Geelong Regional Football Hub vision one step closer to reality

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Image credit: Football Victoria

A process five years in the making, the Geelong Regional Football Hub (GRFH) will now build its home at Sutcliffe Reserve in Corio.

A major advancement

The project promises to be a major boost for the football community in Victoria’s west.

But the approval isn’t just about addressing the current issues facing players in and around Geelong (with just one football pitch found per 6,971 people), it symbolises an all-important promise to players, coaches and supporters:

A promise to invest, support and grow.

So now, following an extensive process of potential site assessments and council approvals, Football Victoria (FV) will prepare to lay the physical foundations at Sutcliffe Reserve in Corio – ten minutes away from Geelong CBD.

“This is a brilliant result for the sport in Victoria and the start of something truly exciting for football in Geelong and the surrounding area,” said FV CEO, Dan Birrell, via press release.

But despite the obvious anticipation over site approval, there remains one more bridge to cross to bring this project from blueprint to building block: securing funding.

 

What is the GRFH?

Beyond a mere community football centre, the GRFH will become a world-class hub for playing opportunities, development pathways and venue for several of FV’s most popular competitions.

The proposed site will include five pitches, of which two will boast seated stands, as well as two pavilions, social spaces, kitchen and bar areas, media spaces, and facilities for players and match officials.

Such extensive, thorough infrastructure will therefore ensure the site can host an array of competitions for players across the landscape to showcase their talent. From supporting everything from school competitions to NPL VIC Men’s and Women’s games, the GRFH will be a place for player growth, opportunity and community engagement with the beautiful game.

And as Geelong Mayor, Stretch Kontelj, highlighted, the current demand requires investment of this nature as soon as possible.

“With more than 7,370 registered players across the Geelong region, the scale of demand is undeniable. A regional football hub would be genuinely transformational,” Kontelj said via press release.

“It would drive participation across all genders, abilities and levels of the game, strengthen education and development pathways, attract major events and tournaments and deliver lasting social and economic benefits for Geelong and the broader region.

The demand is there. The support is unwavering.

All that remains is the financial backing to bring about real, tangible results for those driving this vision forward.

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More than 220 coaches attend Football South Australia’s second NOVA Youth Club Championship workshop

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Image Credit: FQ

Football South Australia drew more than 220 coaches to its second NOVA Youth Club Championship Coaches Workshop in late May, underlining the scale of engagement clubs are generating through the state’s restructured youth competition framework.

The online session was facilitated by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper, who also serves as Junior Matildas Head Coach. Cooper shared observations from the AFC U17 Women’s Asian Cup and Australia’s qualification for the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, giving club-level coaches a window into the demands and standards of elite international football.

The presenter line-up extended that international lens further. Lachlan Tosh and Cristiano Dos Santos spoke to their experiences in national tournament environments, while legendary Australian coach Tom Sermanni addressed the fundamentals of youth coaching. Colin Sanctuary from the University of Newcastle examined coaching language and its direct influence on player learning.

Themes running across the session included the primacy of long-term player development over short-term results, with presenters consistently emphasising technique, ball mastery, individual improvement, and decision-making under pressure. Coaches were encouraged to expose players to varied styles of play, facilitate practice outside organised training, and help young players retain possession longer in match conditions.

Post-session feedback pointed to strong practical value, with coaches singling out clear communication, relationship-building, and age-appropriate feedback as key takeaways.

The workshop series sits within the broader transition from the Youth Premier League to the Club Championship model, which ties coaching participation to championship points for clubs and CPD credits toward individual coaching diplomas. Six workshops are scheduled across the season, with four still to come.

Premier League backs grassroots football in Singapore

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Image credit: Premier League

The NEXTGEN coach programme saw past legends and current coaches unite to deliver an activity intent on supporting grassroots football through high quality and inclusive coaching.

 

Creating new leaders

To reach the top in elite football requires tactical education, personal guidance and consistent support throughout the development journey.

Coaches therefore take on a great deal of responsibility for players seeking a top-flight dream.

Yet even for those who never make it to the top, there is always one coach who stands out. Not necessarily for the silverware achieved or results on the pitch, but for the way they helped build a person off the pitch to play better on it.

The Premier League’s NEXTGEN Coach programme in Singapore aims to equip coaches with the skills and knowledge to do exactly that: creating welcoming environments which nurture confidence and a love for the game.

“This will hugely benefit local coaches, providing them with expert training and skills that will cascade into the communities they coach in,” said Premier League Director of Community, Nick Perchard, via media release.

“After opening the League’s first international office in Singapore more than seven years ago, we are now building on our commitment to the country with a structured coach development programme.”

 

What does the programme include?

The programme initially saw Premier League coaches deliver training sessions to coaches from StarHub – the League’s broadcast partner in Singapore who engage with local community football.

Furthermore, the training was consolidated through stakeholder engagement events and talks from 150 students at the Institute of Technical Education about their careers in the game.

In total, the programme saw 30 coaches take part – all from diverse backgrounds selected by the Football Association of Singapore (FAS) to maximise community reach and positively impact as many young individuals as possible.

“Youth development is a key priority for FAS, and it starts at the grassroots level,” explained FAS General Secretary, Badri Ghent via media release.

“Coaches play a central role in shaping not just how young players learn the game, but how they experience it, building confidence, character and a lifelong connection to football.”

Through high quality programmes like NEXTGEN, grassroots football can grow to ensure future coaches and players are confident in themselves and their future roles in the game.

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