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To be held under the banner of July’s National Sports Convention, the inaugural National Football Conference 2017 is to bring together 60 leading global policy makers and strategists along with community recreation, sport and health promotion agencies and local government, education and providers to share their views on the future of ‘the beautiful game’.

The National Football Conference has been developed with a range of stakeholders across all areas of football in Australia, with a key focus on growing grass roots football and what facilities and support is needed to promote growth and ensure sustainability of the sport.

The National Football Conference is committed to bringing together opportunities to learn from global and national leaders and local providers. 

The Global Keynote Sessions will be shared with the National Sports Convention Conference where the audience will hear insights for the broader community sport and recreation industry, that are also applicable to the football sector.

As part of the National Football Conference, Football Federation Australia (FFA) Government Relations Manager, Ricardo Piccioni will be presenting on the FFA’s new direction for supporting grass roots growth in conjunction with states is critical for a whole of game strategy.

Central Coast Football, Chief Executive, Darren Sprod will also be presenting on growing participation strategically by aligning a regional football association with an A-League club and a commercial partner.

• The Football Plenary Sessions will focus on the following aspects:
Growing the Game – Global learnings to local settings will share insights and approaches from Asia, Europe and Australia.

• The Future of Women and Girls in Football – Insights gained from Europe and Australia on how they are strategically focused on and tactically supporting women and girls in Football.

Conference Streams

Stream 1: People, Programs and Coaching – Successful approaches for specific audiences incorporating traditional and innovative programs and activities to engage and retain children, adolescence and adults in the sport.  
This session will also explore Academies, alignment with major franchises and partnerships to grow participation.

Stream 2: Facilities – Alternative spaces, surfaces and places to play, what facilities are needed and how can they be planned for the future.

Stream 3: Supporting Sustainable Clubs – Exploring who should be supporting the clubs, from all levels of government, State and Federal Football Peak Bodies and how should that support look.  This stream will also focus on how IT can support club’s success and sustainability both on and off the field. 

Overall, the National Football Conference 2017 will have underlining themes around growing participation, improving the planning and provision of facilities and supporting clubs to be sustainable, to encourage the sport, local government and the education sectors to reflect on how it can:

1. Develop and promote a greater variety of programs and activities to encourage a wider breadth of the community to participate in football, whether that be socially, for recreation or part of a pathway;
2. Ensure that the infrastructure and places people need to play, recreate, train and compete, meet the standards necessary, are inviting and meet the growing demands placed on traditional fields and facilities; and
3. Support local clubs and providers both on the field and off to facilitate sustainable outcomes with advice on the latest technology and financial solutions.

Keynote speakers include:

• Moya Dodd, Executive Committee Member - Asian Football Confederation (AFC); Chair, Women’s Football Committee - AFC and Board Member - Football Federation Australia
• Jennie Price, Chief Executive - Sport England
• Ian Kendall, Board Director and Director of Youth - Bury FC (UK)
• Emma Highwood, Head of Community, Football Development and Women’s Football - Football Federation Australia
• Ian Robson, Chief Executive - Melbourne Victory
• Joanne Plummer, Chair - Geelong Region Football Committee
• Scott Munn, Chief Executive - Melbourne City FC
• John Didulica, Chief Executive - Professional Footballers Australia
• John Smith, Operations Director - Soccer 5's
• Drew Oryszczyn, Managing Director - Australia - Polar
• Glen McGoldrick, Chief Executive – SportsTG
• Aaron Dantino, Head of Performance Analysis, Melbourne Victory

The inaugural National Football Conference 2017 will be held under the banner of the National Sports Convention on 20th and 21st July 2017 at the Pullman Melbourne Albert Park.

Click here for more information. 

Click here for details on the National Sports Convention in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

20th April 2017 - FFA LOOKS TO CLOSE AIS-BASED CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE

5th April 2017 - NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO FEATURE CASE STUDIES ON GROWING PARTICIPATION

3rd April 2017 - AFL VICTORIA LOCAL GOVERNMENT FORUM COMMITS TO ‘GROWING THE HEARTLAND’ 

23rd March 2017 - MASSIVE DECLINE IN AUSTRALIANS’ PARTICIPATION IN RUGBY, SQUASH AND TENPIN BOWLING 

1st March 2017 - KEYNOTE SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED FOR NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION

16th January 2017 - NEW PARTNERS BACK 2017 NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION

13th January 2017 - LOW SPORT PARTICIPATION IN MELBOURNE’S GROWTH SUBURBS 

29th November 2016 - 2017 NATIONAL SPORTS CONVENTION TO EXPAND WITH FOOTBALL CONFERENCE AND COMMUNITY SPORT THINK TANK 

28th October 2016 - MOYA DODD PRESENTED WITH MOST INFLUENTIAL WOMAN AWARD 

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