Sydenham Park pioneers All-Abilities football in the North-West

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Image credit: Football Victoria

Sydenham Park SC is proud to launch the North-West’s first All Abilities football program, a fresh chance for everyone in the community to enjoy the game together.

With community support and dedicated volunteers, the program is making football more accessible in Brimbank and Melton.

When Christina Santa Maria couldn’t find a football program that suited her son’s needs, she decided to create one herself, becoming the driving force behind Sydenham’s All Abilities program.

“I initiated the program due to the lack of All Abilities programs in the Western Suburbs,” she explained via Football Victoria statement.

“As a mother of a neurodiverse child, having a sport that is accommodating to him is very important.

“Choosing Sydenham Park was an easy decision. My family are already part of the club. With great facilities, a strong junior program, and being just 20 minutes from home, it was the perfect fit.”

Driven by a shared commitment to inclusivity, Sera Fanous, the club’s MiniRoos and Junior Coordinator, worked alongside Football Victoria to help bring the program to life.

After months of chatting with families, partnering with local services, and gaining support from NDIS providers and Brimbank Council, the program finally launched on June 28, a moment of joy for everyone involved.

“The goal was always to create a safe, inclusive, and enjoyable space where people of all abilities could enjoy soccer,” she said via Football Victoria statement.

“One of the biggest benefits has been watching the players smile. The friendships, confidence, and sense of belonging this program has brought are incredible.”

Although the beginnings were tough, to earn that trust and recognition, the program has gone from strength to strength with the club and community working hand in hand.

“The support we’ve received from Football Victoria, especially Selin Arpaci and the All-Abilities team, has been outstanding,” she continued to say.

“Their guidance and belief in the program helped us get off the ground.”

What started as a small training session has blossomed into a friendly, welcoming community where everyone feels included, and now other clubs are taking note.

For more information about all-abilities football programs in Victoria, contact FV All-Abilities at: allabilities@footballvictoria.com.au or 03 9474 1824.

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GIS and ACPE join forces to strengthen football coaching and tactical development

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The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) will support Hills Football Association in delivering a specialist coaching workshop designed to improve player development, tactical understanding and performance analysis.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the ACPE campus in Sydney Olympic Park, the workshop will bring together experienced football coaches and performance analysts to explore practical approaches to developing players’ tactical awareness, decision-making and understanding of the game.

Titled Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding, the event will run from 6pm to 8.30pm and feature two workshops focused on translating coaching theory and performance analysis into practical learning environments.

Former Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni, who has also led the national women’s teams of the United States, Canada and New Zealand, will present the first session, Working with International Players.

The workshop will examine how coaches can design training sessions that develop tactical execution under realistic match conditions, with an emphasis on practice design, player decision-making and effective coaching behaviours.

The second session, From Video to Understanding, will be facilitated by experienced performance analysts from GIS and ACPE.

Participants will explore how match footage can be used to strengthen tactical learning, encourage player reflection and develop independent decision-making.

The session will also examine how coaches can structure effective video reviews that align with coaching objectives and a team’s playing model.

Supporting the next generation of football coaches

The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining traditional coaching methods with modern performance analysis to support player development across Australian football.

As clubs and football organisations increasingly seek to improve coaching standards, access to practical education and industry expertise remains an important component of developing more effective learning environments.

The workshop is designed for coaches seeking player-centred approaches that encourage footballers to read the game, understand tactical situations and make better decisions on the pitch.

Participants will receive two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition.

For GIS, the collaboration provides another opportunity to connect its specialist sports education and analytics expertise with the practical demands of football coaching.

The institute delivers postgraduate sports education through online learning and stadium-based campuses internationally, including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and SCG.

Its Sydney offering includes the Master of Sports Analytics and Master of International Sports Business, supporting the development of professionals across the sporting industry.

ACPE, established in 1917 and based at Sydney Olympic Park, brings extensive experience in sport, health and physical education, with a strong emphasis on industry-focused learning and practical professional development.

Together with Hills Football Association, the two education providers aim to equip coaches with practical knowledge that can be applied directly within their football environments.

Event details

  • Event: Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding
  • Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
  • Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
  • Venue: ACPE Campus, 10 Parkview Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
  • Presenter: Tom Sermanni
  • Facilitators: Performance analysts from ACPE and GIS
  • CPD: Two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development

Coaches interested in attending are encouraged to register through the event’s official registration channel.

For more information about the education providers, visit Global Institute of Sport and Australian College of Physical Education.

Football NSW backs 20 female coaches with qualification scholarships

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Football NSW has supported 20 female coaches to complete their AFC/Football Australia C Diploma qualification in 2026, using scholarships funded through Football Australia and CommBank’s Growing Football Fund to reduce the cost of coach education.

The initiative included a dedicated female-only C Diploma course delivered by Football NSW in April and May, attended by 13 coaches. An additional seven received support to complete courses closer to their local communities, improving access for coaches across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Football NSW Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd said the scholarships had helped address a key barrier to coaching development.

“These scholarships have helped remove a significant barrier for many female coaches seeking to progress their coaching journey,” Todd said.

Todd said the combination of a female-only course and support for locally accessible qualifications had created pathways for 20 women to develop their skills and contribute to football in their communities.

The program reflects an ongoing challenge for the sport: increasing women’s participation also requires investment in the coaches who lead teams, develop players and help shape club environments.

By helping cover qualification costs, the scholarships give recipients an opportunity to strengthen their coaching knowledge and leadership capabilities while expanding the pool of qualified female coaches available to clubs.

The support also connects to the wider Growing Football Fund, a joint Football Australia and CommBank initiative aimed at creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game.

The fund’s community grant program offers eligible clubs and associations grants of up to $5,000 to help attract or retain women and girls in football, with applications for the 2026–27 round closing on 20 October 2026.

The governing body also offers Women in Football Coaching Scholarships worth 50 per cent of course costs, with applications limited.

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