NSFA approached the 2018 season with a new approach to Coach Education, providing more flexible and appropriate educational opportunities to its members to encourage greater learning and support to its 1,200 coaches.
NSFA continued to deliver formal coach education courses, with the highest amount of courses delivered in recent history to meet the growing demand and interest of the community. A total of five FFA Skill Training Certificates, three Game Training Certificates and 12 MiniRoos Certificates delivered during the 2018 year. After careful review, NSFA extended its educational opportunities to target new and inexperienced coaches that may not be interested in attending a formal coaching course through the expansion of short duration workshop opportunities.
NSFA launched its workshop offerings with the inaugural ‘NSFA Community Coach Education Expo’. The expo gathered over 140 coaches to take part in a workshop or course appropriate to their team during a three hour period, held at NTRA. Coaches were offered the chance to participants in either a MiniRoos Certificate (Under 6 – 8), Intro to SAP (Under 9 – 13) or Introduction to 11aside football (Under 14+), with all opportunities delivered by local coach developers from NSFA and Northern Tigers FC. Throughout the season, NSFA also welcomed FFA Technical Director and his team to present, along with J league club Yokohama F Marinos in special guest workshops. A total of eight workshops were delivered during the season, with NSFA clubs engaged through the ‘SAP in the Community’ series whereby Northern Tigers and Lions SAP teams would join up with a NSFA club teams to participate.
The biggest success story of the season has been the implementation and execution of the NSFA Club Coach Coordinator (CCC) program. A total of 20 NSFA clubs signed up to be part of the FFA Coach Development program which aims to increase the opportunity for coach support, development and mentoring within local clubs. The various CCC’s across the association supported Community Football Manager Ed Ferguson in the delivery, promotion and mentoring of NSFA’s 1,200 coaches. The CCC program is at the forefront of NSFA new approach to coach development, designed to be flexible to the needs of clubs, with many hosting coach induction nights, in club coach education courses, in club workshops, ‘on the job’ coach mentoring and coach end of season review and thank you evenings. Moving forwards, the CCC program will become the pillar for continued coach development within NSFA as more clubs join the program as well as the expansion and upskilling of current members.
The INSPIRE coach support program expanded its offerings and impact during the 2018 season, providing greater curriculum content through the creation of five session plan curriculums, divided by each development phase. The INSPIRE program exceeded its 2017 membership of 252 members, to 678 in 2018. The INSPIRE coach support program has been created to provide all coaches within NSFA a guide to introduce them to coaching, as well as to support their development as they progress their players and themselves throughout the season.
NSFA also launched the ‘Youth Coach Development Program’ in 2018 to provide NSFA players 15 – 22 years old the opportunity to attain their FFA Skill Training Certificate whilst in a ‘young environment’ with other like aged coaches from the region. The YCDP aims to encourage more young NSFA members to become involved in their local club, gain valuable life skills and give back to the football community. A total of 57 coaches gained their accreditation during 2018.
NSFA continued the NSFA Coaching Scholarship, with five awardees this year to support the growth of the CCC program, grassroots football development and the mentoring of future coaches. NSFA has reaped the benefits of its 2017 Coaching Scholarships with all awardees completing the practical course and submitting their assessments to Football NSW. Troy Sheather & Emily Brown have excelled in their coaching roles at Hornsby Heights FC and Lindfield FC respectively, strengthening each clubs coaching ranks, as well as being instrumental in mentoring new and inexperienced coaches at the club. Hannah McNulty entered the Northern Tigers FC coaching ranks in her role as Head Coach of the Girls SAP Girls Under 10’s.
This year our scholarships were awarded to Josh Lazarus (St Ives FC & XLR8), Zach Morriss(Northern Tigers FC), Angus Swift (North Turramurra FC), Jack Freckelton & Peter Crawford (Lane Cove FC). We look forward to the continued influence the scholarships have on players and coaches throughout NSFA.
2018 has created a solid foundation for coach development in NSFA as it becomes a pioneer in Australian football for the innovation and diversity of its programs and initiatives. We look forward to welcoming more coaches on board in 2019, as well as the continued upskilling of current coaches. Better coaches, better football experience.
NSFA would like to thank the significant contribution the following people in their role as Club Coach Coordinators and Coach Education Developers:
Keiron Rice (Asquith Soccer Club), Lee Surace (Berowra FC), Andrew Zoratto (Chatswood Rangers FC), Troy Sheather (Hornsby Heights Football Club), Mick DaSilva (Hornsby Heights Football Club), Harrison Kaye (Hornsby RSL Football Club), Vince Cali (Knox United FC), Brett Jager (Lane Cove FC), Chris Deblaere (Lindfield Football Club), Joe Liddle (North Sydney United FC), Matt Sawers (North Sydney United FC), Rob Lorenc (North Sydney United FC), Chris Woo (North Sydney Boys High School FC), Mark Williams (North Turramurra FC), Angelo Maralit (Northbridge FC), Danny Beauchamp (Northbridge FC), Brendan Dalton, Mike Penny (Sacred Heart Pymble), Javier Carpio (St Ives Football Club), Alessandro Pierangeli (St Michael’s FC), Nick Mountford (Turramurra United FC), Cam Jones (West Pymble Football Club), Eilidh Mackay (XLR8 Football Sschool), Jonathon Swain (Sacred Heart Mosman), Aron Campbell (Kissing Point FC).
Ed Ferguson – NSFA Community Football Manager
This report is part of the 2018 NSFA Annual Report – view the full document here.