The annual Football Victoria (FV) Coaching conference took place last weekend at La Trobe University with a strong 150 attendees.
This year’s conference gave opportunities for coaches to learn from overseas coaches as well as get an insight into how Victorian coaching, playing, and administration are endeavoring to work together to improve our game.
FV’s Coach Education Manager, Craig Moore said it’s “always great” to see our coaches sacrifice their valuable time to learn more and challenge their current beliefs.
“We tried to show how the different parts of our football landscape can work together in Victoria, along with showing best practices from overseas and we managed to align the conference with the International Player Showcase that is happening at The Home of the Matildas this week,” he continued.
Football Australia was represented at the Coaching Conference by FA Chief Football Officer Ernie Merrick OAM, a renowned figure in Australian football, who delivered an insightful presentation on FIFA World Cup trends. His analysis, drawn from his extensive experience and keen observation, provided a deep dive into the evolving strategies, techniques, and team dynamics observed in the latest World Cup, offering valuable lessons for coaches and players alike.
Complementing Merrick's football-focused analysis, Oscar Gonzalez, Football Australia General Manager Coach Education, presented the latest developments in this arena. Gonzalez's session shed light on the progress being made in coach education, and technological advancements, and introduced a new learning platform coming in 2024. Together, their presentations underscored Football Australia's dedication to excellence and innovation in football coaching and development.
FV Technical Director Boris Seroshtan said the Coaching Conference was a “resounding success”, epitomizing the strength and diversity of the football community in Victoria.
"By bringing together a wide spectrum of stakeholders, including representatives from Victorian Football Professional Clubs, Football Coaches Australia, the Professional Footballers Association, Football Victoria, and esteemed guests from overseas, we fostered an unprecedented level of collaboration and knowledge-sharing," he said.
"This gathering was not just about discussing tactics and training; it was a vibrant forum where ideas, experiences, and visions for the future of football were shared and cultivated.
The diversity of perspectives – from club management to player representation, from local coaching insights to international viewpoints – enriched our discussions, ensuring that every facet of the football ecosystem was represented and heard. It was truly a testament to the unity and passion that drives our sport forward."
The attendees got to watch presentations from Elena Sadiku (Everton FC), Mami Yamaguchi (Washington Spirit), Dr. Janos Toth (Vasas Hungary) in conjunction with presentations from Ernie Merrick OAM & Oscar Gonzalez (Football Australia), Gary Cole (Football Coaches Australia), Erin Clout & Nick Farrugia (Professional Footballers Association) and Michael Fabian & Tony Peart (Football Victoria Referees Department) all hosted by Louise McColl.
Following the success of last year’s online Workshops, we decided to keep the same options and we secured presentations from Siem Nijssen (PEC Zwolle), Sean Gale (FV), Sharna Naidu (FA NTU) and also Mike Conway (XVenture).