Football NSW confirmed 2025 Referee Academy Selections

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Football NSW has revealed the 13 referees selected for the 2025 Referee Academy after a comprehensive eight-week trial process.

Over 100 referees from across New South Wales competed for these coveted spots, undergoing a series of evaluations to demonstrate their skills and potential.

The selection process included Laws of the Game quizzes, fitness and agility tests, and live match assessments. This rigorous process ensures that only the most promising candidates are chosen to join the academy, which focuses on preparing referees for high-level officiating roles.

The Football NSW Referee Academy aims to develop referees for state and national competitions, with the ultimate goal of having its members recognised by Football Australia as candidates for roles in the A-League Women’s and Men’s competitions.

Referees in the academy will benefit from:

  • Specialised speed and agility training
  • Tailored physical programs
  • Opportunities to officiate at tournaments
  • Match day coaching and targeted development
  • Mentorship from experienced NPL and A-Leagues referees
  • Access to national and international referee coaches

The academy boasts a history of producing referees who go on to officiate in prestigious competitions such as the Australia Cup, the A-Leagues, AFC tournaments, and even FIFA events.

2025 Referee Academy Members

  1. Alec Baele – Northern Suburbs Football Referees Association
  2. Chelsea Leung – Football South Coast Referees
  3. Grace Williams – Nepean Referees Group
  4. Hannah Stone – Nepean Referees Group
  5. Imran Kilani – Canterbury Referees Association
  6. Jayden Khong – Granville District Football Referees Association
  7. Josh Watkins – Blacktown City Soccer Referees Branch
  8. Lilian Hayes – Central Coast Football Referees
  9. Oliver Leanfore – Canterbury Referees Association
  10. Oliver Udovicic – Canterbury Referees Association
  11. Ruby Egan Brown – Football South Coast Referees
  12. Valentina Malagon Avila – Hills Football Referees
  13. Wael Arabi – Nepean Referees Group

A Stepping Stone for NSW and Australian Football

The Football NSW Referee Academy plays a pivotal role in developing skilled officials who are crucial to the game’s success at all levels.

By providing intensive training and mentorship, the academy not only ensures the quality of officiating within New South Wales but also contributes to the broader growth of football in Australia.

With its proven track record of producing referees who excel nationally and internationally, the academy underscores the importance of investing in referee development as part of a thriving football ecosystem.

This initiative is vital for maintaining the integrity of the game while inspiring the next generation of referees to pursue excellence.

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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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