Football Queensland Unveils 10-Point Plan to Transform Match Officiating

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Football Queensland is leading a statewide overhaul of officiating, backed by record investment and new referee initiatives aligned with its 2024–2026 Referee Strategy and One Football Strategic Plan.

The initiatives include revamping the Club Referee program and introducing a statewide requirement for every Queensland club to provide one referee per team.

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci implied the reforms were shaped through direct collaboration with clubs and referees, with a strong focus on strengthening the officiating pipeline and removing barriers to participation across the state.

“At the recent referee summit, we worked with clubs to drive an increase in the number of club-based referees in the game that will go on to build the referee base of the future,” he said via official FQ media release.

“In a landmark announcement, the ‘Play for Free’ fee reforms are set to deliver benefits to participants in every part of the state, where FQ match officials will receive free or heavily discounted access to Football Queensland competitions in 2026 as part of the wide-ranging suite of referee initiatives. 

“Football Queensland is proud to announce that 2026 will see our largest investment in match officials to date. This significant investment is designed to provide match officials with confidence whilst we build a professional and sustainable environment that benefits the entire Queensland football community, from grassroots to advanced competitions. 

“The rollout of the multi-faceted investment plan is a key focus for Football Queensland in 2026 and beyond, reinforcing the crucial role our referees play in the delivery of the game while driving long-term improvements in recruitment, development and retention. 

“We’re also investing in match day coaching, enhanced delivery of statewide development curriculum and support for regional match officials, and improved technology to streamline appointments and fixturing. Our ultimate goal with the introduction of these initiatives is to give referees greater clarity, support and confidence throughout the season.” 

Football Queensland is further bolstering its referee department by introducing new support roles for clubs under the Club Referee strategy, appointing FIFA referee Alex King as Head of Advanced Match Officials, and simplifying access to referee apparel.

In preparation for the 2026 season, Football Queensland has introduced a new Club Support Hub featuring an FQ Referee Support portal, providing referees and club administrators with direct, one-on-one access to guidance from FQ’s Customer Service Team.

Click here to view a summary of the 10-point transformational plan.

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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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