Support initiatives for coaches introduced by Football Queensland

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Football Queensland (FQ) have announced a strengthening of its support of coaches at all levels of the game with the launch of a range of new coach development initiatives in recent weeks.

The platform, entitled Coaching Knowledge Base, has been created by FQ’s Club Development Unit. The technical resources provided are designed to support both community and advanced club coaches and to address some of the challenges facing coaches across the state.

FQ’s knowledge sharing initiative in coach education and support is critical to the fostering of a positive coaching culture and the improvement of experiences of participants.

The Coaching Knowledge Base allows for easy access for all coaches and clubs to tailored content centred around Players, Training, Game Day and Administration, plus Development Webinars, Coach the Coach Interviews and Training Videos.

“It has been fantastic to see an increase in coaching registrations in 2021 with over 6,000 coaches currently registered across the state,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.

“Improving development opportunities while providing additional levels of support for coaches at every level of the game is a strategic focus of Football Queensland’s, not only for the benefit of the coaches themselves but also for participants, ensuring all coaches across the state are equipped to deliver enjoyable participation experiences.

“FQ is committed to supporting all registered coaches in their development, which is why we are excited to launch a host of new coach support initiatives including the new Coaching Knowledge Base webpage, Coach the Coach feature and monthly coaching newsletter.”

Gabor Ganczer, State Technical Director, expressed his excitement at the rollout and implementation of these initiatives.

“Created by Football Queensland’s Club Development Unit, the new Coaching Knowledge Base houses a suite of collateral for Queensland coaches including technical resources and training videos, development webinars, and Football Australia resources, and is also designed to improve clubs’ capacity to deliver a best practice youth development program,” he said.

“The new Coach the Coach segment launched by FQ in recent weeks will feature a Technical Director, Club Coach Coordinator and Coach Educator to provide an insight into the strategies and initiatives implemented at their club to support the professional development of their club coaches.

“The recently introduced coaching newsletter also provides registered coaches with regular updates on the latest initiatives and practices being implemented by FQ.

“The implementation of these new initiatives will not only support the thousands of coaches across Queensland, but will also assist clubs in creating a positive learning and development environment for coaches of all qualifications.”

New resources and content will be added to Coaching Knowledge Base on a monthly basis. It can be accessed by clicking here.

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Blacktown District Soccer Football Association Launches Youth League and Poaching Program

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Image Credit: Football NSW

Blacktown District Soccer Football Association has outlined a package of initiatives for the 2026 season centred on youth development, coach education and the celebration of female participation, as the Western Sydney association moves to raise standards across community football and strengthen pathways into state-level competition.

The centrepiece of the association’s development agenda is the Blacktown Youth Development League, a new competition structure spanning all youth Division One competitions in the Under-13 to Under-18 age groups, including Phoenix League female competitions involving both BDSFA and GDSFA clubs. The league applies a benchmarking framework adapted from Football NSW‘s junior competition standards, with clubs encouraged to implement structured training environments including a minimum of two sessions per week where possible.

BDSFA General Manager Owen Liiv said the initiative responded to clear demand from within the football community for more substantive development environments.

“It is pretty clear that people want more and better football experiences,” Liiv said. “The measure for us is high-quality youth football competitions within Blacktown and ultimately, stronger performances in state-wide competitions such as the Football NSW State Cup or Football NSW Champion of Champions.”

The referees branch will support the league by prioritising Division One fixtures and providing three-person match control where available, an operational commitment that acknowledges the role officiating quality plays in the overall development environment.

The Managerial Infrastructure

Running alongside the youth competition is a free coach education program, with Foundation of Football courses delivered across BDSFA’s 24 member clubs by permanent association staff. With more than 1,000 registered coaches across the district, BDSFA has set a target of 85 percent achieving Foundation of Football accreditation within three years. Removing cost as a barrier to accreditation is a deliberate structural choice, reflecting growing recognition across Australian football that coaching quality at community level is inseparable from participation outcomes.

The association also launched Female Football Week with a “Cocktails on the Pitch” event at Blacktown Football Park, attended by close to 100 players, coaches, referees, administrators and volunteers. Former Matilda Leah Blayney addressed the gathering, speaking about her pathway from Wentworth Falls to international football. BDSFA has indicated the event is likely to become an annual fixture on the association calendar.

Taken together, the initiatives reflect an association investing deliberately in the structural conditions that determine whether community football grows sustainably rather than opportunistically.

Isabella Mossin awarded Ninja A-League Women Referee of the Year

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Image credit: Football NSW

The youngest recipient since its inception, Mossin will officially receive the award after leading the Ninja A-League Grand Final 2026 on Saturday.

 

A rapid rise

After debuting in 2023, Mossin has quickly proved quality, composure and confidence as a referee in the Ninja A-League.

As a result of the achievement, Mossin will be the appointed referee for this weekend’s Grand Final between Melbourne City FC and Wellington Phoenix.

After beginning in the North West Sydney Football Association, Mossin then honed her craft with the Football NSW Referee Academy, a journey with foundations truly embedded in youth development and grassroots football.

Thus, Mossin is not just am individual success story, but a symbol of what institutional investment and opportunities can do for young women looking for a pathway to the game.

 

Celebrating success

The plaudits, unsurprisngly, are arriving from across Australia’s football landscape, with many emphasising the incredible standards set by Mossin since her debut just three years ago.

“This award is testament to Isabella’s hard work and dedication to refereeing, and a great reflection of the next generation of referees coming through the system in Australia,” said A-Leagues CEO, Steve Rosich.

“At just 25 years of age, she has consistently demonstrated composure, leadership, strong decision-making and the ability to perform under pressure in some of the biggest matches in the competition,” highlighted Football Australia Head of Referees, Jon Moss.

“Having someone refereeing their first Ninja A-league Women’s Grand Final at the age of 25 years should inspire all girls and young women referees (and potential referees) and show them that age is not a barrier to talent being recognised within Football Australia refereeing,” said Chair of Football Australia Referee Committee, David Elleray.

Given Mossin’s reputation and experience already at the top level of women’s football in Australia, there is no doubt that she will rise to the occasion this Saturday.

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