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Football Victoria provides coaching support through Club Coach Coordinator program
Through the Club Coach Coordinator (CCC) program, Football Victoria (FV) is committed to working with Clubs to create a positive culture within the state’s football community.
Having been developed by Football Australia to enhance the coaching and playing experience for all involved within a Club, the CCC program represents an immense resource for clubs looking to upskill and ultimately retain coaches to ensure football in Victoria continues to thrive.
The CCC Program promotes retention and development of skills, offering a simple and controlled support network for new or inexperienced coaches. It also offers an opportunity for Club coaches to gain a recognised coaching accreditation within the season and without having to travel to attend an external course.
Under the FV CCC Program, a selected person within a Club works closely with the FV Program Manager to:
Build strong sense of inclusion and belonging.
Welcome new players, members, and supporters.
Maintain good communication between all Club stakeholders and;
Create a positive, safe, and non-threatening environment in which players and coaches feel that they can try new things and make mistakes.
The CCC role provides relevant and valued coach support in the Club environment and supports coaches to ensure sessions are safe, inclusive, organised, enjoyable and engaging for all involved.
Clubs can support their coaches through a variety of packages ranging from a Basic package which primarily involves online support, through the Bronze & Silver packages which offer regular online catch-ups. Gold packages are also available, which provide a higher level of in-person support including Club visits, Community Coaching Certificates and a planned Coaching Conference.
There are already nearly 60 Clubs active within the program in 2022, with a strictly limited amount of packages Bronze, Silver and Gold packages left.
Those looking to register their interest can do so here.
“There was of course really good football on show across the age groups and great sportsmanship, which was fantastic to see.
“I think the message is getting through about how important it is to provide a positive environment for kids to play sport in. It was pleasing to see everybody there, both players and parents/supporters, had a good time.”
Navas estimates that there were well over 12,500 people attending the event across both venues over the weekend, providing a giant boost to the local Shepparton area.
“You are talking about a wide range of people who are, at a minimum, staying in the city of Shepparton or close by for two nights,” he said.
“The economic impact was massive.”
Director for Sustainable Development at Greater Shepparton City Council, Geraldine Christou, further explained the greater benefits the tournament had on the local community.
“Australia’s largest junior weekend football tournament right here in Greater Shepparton showcases the strength of our community spirit and our capacity to host major events that bring joy, talent, and visitors to our region,” she stated.
“The economic benefit of this tournament is immense with an estimated $3 to $4 million generated for the region, supporting our local businesses and creating lasting memories for thousands of young athletes and their families.
The Greater Shepparton City Council’s Parks, Sport and Recreation team played a big hand in the organisation of the tournament, which included looking after the setup of pitches to the placement of goals at the venues.
Football Victoria CEO Chris Pehlivanis, who attended the tournament over the course of the weekend, was impressed with the execution of it.
“I’m proud of the whole tournament, it was an amazing opportunity to come down here to Shepparton and see lots of boys and girls playing football and playing lots of games,” he stated at the event.
“I think most kids had six, seven, eight games which is an amazing opportunity and not only that, there was amazing organisation.
“Everyone should be extremely proud of what they have achieved here this weekend…the logistics, everything was run smoothly…the referees were great and all the parents and participants were great.”
The Shepparton Cup has continued to grow exponentially over the years, initially starting with just 30 teams in the inaugural tournament in 2007.
This year’s edition also featured a wide range of off the field activities that contributed to a carnival like atmosphere. There was live music, on stage entertainment, food trucks, a fun zone for players and families.
Navas detailed to Soccerscene that the enormity of the event was not lost on him and is investigating ways to make the competition better in the near future.
“(The growth of the event has been) overwhelming, compared to many of the previous years. It was the biggest by far this year and there was a great positivity around it.
“The plan is to not necessarily make it bigger in the future, just to tweak it and add more to it and make it a better experience for everyone.
“I’d love to be able to attract some more international teams, we are looking at that to see how we can get some of the Asian teams to come across to the event.
“This would be fantastic, as it would show the kids here how football is played in different parts of the world. The way we look at things is ‘if I was 10- or 12-years-old what would I want this tournament be?’
“That’s what drives a lot of our thinking and ultimately our initiatives. It’s important to us because if the kids have a good experience, they’re going to become better players and better people because of it.
“We’ve also received some really good information from the feedback surveys we put out, which is very beneficial in shaping the tournament suitably in future editions.”
Every child should have the opportunity to get outdoors, join a sports club, and stay active, yet for some families, the costs associated with sports can be a major barrier to participation.
The program offers eligible children $200 vouchers that can be applied toward membership fees, registration, sports equipment, or uniforms (new or second-hand).
Football Victoria urges the football community to take advantage of this excellent initiative from Get Active Victoria, which has already distributed over 100,000 vouchers since the program began.
To qualify for a voucher, your child/dependent must meet the following criteria:
Between the ages of 0 and 18 years
A resident of Victoria
Listed on a valid Australian Government Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card
Listed on a valid Australian Government Medicare Card
If you have multiple eligible children, you may apply for more than one voucher, and can include all children in a single application.
What costs are covered?
Vouchers valued at up to $200 can be used to cover membership, registration, or participation fees at a registered Get Active Kids sports or active recreation club, association, or program.
You can locate a registered activity provider during the application process or inquire with your local club about their registration status.
If the membership or registration fee includes uniform and equipment costs, a voucher can be applied to cover those items, such as safety gear or mouthguards.
Important dates
Round 8 applications opened on October 9, 2024, and will remain available until the allocation is depleted, as for the voucher expiration date, it will be on the 29 April 2025.