Football Queensland to deliver coaching courses focused on increasing representation and diversity

Image provided by Football Queensland

Football Queensland has confirmed that they are set to deliver seven MiniRoos coaching courses across the state, designed to increase the diversity and representation of qualified community coaches in the state.

Following completion of the course, all attendees will have fulfilled the first step in becoming a Casual Participation Officer who can deliver after school programs and Sporting Schools programs.

Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci acknowledged the importance of increasing representation and opportunities for First Nations peoples.

“Representation of First Nations peoples across all areas of our game is integral in ensuring football remains the game of choice for all, for life,” Cavallucci said via a statement to FQ.

“Currently only 177 coaches in Queensland identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander despite more than 3,200 First Nations players participating in Football Queensland competitions.

“The aim of these upcoming coaching courses is to provide an opportunity for our current Indigenous participants and other members of their communities to become upskilled in a new area of the game so that we can welcome more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in community coaching roles across Queensland.

“We’re thrilled to be able to deliver MiniRoos coaching courses across seven of our regions from Far North and Gulf to the South Coast, which will be free for both new and existing participants and will be delivered in conjunction with the host clubs.

“We also encourage clubs who are interested in running a similar community coaching course of their own to register their interest with Football Queensland.”

Image credit: Football Queensland

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index (CVR) has just been released.

This aggregated metric measures the value for money that each club delivers with respect to their SHIELD weighting and performance output. Over the last five years, the 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index has provided valuable insight to parents and stakeholders by offering a transparent, evidence-based, and non-partisan evaluation of which clubs are effectively converting resources into high-quality development programs.

Understanding the Club Rank Score (CRS)

At the heart of the program is the Club’s Rank Score (CRS), which ranks clubs according to a longevity-focused framework. It analyses key criteria, such as opportunities for progression, equity, and safety, producing a merit-based reflection of FQ Academy Club quality. While the CRS reliably examines a club’s overall performance, it does not consider cost-efficiency or gender inequalities.

How the Club Value Ranking Index Improves Analysis

The Club Value Ranking Index fills this gap. Using the CRS as a foundation, the CVR transforms the data by including additional variables such as gender, registration fees, and SHIELD weightings (gold, silver, bronze) to more accurately quantify cost-efficiency. FQ categorises clubs based on their CRS placement:

Gold clubs: 1–10
Silver clubs: 11–24
Bronze clubs: 25–32

The data offers a unique assessment of how clubs perform relative to their SHIELD tier and costs, including performance by gender. This year’s data shows that clubs investing in both male and female player development perform significantly better.

Correlation Between SHIELD Tier and CVR

When transformed, the Club Value Ranking still shows a correlation between SHIELD tier and higher ranking:

Of 10 gold-tier clubs, 7 make the top 10 in the CVR.
Of 8 bronze-tier clubs, 6 are in the bottom 10 in CVR.

As such, the algorithm is particularly relevant to silver-tier clubs, which are dispersed more widely in the CVR.

Outliers and Key Findings

Notable examples include:

Samford Rangers: 21st in CRS → 1st in CVR
Brisbane Strikers: 14th in CRS → last in CVR
Brisbane City: 5th in CRS → 17th in CVR
North Lakes United: 26th in CRS → 10th in CVR

These results highlight clubs that deliver high-quality outcomes relative to their resources, isolating both overperformers and underperformers.

Changes From Last Year

Since last year, 12 more clubs were added. Examples include:

Redlands United: 1st in last year’s CVR → now falls to 27th
Gold Coast Knights: rose from 20th in CVR to 8th in 2025

This demonstrates the CVR’s ability to provide nuanced assessments beyond pure CRS performance.

Implications for Families and Stakeholders

The 2026 Football Queensland Academy Leagues Club Value Index offers a more complete picture of club performance by balancing quality, cost efficiency, and gender-inclusive development. While limitations remain cultural and demographic differences between clubs affect outcomes, the index gives families, coaches, and stakeholders an empirical tool for informed decision-making.

Football Queensland has unveiled its redesigned Club Support Hub, providing enhanced resources and a new Customer Service Booking Portal to assist club administrators and volunteers ahead of the 2026 season. The upgraded hub is designed to streamline support and ensure clubs have the tools they need to operate efficiently.

The Club Support Hub now offers a comprehensive suite of practical resources, covering every stage of the football season – from pre-season planning to post-season wrap-ups. Administrators and volunteers can also book dedicated support directly with FQ’s Customer Service team, making guidance more accessible than ever.

FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said, “Football Queensland acknowledges that the success of club operations is fuelled by the hard work and dedication of volunteers across the state. We are proud to continue to bolster the support available to them with more resources and more access to FQ Customer Support.”

Building on the original Hub launched in 2021 and FQ’s Future Club+ initiative, the upgrade aims to make volunteer workflows more efficient. Checklists, guides, and direct triaging options ensure clubs receive the right support at the right time, allowing administrators to focus on value-adding activities that enhance the football experience.

To support the rollout, FQ will deliver a series of webinars in the coming months, guiding administrators through the extensive new resources available. “We are excited to continue strengthening the support available to our clubs and volunteers as we reinforce our commitment to improving the experience for every member of our football community,” Cavallucci added.

The upgraded Club Support Hub marks a significant step in Football Queensland’s ongoing efforts to provide a more efficient, club-focused service model, ensuring administrators and volunteers have the tools and guidance they need to succeed.