Auckland FC and NRF launch free junior clinics

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Auckland FC, in collaboration with Northern Region Football (NRF), has launched a series of free community football clinics aimed at junior players across South Auckland.

The initiative will see NRF deliver coaching sessions alongside Auckland FC at local football clubs, with the program tailored for boys and girls aged 8 to 13. Open to all ability levels, from complete beginners to emerging talent, the clinics aim to remove participation barriers, particularly the cost of registration.

Football remains the largest team sport in Aotearoa, with more than 170,000 registered players in 2024. As the sport continues to grow, Auckland FC is committed to ensuring football is accessible to young people from all backgrounds and communities.

While the initial rollout focuses on South Auckland, Auckland FC has plans to expand the program into other regions across Auckland, Northland, and WAIBOP, particularly in areas with limited access to structured football development.

The initiative is backed by community funders and major partners including ANZ, Barfoot & Thompson, and Anchor, whose support ensures the clinics remain free of charge.

Each participant will receive an Auckland FC training kit, a player workbook, and coaching from qualified staff. The first clinic kicks off this weekend and will run for eight weeks across eight clubs, aligning with the school term.

Auckland FC CEO Nick Becker spoke about the importance of the football clinics for the future of the sport.

“Football is the global game. Kids are playing it in schools, clubs, parks and streets in every corner of the world,” said Becker in a press release.

“We are working with NRF to deliver football clinics in our communities in South Auckland and beyond to create pathways, help build confidence and bring people together through the power of football.”

NRF CEO Laura Menzies shared a similar sentiment and was excited by the partnership.

“Our goal is creating thriving football communities. This is an exciting opportunity for the community to experience football, and we’re delighted to partner with Auckland FC on this initiative. We’re working with South Auckland community groups and clubs to understand what’s stopping people trying football, and removing the barriers so they can get involved,” said Menzies in a press release.

“This programme will enable young people to give football a go and learn some new skills in a fun and welcoming environment. We’re excited to make these connections as part of our long term commitment to helping clubs reflect their communities.”

This grassroots initiative strengthens Auckland FC’s connection with the community, helping to grow the game locally while also building long-term support for the club across key regions.

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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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