Football Victoria looking to grow women’s football into the future

In a statement released on Monday, Football Victoria released a new report into the structure of Women and Girls’ football for the future.

The report is aimed at improving the gender balance in Victorian football, with the overall goal of a 50/50 balance by 2027.

The statement can be found below in full.

Football Victoria (FV) today released its independent final report following a comprehensive review into the Women and Girls’ competition structure for football in Victoria.

Tasked with delivering an enhanced football experience for all senior and junior players and a clear vision for the game, the review sought to identify the optimal structure for Women and Girls’ football in the state. It seeks to grow participation, provide the best pathways for junior development and identification and enhance the overall involvement of women and girls in the world game.

Endorsed by the FV Board, the final report covers key areas of improvement for the Women and Girls’ competitions and outlines 22 key recommendations. Its focus areas are football’s culture, players, referees, clubs, coaches, Government and other external stakeholders.

The recommendations are aligned to FV’s overall strategic direction and commitment to growing investment in Women and Girls’ football as we pursue our journey towards a 50:50 gender balance by 2027. Some of the report’s key recommendations include:

  1. Developing a bespoke Victorian Women and Girls’ overarching Football Strategy;
  2. Introducing single age-group competitions (e.g. separate U13s and U14s age-groups rather than current U13-14 combined age group);
  3. A proposed overhaul of Victoria’s Women’s Football Competition Structure;
  4. Methods to develop, retain and grow the number of women and girls in refereeing roles;
  5. Development of a standardised club induction toolkit and process outlining the roles, responsibilities and gender equity expectations for clubs, players, coaches and parents; and
  6. Further driving the push at local and state government levels for more “female friendly” facilities

The Football Competition Review was conducted by independent sports consultancy firm Sports Business Partners (SBP), who worked in collaboration with FV to undertake a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process led by a dedicated and independent Review Steering Committee.

The review’s Steering Committee comprised 26 dedicated and experienced representatives from all levels of the game and was chaired by the President of Women Sport Australia, Carol Fox. Ms. Fox expressed her sincere gratitude for the time and effort contributed by all Steering Committee members.

“The team comprised many talented individuals who brought wide-ranging expertise and knowledge from a variety of backgrounds,” Ms Fox said.

“The team was provided with the opportunity to ensure that all the key themes were discussed, to review areas that were operating well and identify key areas requiring change. It was a privilege to chair this group of experts,” she said.

FV Board Director, Sezar Jakupi, was pleased with the depth of stakeholder engagement, the quality of analysis SBP and the final recommendations.

“The review has seen significant engagement with our female participants in the game and has provided clear guidance to Football Victoria on the game’s challenges and how we can work together to overcome them,” Mr. Jakupi said.

The report’s recommendations will now move to the next phase of work to be completed with key stakeholders, with a view of implementing changes over the next few seasons.

The report also concludes the most comprehensive review ever conducted by Football Victoria into both the Men’s & Boys and Women & Girls competitions.

“Victoria is leading Australia with the proactive approach in reviewing and enhancing the competition structures for both women and girls as well as men and boys.  This requires a clear vision for the game and with the completion of both competition reviews, we believe that we have paved the way for the future which will deliver enhanced experiences for all participants as well as improved developmental outcomes.” Peter Filopoulos, FV CEO said.

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The Athlete Management System changing the Data Game

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Image Credit: Teamworks

In today’s high-performance sports landscape, data is a game-changer, and the Teamworks AMS has been regarded as the gold standard in Athlete Management Systems (AMS)

Teamworks is a company dedicated to helping athletes, and the people who support them, reach their full potential through innovative technology.

The company is built by athletes, for athletes, and exists to serve and support the world of sport.

Since its founding in 2006, Teamworks has experienced strong and steady growth.

By continually investing in its team and bringing together top-tier tech companies through strategic acquisitions, Teamworks has been able to offer even greater value and service to its customers.

What started in Durham, North Carolina, has now grown into a global presence—spanning 11 countries and supporting athletes and elite sports organisations around the world.

As of 2025, the company has grown to over 450 employees and has secured $165 million in funding.

The company offers a variety of products and services, however, it’s one of their products, the Teamworks AMS that is changing the data game.

Teamworks AMS is part of the Teamworks Performance lineup, which also includes Teamworks Nutrition (formerly Notemeal).

Together, these connected tools help practitioners and sports scientists provide personalised, well-coordinated care for athletes—boosting performance while helping to prevent injuries.

Teamworks’ AMS helps integrated and multidisciplinary sports performance teams deliver personalised and unified support to elite athletes.

By bringing all the data into one place, it gives coaches and specialists a clear, real-time picture of each player and the team as a whole—so they can make smarter decisions that drive performance every single week.

Teamworks AMS focuses on three key areas to support athlete performance: keeping athletes ready, reducing injuries, and driving long-term development.

Keep Athletes Ready to Perform

By bringing together data on workload, fitness testing and nutrition, users can create tailored programs that help each athlete stay healthy, prepared, and performing at their best.

Reduce Injury Risk and Support Recovery

Integrating performance and medical data makes it easier to identify athletes at risk or in recovery. Foster collaboration to speed recovery and help the athlete return to peak performance.

Develop Each Athlete’s Potential

Leverage data to create personalised development plans built around each athlete’s strengths and areas for improvement—supporting growth both physically and mentally.

Teamworks AMS aggregates performance, health, and medical data from over 100 connected wearables and technologies—giving users more time to focus on analysis and action.

Through the use of the Teamworks AMS app, athletes can build custom, visually rich dashboards to spot trends, make smarter decisions, and help boost performance while reducing injury risk.

So why should Australian soccer clubs and organisations use Teamworks AMS?

In a sport where every detail matters—player readiness, injury prevention, and long-term development—Teamworks AMS offers a cutting-edge solution that will Australian soccer clubs elevate performance and stay competitive at all levels.

Soccer is fast-paced, physically demanding, and leaves little room for unpreparedness.

Teamworks AMS pulls together data to create tailored programs that keep players fit, fresh, and ready for matchday.

With a long season and tight schedules, injury risk is constant.

Teamworks AMS integrates medical and performance data to help identify early warning signs and streamline return-to-play strategies.

This collaborative approach ensures better communication at clubs between coaches and medical staff—minimising downtime and maximising impact on the field.

Whether nurturing academy talent or refining senior players, Teamworks AMS helps coaches and performance staff build data-driven Individual Development Plans.

These plans are tailored to each player’s strengths and weaknesses, supporting both physical growth and mental resilience—critical for consistent performance in competitive soccer.

With the A-Leagues, NPL, and youth academies continuing to grow in professionalism and player expectations, Australian soccer clubs need tools that keep pace.

In a world where performance is defined by precision, Teamworks AMS stands out as the gold standard in athlete management—empowering teams with the data, tools, and insights they need to unlock peak potential and stay ahead of the game.

Inaugural Female Referee Mentoring Program Launched by Football NSW

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Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has launched the Female Referees Mentoring Program, a groundbreaking initiative which aims to support and develop  female referees throughout the state.

This unique program builds on the groundwork set by recent NSW Football Legacy scholarship initiatives, continuing to create opportunities and support greater gender diversity in football officiating.

It’s another strong example of Football NSW’s ongoing commitment to developing and supporting female referees.

Football NSW’s Referees Development & Education Manager Emma Kocbek highlighted the organisation’s commitment to empowering female referees through mentorship, fostering inclusion and strengthening the game with greater diversity.

“Football NSW is committed to creating an inclusive environment that encourages women to thrive in all aspects of the game,” Kocbek said in a press release.

“This mentoring program is a significant step forward in empowering female referees, providing them with the tools, confidence, and mentorship needed to succeed at higher levels.

“We believe that diverse refereeing panels lead to a more dynamic, fair, and engaging game for everyone.”

The Mentoring Program is designed to support Level 3 and Level 4 female referees by connecting them with experienced mentors.

Through tailored guidance, real-world advice, and ongoing support, participants will grow their skills, build confidence, and develop as leaders on and off the field.

This support will help them advance in their refereeing careers while also playing a part in encouraging more women to get involved in officiating—across NSW and beyond.

This innovative initiative is part of Football NSW’s wider commitment to increasing female involvement and leadership at all levels of the game.

By backing and developing female referees, Football NSW hopes to inspire more women to take up officiating and help build a football community that is more inclusive, diverse, and representative of everyone who loves the game.

Football NSW’s Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd emphasised that ongoing government funding is vital to grow mentoring programs, boost referee numbers, and build a stronger, more supportive sporting community.

“Government funding plays a crucial role in the successful implementation and growth of the mentoring programs,” Todd said in a press release.

“As participation numbers continue to rise, sustained investment is essential to ensure we are not only increasing the number of referees but also enhancing their skills and confidence.

“By prioritising this investment, we can build a more robust and well-supported sporting community that benefits players, coaches, and referees alike.”

In the coming weeks, Football NSW will be working closely with Referee Branches to identify both mentors and mentees for the program.

This project is proudly backed by the NSW Office of Sport through the NSW Football Legacy Program, and by the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aged Care through its Play Our Way Program.

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