Football Coaching Life Podcast Recap: Episode Four with Heather Garriock

Staff Writer

Heather Garriock was the special guest on episode four of Football Coaches Australia’s ‘The Football Coaching Life’ podcast.

Garriock is perhaps best known for the 130 caps she won representing the Matildas and her expert commentary on Optus Sport. Her international career spread over 13 years and included three FIFA Women’s World Cups, two Olympic Games and three Asian Cups, culminating with a win in China during 2010.

Heather is a member of the Football Australia Starting XI and is the FCA Vice President. She was Head Coach of Sydney United FC (NPL) 2014-17, Canberra United FC (W-League) 2017-20 and was also a Matildas Assistant Coach in 2017.

Speaking with Gary Cole, Garriock details how she initially got into coaching, her coaching mentors, how her coaching has changed over the journey, the influence coaches from other sports had on her career, her most enjoyable moments and much more.

Key Quotes in Episode Three

Why she coaches

“That’s the question I used to ask myself. It’s a hard gig. It’s a lonely job…but you coach because you want to pass on, give back, help, inspire and do what some of your past coaches did for me.”

The influence Tom Sermanni had on her career

“That man has taught me so much about life on and off the field…he just knew what made me tick.”

On the 2010 Asian Cup final and what Tom Sermanni told the girls before the penalty shootout

“It is absolutely pissing down with rain. We’re about to go into a penalty shootout, the first silverware for football in Australia at a major tournament. Tom said ‘we better hurry up with the penalty shootout, we’ve got wheel of fortune back on at the hotel at about 7pm. So make sure you do a good job guys, so I can get back and watch that.’

On her 3 years coaching at Canberra United

“It was a tough period, but I think I needed to go through that. I hadn’t in my (playing) career had to go through many obstacles. But that was a big learning curve.”

A valuable lesson she learned during her coaching career

“Emotional stability. You didn’t have to have it as a player in my opinion, if you wanted to be emotional you could do that on the field and almost get away with it.”

Final piece of wisdom for coaches

“You never know everything…you can learn from everybody.”

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Female Football Week kicks off across Northern NSW

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Female Football Week has officially begun across Northern NSW, with a program of gala days, networking events and awards ceremonies running until Sunday May 17, marking a ten-day celebration that organisers say reflects both the growth of women’s football in the region and the work still required to sustain it.

The national initiative, now a fixture on the football calendar, provides a dedicated period of visibility for female participants across all levels of the game from players, coaches, referees to volunteers, whose contributions have historically received less recognition than their male counterparts.

NNSWF Participation and Women’s Football Officer Serena Carter said the week offered something for everyone connected to women’s football in the region.

“Female Football Week provides a fantastic chance to highlight the dedication and skill of female players, coaches, referees and volunteers across the northern NSW community,” Carter said. “There’s something for everyone to enjoy, from grassroots participants to elite competitors.”

Women’s football in northern NSW spans remote and regional communities where clubs operate on limited resources, alongside more established metropolitan programs with clearer development pathways. Female Football Week creates a moment of shared recognition across that spectrum and acknowledges the role volunteers play, from running the canteen to progressing through the pathway.

Northern NSW Football has recorded some of its strongest participation numbers in women’s and girls’ football in recent seasons, a trend that has placed increasing pressure on clubs and facilities to keep pace. The week’s events offer clubs an opportunity to showcase their commitment to diversity and inclusion at a time when that commitment is being tested by growth.

FCA to Host Elite Goalkeeping Workshop with FA Goalkeeper Instructor Neil Tate

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Football Coaches Australia (FCA) will continue its strong run of coach education events on Monday 18 May with a specialised session led by highly respected FA Goalkeeper Instructor Neil Tate.

Titled “Developing Goalkeepers to Fit the Team Playing Style,” the workshop will explore one of the modern game’s most important tactical evolutions: the goalkeeper as an active component of a team’s overall identity and playing philosophy.

Elite football is increasingly demanding goalkeepers who can influence build-up play, transitions, defensive structure and decision-making under pressure. Tate’s session is designed to help coaches better understand how goalkeeper development must align with a team’s tactical framework.

Tate brings significant high-performance experience to the session through his role as an FA Goalkeeper Instructor. He has worked extensively in coach development and modern goalkeeping methodology. His expertise spans the technical, tactical and psychological demands placed on goalkeepers within elite football environments.

The session will break down the goalkeeper attributes required across differing systems and styles, including possession-based football and counter-attacking models, while providing practical examples from the modern game.

Coaches attending the workshop will gain insights into:

  • Goalkeeping attributes required in different tactical systems
  • Real-world examples of goalkeepers fitting team playing styles
  • Goalkeeper-specific practices to develop modern skill sets
  • Team training exercises integrating goalkeepers into tactical frameworks
  • Downloadable PDF session plans for practical implementation

The workshop follows FCA’s recent HEADSAFE education session, which attracted more than 140 coaches from across the Australian football landscape, highlighting the growing appetite for high-level coach education and professional development opportunities.

As the game continues to evolve tactically, FCA remains committed to providing coaches with access to industry-leading expertise and contemporary football knowledge.

The session will take place online on Monday 18 May at 7:30pm Melbourne time. You can sign up here.

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