ServiceFM Stadium was a hive of activity over the weekend of February 3-5, with SA’s finest footballing minds gathering to attend Football South Australia conferences for those across the professional footballing spectrum.
The weekend opened with Football SA’s highly anticipated 2023 Coaching Conference. The conference is part of a bi-annual program in which coaches meet both prior to the season as well as post-season moving forward as an initiative from Football SA’s Technical Director, Michael Cooper. The program contributes to coach CPD requirements for license revalidation and allows them to build a sense of community and to work together to improve experiences for player and coach development.
97 keen attendees were treated to a well-credentialed coaching panel focusing on the discussion of player development and performance led by South Australian Sport Hall of Fame inductee and Adelaide City, Adelaide United and Socceroos legend, Aurelia Vidmar, in addition to Adelaide United Women’s Head Coach, Adrian Stenta, Michael Matricciani of Campbelltown City and coach of West Adelaide Women’s 2022 treble-winning side, Tracey Jenkins.
The night also included a presentation from Wakefield Sports & Exercise Physiotherapist, Liam Nottle, talking about injuries and the Synthetic v Grass Football Fields debate.
FSA Technical Director, Michael Cooper said:
"It was great to get that many coaches together and hopefully, each coach can take something positive from the conference into the new season. We are grateful for Gareth Long who got us all reflecting on our communication planning and delivery which is arguably the art of an expert coach at any level.
A huge thanks to the highly experienced panel and the coaches who delivered practicals for coaches to observe. We look forward to organising more conferences and workshops to bring coaches together with the common goal to help football and players develop."
The conference moved onto the pitch through a practical session that could be observed from all angles of ServiceFM stadium. Five concurrent sessions were held across the main pitch, headlined by Gareth Long, Director of Program Innovation and Development at The Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE), delivering communication and feedback practical that received high praise from those attending the course.
The conference was the perfect kick-start to 2023 as the Men’s RAA National Premier League SA and Senior Men's Season commences in just over a week’s time on February 17th. Football South Australia’s technical staff wish all participating clubs and coaches all the best for the upcoming season.
Saturday saw 120 attendees congregate within ServiceFM’s Function Centre for the 2023 Football SA Club Conference. The Sammy D Foundation opened the program with a ‘Monkey See Monkey Do’ session, followed by Wakefield Sports, Dr. Andrew MacDonald discussing club responsibilities surrounding concussion protocol. Football SA staff, Kimberley Conte highlighted the Club Development Program surrounding Women’s World Cup Legacy, Digital and Media & Digital Manager, Matt Mays highlighted strategies for clubs to improve their digital footprint. The day ended with sessions from the Competitions Department surrounding elite pathways and competitions operations.
The weekend was capped off by the 2023 Senior Referee Seminar, where 90 referees who oversee senior football were invited to attend. The seminar particularly focused on showcasing female leaders in football in the year of the 2023 Women’s World Cup here in Australia. Michelle Smith, Senior Referee Development and former FIFA Assistant Referee, presented the 2023 senior refereeing, coaching and development strategy:
It was fantastic to have all our senior referees together face-to-face for the 2023 seminar after a 2 year hiatus. The benefit of us being able to gather together and have the information shared to the whole group provided the opportunity for discussion and alignment from the group as a whole. It also allowed the referees to start the year feeling like a team.”
Football SA’s Tracey Dycer delivered a session on the new integrated competition management system, Dribl, rolled out by Football SA for Seasons 2023 and 2024, whilst Jacqui Hurford, General Manager of Community Refereeing at Football Australia, and former FIFA Referee brought our referees up to speed on the latest updates from Football Australia’s referee department, development pathways, and laws of the game. Muscle Sense’s Sophia Breust finished the seminar by covering myofascial body work to assist the referees in maintaining their fitness and physical health throughout the season.
Michelle Smith was particularly excited and grateful for the time the all-female presenting line-up dedicated towards the event:
Huge thanks go out to Tracey, Jacqui and Sophia for their professional and very informative content that has our referees on the front foot and ready for the 2023 season. It was special to showcase these female leaders in football in this very special year for female football in Australia”.