City Begins Work on New Women’s Training Facility

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Image Credit: Manchester City website

Manchester City is in the development stage of building the Manchester City Women’s team a new purpose-built training facility at the City Football Academy, known as the club’s training centre.

The project, valued at up to $20.5 million, is set to open next season and marks the latest chapter in the club’s ongoing investment in top-tier facilities for the team.

Once completed, the facility will include a hydrotherapy area, a high-performance gym, and a circular dressing room designed to enhance player development.

In addition to their purpose-built facility, the Women’s First Team will continue to benefit from being an integral part of the $409 million City Football Academy, allowing them to utilise the organisation’s extensive resources and expertise.

To mark the beginning of construction, club captain Alex Greenwood was joined by Managing Director Charlotte O’Neill, Director of Football Therese Sjögran, and Director of Performance Services Emma Deakin for the official groundbreaking ceremony.

Club Captain Alex Greenwood reflects on the current facilities at the club and her excitement for the new development that is on the rise.

“Right from the start we’ve been involved quite a lot so we could discuss what’s going to be in there and what’s necessary. From what I know the facilities are going to be the best, which is nothing short of what I expect. I’m excited to see how it’s going to look,” she said via press release.

The facility has been specifically tailored to meet the needs of the team, with extensive consultation undertaken during the planning phase, including input from First Team Multi-Disciplinary experts and members of the playing squad.

The 17,000-square-foot building has also been designed with future expansion in mind as the team continues to grow.

Managing Director at Manchester City Women Charlotte O’Neill commented on the new facility and the beginning of its construction.

“Over the past decade, the team has benefited from being a part of the high-performance environment here, working with some of the very coaches, practitioners and support staff, as well as accessing some of the best facilities,” she said via press release.

“But the time feels right for the team to move into our own purpose-built home, and we think we’ve designed something really special that will help us in our efforts to consistently challenge for major titles.”

The new facility reaffirms Manchester City’s commitment to women’s football, aiming for success and growth through providing an environment to support the team’s future ambitions.

AFC Youth Panel discusses future of player development in Asia

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Image Credit: AFC

Representatives of the Asian Football Confederation met online on Thursday for the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Youth Panel. Through the virtual event, Member Association’s (MAs) shared their experiences of their youth systems for the 2024-25 term.

The panel was hosted with a key focus on identifying how to improve the developmental programmes of the 16–19-year-old age group. The meeting discussed ways to not just improve technical skill but also strengthen the mental resilience of players and increase the number of competitive matches they are playing.

 AFC Technical Director Andy Roxburgh explained why the confederation was focusing on the 16-19 age group.
“This age group is a formative stage where we are dealing with players in national youth teams and it’s a crucial stepping stone for talented youngsters who are at the threshold of pursuing the sport professionally,” he said via press release.
“We must be able to help them master techniques under pressure and develop a winning mentality, so it is imperative to provide them with expert guidance.”
Through the panel representatives also explored conversations on the need to properly prepare coaches for training developing professional youth by providing them with the skills and knowledge required to excel.
Additionally, the meeting presented updates on several high-profile AFC developmental programmes for participants. In particular, the panel highlighted the Triple-A Project, a programme designed to provide tailored support to MAs via continual summits, and the AFC’s ongoing research partnership with the University of Tsukuba, which aims to study elite youth systems across Asia.
To finalise the session, participants were informed of the AFC’s other technical programmes, especially the recent publication of the AFC Elite Youth Bulletin. The Bulletin presents a major step forward for youth development within the Confederation, as it stands as a handbook for MAs to use, highlighting the best initiatives and programmes other MAs across Asia have used to great effect.

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