Football Manager’s Report James Rankine

If anyone tells me they have 2020 vision, I’m washing my hand s and taking a b ig step back, because no one could see this year coming! I’m sure there will be lots of references to this throughout all the submitted reports so I won’t go into it too much other than to say that the f o otball family has stayed strong and united and I wo uld like to acknowledge all the clubs, teams, p layers, coaches, staff members and Directors, no t just at NFA b ut FNSW, FFA and everyo ne else involved for your patience, commitment, flexibility and resolve during this p erio d of uncertainty and as we ho pefully steer thro ugh this and come out the o ther side to a chang ed and different wo rld, we can remember all the good qualities in o urselves and each o ther that will make o ur game even b etter and stronger.

It started o ff normal enough as we ro lled through the end of season Community Co ach Education program and the sign could’ve been the successful running of the Community Go alkeep ing Certificate – o ur first for many years and we finished it after confirming that the ash and f ire d ebris count was b elow the req uired level to host an o utdoor event!

We d id run o ur Certificate courses before and after the Covid restrictions as the return to p lay g uidelines allowed and we also were ab le to g et creative and d esign a so cially d istant compliant but also g reat learning environment that was still ab le to g ive our new co aches the understanding and tools to be able to run sessions for their players that were no t just fun and f o otball like, but safe.

Between these wo rkshops and the Certificate courses we were still ab le to reach out and pro vide training to a tick over 400 coaches and that’s a remarkable achievement given the conditions and restrictions that have b een in p lay. Another great example of Nep ean p eo p le just g etting it d one! Here's o ur 100th coach to attend a co urse this year receiving his goody b ag.

We were also ab le to host a number of Game Leader Workshops and these were invaluab le in help ing p arents, siblings and youth p layers to wo rk through the requirements to have a g reat fun g ame of football in the Miniroos ag e groups. These sessions use p ractical settings to practice the b ehaviours needed to help these youngest of players enjoy the g ame b ecause we want them b ack next year. I also ran a Game Lead er workshop for

o ur Rep resentative club, Nep ean FC. This was to help them get officials for their SAP and GSAP teams and I don’t think I’ve ever been so wet. You can see in the background it still co ming d own.

As an extension of this area of football, I accepted the no mination from FNSW to be o n the Co aching and Technical Ad visory Panel and was voted Deputy Chair. This p anel has b een in hiatus d ue to Co vid-19 for most of the year but we are lo o king forward to furthering the game of football at all levels via tho ro ughly researched and d ebated topics that lead to a b etter exp erience for all p articipants. It is b oth an ho nour and responsibility to be a p art of this group and I have enjoyed championing Grassroots football and its’ needs and will co ntinue to d o so.

The time away f rom the office and the fields has b een taken up learning new skills so head o ver to the Nepean FA YouTub e channel and /or the Nepean Webpage to find a heap of g ro wing resources. These include video coaching tutorials on p layer techniques as well as co aching pointers. I have also successfully up loaded and continue to create and add animated session p lans and activities for coaches to follow. These links are also on the NFA co aching page.

The Nep ean Fo o tball Academy has also taken a hit in season 2020 b ut we are no w back up and running at 2 venues, Henry Lawson and Springwood United. Both ho sting o ur weekly p ro gram. These have b een running in Term 3 and are g oing ahead in Term 4 as well at the same venues. 26 registrations in Term 3 and another 80 so far for Term 4 sho uld lead us into a successful 2021. The mo st pleasing aspect is that at Springwood in Term 4 we are ab le to sustain a Girls Only g roup along with a Senior Age Gro up alongside our “normal” groups.

Scho ol Ho liday Clinics were the first to be affected in April but we were ab le to g et b ack up and running in July and we also held clinics in the September/October ho lidays. This will take us to o ver 100 p layers attending over the 2 periods.

Whilst the o verall Academy numbers may be d own a little on historical figures over recent years, it has remained a g ood opportunity for p layers to receive additional coaching in a safe, f un enviro nment that leads them to b e better p layers. 100% of p layers that attended the Acad emy in 2019 successfully trialled and gained p o sitions at NFC in either Sap, GSAP or Youth Leag ue f o r this season. This continues the trend o f p layers utilising the p athway that is being pg. 24

o f fered and is a testament to all those involved in designing, d elivering and supporting the p ro g ram. We are lo oking forward to next year and are ho peful of having a much bigger presence at an exciting new facility yet to be completed…..

On a Natio nal front – how good is it that we will be hosting the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup??? We can’t wait for the opportunities and excitement that awaits as the tournament g ets closer.

I sp ent a f ortnight in New Zealand earlier in the year, when travel was still allowed, as co ach of the Australian First Nation Under 14 Girls team. We went into camp and then p layed some warmup matches before p laying against the NZ Maoris in the Trans Tasman Clash o f Cultures test match. This was a f antastic experience, and we were lo oking forward to ro lling o ut the National Ind igenous Football Championships and entering teams in the event in No wra. Unf ortunately, the event was cancelled, and plans are no w underway for 2021.

I have zo o med my way through many meetings but not as many as some for sure. I have b een lucky enough to be asked to a p anellist on q uite a few of these and it is always a p leasure to share my experience and knowledge on these forums. It is still a b it surreal when you’re talking with international players and coaches from around the world and without Covid, this wouldn’t be possible.

A b ig thank you to all the clubs and coaches who invite me into their d omains as we wo rk to g ether to make football a great experience for all.

To my f ellow staffers, look forward to seeing you all ag ain, at the same time, at the same p lace ag ain soon and thanks to the Board for the continued o pportunity to play my p art.

2020 has b een no thing if not interesting and I lo ok forward to an exciting but differently interesting 2021!

James Rankine

Fo o tball Manager

FOOTNOTE:

Since the writing of this report and by the time you read this, I will have left my role here at the NFA. My wo nderful p artner Trisha and I have d ecided to make the b ig move to the No rthern Rivers to start the next chapter of o ur lives. It has all happened very quickly and it will b e a sad d ay as I leave the area I have b een a p art of my whole life but life is for living and we are very excited for the future. Thank you to everybody who has supported me over the years, staff, board, committee members and all the coaches and players. Let’s keep the game in f ocus and I can’t wait to see the great things that are hap pening out of Nep ean f ro m my d eck chair while watching the whales swim by. pg. 25