Future of Australian football discussed in Women’s Football Coaching Summit panel

Women's Football Coaching Summit 2023

The first ever Women’s Football Coaching Summit was held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on July 25, featuring a variety of speakers who covered a range of topics regarding the Matildas and the growth of the game in Australia.

Made possible by the Global Institute of Sport in conjuction with Football Coaches Australia, the full-day event covered some of the pressing issues in the game.

As the women’s game has only become professional in recent times, many key points revolved around if the country is doing enough to promote women’s football and how we can build on the momentum hosting a world cup has provided.

Socceroos legend Gary Cole hosted a ‘Let’s Talk Football’ discussion with a panel consisting of Canada assistant coach Tom Sermanni and former Matildas Heather Garriock and Catherine Cannuli.

It was highlighted that only 12 out of 32 head coaches at the World Cup were women, and while it is a women’s World Cup nations still appoint the person they believe is most suitable for the job, with the fact women’s football has not been professional for a long period of time.

Sermanni added: “As the game becomes more professional we will see more female coaches transition from playing to coaching”. Garriock would also explain “there is no career in Australia for coaching (women)” – suggesting the game is still tender and much development still needs to be made.

The resources available in developing the next generation of Matildas is in question, with Australia needing a strategy in place after the conclusion of the World Cup to develop the next generation of players.

Sermanni stated: “We are not doing enough to develop the next generation because there are no longer rescuers and no one in full time development”.

On the back of A-league clubs being handed the responsibility of developing Australia’s talent, Cannuli also shared that “now you have to pay $2500, back when I was playing it was free. We haven’t qualified for a youth world cup in years”. The pathways for women to make it to the top level are limited and should be a key focus the country has in ensuring the future is successful.

To retain and increase the talent in women’s football, Australia must prepare for the rise of participation levels and make the most of the potential on offer. Garriock believes “we are not ready for the influx of participation after the World Cup”. The Matildas success has seen the entire nation support them and sell out stadiums throughout the tournament – the momentum the team is building is something that Australia must capitalise on as the increase in girls playing the game will climb, particularly at the grass roots level.

As the Matildas success continues, they face England in the semi final of the World Cup on Wednesday, August 16 where the nation will watch on to see if they can make history.

Due to the overwhelming support the country has shown the team, multiple watching venues including AAMI Park will be opened for spectators. Channel Seven will show the game live on free-to-air and on its streaming service 7Plus, while Optus Sport will also show the game live, given its broadcast rights for the whole tournament.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Melbourne Victory’s brand-new infrastructure strategy

Melbourne Victory & SEDA

A-League giant Melbourne Victory has revealed a brand-new extensive infrastructure strategy to foster and support tomorrow’s footballing stars.

The strategic infrastructure plan set out by Victory will aim to develop youth and women’s football programs by providing improved access to world class footballing facilities and player pathways across Victoria.

To achieve this, Melbourne Victory has opted for a campus model to enable players access to connected and consistent facilities across the North, East, South and West of Melbourne, all within an hour’s journey of Victory’s club administrative centre and the A-League Men’s training facilities at Gosch’s Paddock.

The club also intends to build another campus within the Melbourne city centre, with the first campus location to be announced by the club soon, as it continues to review and assess possible sites across the city.

Melbourne Victory Chairman, John Dovaston, explained why the club had chosen the campus model.

“The announcement of this project, and the direction taken, is aimed at ensuring we are best placed to attract and retain football talent across the State,” he said in a press release.

“Our innovative approach will allow us to have a number of campuses with not only an elite focus, but also, an eye on building our community to ensure that all Victorians have an opportunity to participate and engage in our game.”

Melbourne Victory Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the new infrastructure strategy was so important to the club.

“It is well understood that sport and football can influence social cohesion, and it’s our responsibility as a Club to establish infrastructure and programs that can positively impact members of the community, regardless of gender, background or location, whether that be through training the next generation of football stars, or using football as a vehicle to lead, unite, connect and inspire the community more broadly,” she said via press release.

“By enabling Victory to connect with communities across the North, South, East, and West of AAMI Park, our spiritual home, we can truly grow the Victory family and set new standards for elite facilities in our Pathway and community programs.”

The infrastructure project is an important move for the club, allowing it to grow, improve and future-proof its current suite of footballing programs. Currently, Victory operates nine elite and 23 pathway programs, providing services to over 16,000 participants across Victoria. Through the campus model, the club hopes it will be able to more efficiently develop the new generation of A-League and national team players.

“The priority is to provide not just an entry point for individuals to engage and participate in football, but to keep them engaged and provide a holistic journey to grow the Victory family across the State,” Carnegie continued.

“We are excited about the opportunities that the project can provide and the potential for growth for our Club and for football in the future.”

Melbourne Victory will continue to issue updates as it sets on the 5-year-plus journey to complete the entire project. For more information on the club’s major infrastructure strategy, access the plan HERE.

 

WA Community Use of School Sporting Facilities grants open

Soccer youths

The first round of the WA Community Use of School Sporting Facilities Program grants is now open for applications until March 21.

The program is an initiative from the West Australian government aimed to inspire partnerships between schools and community sporting groups to more effectively use sporting facilities and foster a greater sense of community.

Developed in collaboration with the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries (DLGSC), and the Department of Education (DoE), the program strives to:

  • improve access to sporting facilities for community sporting groups
  • improve school sports facilities
  • assist schools in developing their facilities for outside hours use without damaging student safety
  • encourage partnerships between schools and community sporting groups

Grants Eligibility 

Program funding is only available to WA public primary or secondary schools, which have partnered with at least one community sporting group under a DoE Community Use Agreement.

Schools applying for funding must prove they need monetary support to develop facilities and assist community sporting groups to use facilities. Additionally, they need an Eligibility Declaration from their partnered sporting grouping to confirm it will regularly access the facilities.

The partnered community sporting group must also meet a range of eligibility requirements:

  • It must be incorporated under the Associations Incorporations Act 2015 (WA),
  • Or it must be an Indigenous organisation under the Corporations (Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth)
  • Or it must be a company limited by guarantee under the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth)
  • It must participate in a classified sport under the DLGSC
  • It must be registered under a DLGSC recognised state sport association (SSA)
  • It must enter teams into a local sport program or DLGSC SSA affiliated competition
  • It must have an Australian Business Number (ABN)
  • It must comply with the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004
  • It must maintain insurance to cover the DoE CUA

Grants Funding Parameters 

There is up to $50,000 worth of funding available for successful applicants across four different types of one-off investments:

Minor Equipment or Infrastructure

This includes funding for small scale items such goalposts, equipment storage or other minor items or infrastructure.

Minor Playing Surface or Upgrade of Oval or Hardcourts

This includes funding for minor improvements to sports fields and courts, such as:

  1. Resurfacing
  2. Marking
  3. Reticulation
  4. Returfing
  5. Grass oval rejuvenation works

Minor Improvements to Existing Surfaces 

This includes funding for small scale improvements that make sporting facilities safer for outside use, such as locks, cameras, gates, and lights.

Other Relevant Activities That Enhance Facilities Use

This includes funding for activities that would increase the use of sporting facilities, such as for one off payments for staff and equipment.

How to Apply for Grants

Applications for the program can be completed online on the DLGSC website.

Before applying make sure to read the guidelines and have the necessary documentation ready.

Documents you will need are:

  • Signed Community Use Agreement (or letter of intent to enter at CUA)
  • Community Sport Group Eligibility Declaration
  • Quotes, photos, files and documents to use as evidence to support your claim

Applications for the first round of funding must be completed and submitted before March 21 5.00 pm 2025. If you miss out on this round or are unsuccessful, there are two more rounds of grants occurring later in the year.

The second round of applications will open March 24 9.00 pm and close May 16 5.00 pm 2025. While the third round of applications will open May 19 9.00 pm and close July 4 5.00 pm 2025.

 

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend