Northern NSW Football launch Strategic Plan for 2024-26

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Northern NSW Strategic Plan 2024 to 2026
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Northern NSW Football (NNSWF) released their 2024 to 2026 Strategic Plan which focuses on collaboration and a shared vision for football in the region.

NNSWF announced in August of 2023 that the federation would partner up with global sports and entertainment consultancy Gemba to assist them in developing the plan aimed at nurturing football’s growth and sustainability in the community.

NNSWF and Gemba consulted with member zones, clubs, volunteers and staff to create the plan, with feedback taken on board to provide an exciting roadmap for football in northern NSW over the next three years.

There are four pillars that have the goal to ‘inspire and unite everyone in Northern NSW to reach their potential in football’

These include:

  • Enjoyable Football Experience – Goal is to minimise barriers for participation (KPI: 90,000 total registered players) and improve facilities in the area to ensure the sport advances (70%+ of facilities rated acceptable or above)
  • Talent Development – Providing clear and comprehensive talent pathways for all participants (KPI: 1,500 participants engaged in NNSWF Talent programs) as well as increasing numbers in non-playing roles (KPI: 15,000 registered coaches, match officials, volunteers and administrators)
  • Champions in Excellence – Setting the benchmark for excellence in sports through effective governance and beneficial partnerships. (KPI: is 90% staff retention across NNSWF’s business)
  • Showcase our game – Improving the promotion of the sport from grassroots to the elite level. Leveraging the stories of the game to grow the sport is vital. (KPI: 4,000 positive media articles/segments on football across Northern NSW)

NNSWF chairman Mike Parsons explained how the strategic plan was a representation of their core values.

“These values, which include integrity, inclusivity, transparency, respect, innovation and ambition, are the bedrock of our approach and will guide our actions and decisions moving forward,” Parsons explained in a statement.

“The role of our board of directors has been pivotal in this journey. We have worked closely with our member zones, clubs and other stakeholders to understand their needs, aspirations and the challenge they face.

“This collaborative approach has been instrumental in shaping a strategy that is not only ambitious but also grounded in the realities of our football community.”

NNSWF CEO Peter Haynes expressed his excitement in implementing the plan and seeing the huge benefits it brings to the federation.

“The plan revolves around four core pillars – Enjoyable Football Experience, Talent Development for All, Champions in Excellence and Showcase Our Game, with each aligning to our mission to create an inclusive and thriving football community,” Haynes added via a statement.

“This is not just a strategic plan for Northern NSW Football but more a strategic plan for football in northern NSW. It’s not just about our organisation. We are dedicated to supporting our member zones and clubs to enhance facilities and ensure football remains a positive, respectful experience for everyone.

“This plan is a pledge from us to our players, coaches, volunteers, match officials, spectators and all who love the game that, together, we will work tirelessly to ensure football in northern NSW is not just a sport but a source of community, pride, unity and inspiration.

“We want football to reach its potential in our region and I look forward to embarking on this exciting journey alongside our football community.”

Northern NSW Football have laid out a really detailed and direct plan of attack to improve in the areas that are lacking within the organisation. Within the next three years, they have set ambitious goals but are determined to achieve them.

You can view the 2024 to 2026 Strategic Plan here.

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FCA to Host Exclusive Two-Part Goalscoring Workshop Series with Dr Ron Smith

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One of Australian football’s most respected coaching minds shares decades of research ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has announced an exclusive two-part coach education series featuring renowned coach educator and football analyst Dr Ron Smith, offering coaches a rare opportunity to explore the evolving science of goalscoring through the lens of one of Australia’s most influential football thinkers.

The online workshops, scheduled for June 1 and June 8, will examine the historical development, modern trends and future direction of goalscoring in football, drawing on extensive research that formed the foundation of Dr Smith’s doctoral studies.

For FCA, the sessions represent the culmination of more than a year of planning and provide a timely opportunity for coaches to deepen their understanding of attacking play ahead of the FIFA Men’s World Cup.

“Ron’s work on goalscoring has been years in the making and continues to evolve,” FCA President Ian Greener said.

“We felt there was no better time to bring this knowledge to the coaching community than in the lead-up to the World Cup, when coaches around the world will be analysing the game’s best teams and players.”

Across the two sessions, Dr Smith will present findings from his extensive research into goalscoring patterns and trends, examining how the game has changed over time and what coaches can learn from football’s biggest tournaments.

Topics covered throughout the series will include:

  • Historical analysis of goalscoring trends
  • How goalscoring has evolved in the modern game
  • Key patterns identified through Dr Smith’s research
  • Scoring trends across the last six FIFA Men’s World Cups
  • Comparisons between men’s and women’s World Cup tournaments
  • The role of pressing, transition moments and direct play in creating goals
  • Practical coaching implications for improving attacking performance

The two-part structure has been intentionally designed to build upon itself. Session One will focus on the evidence, data and research underpinning Dr Smith’s findings, while Session Two will explore the practical applications and coaching interventions that can emerge from that analysis.

Football Australia has accredited both workshops with one Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hour each, allowing coaches to earn two CPD hours by attending both sessions.

Dr Smith’s coaching and coach education credentials span decades. He has worked extensively with Football Australia, the Australian Institute of Sport and the Socceroos, while also holding coaching roles internationally in Iceland and Malaysia, as well as within the A-League.

His contributions to coach development have helped shape generations of Australian coaches, making this series a valuable opportunity for coaches across all levels of the game.

Event Details

History and Future of Goalscoring – Session One
Date: Monday, June 1, 2026
Time: 7:30pm AEST
Format: Online
CPD: 1 Football Australia-accredited CPD hour

Following the completion of the FIFA Men’s World Cup, FCA is also planning a special panel discussion featuring leading Australian and international coaching voices to analyse the key tactical developments, trends and lessons emerging from the tournament.

Further details regarding that event are expected to be released later this year.

FCA members can attend the workshops free of charge, while guest registrations are available through Eventbrite.

Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

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