IFW19: Ground Up – Developing Indigenous Coaches

In 2019 Indigenous Football Week (IFW) shone the spotlight on the life-changing work of our local John Moriarty Football (JMF) coaches across our expanding communities in remote and regional Australia.

IFW19 aimed to ensure our JMF coaches have the knowledge and tools for world-class, holistic Indigenous football delivery and be powerful agents of change.

From 2-10 November 2019, 10 JMF coaches (6 Indigenous and 4 non-Indigenous) travelled to Sydney, for some a journey of thousands of kilometres. Across the week they

• Undertook intensive skill and game training with Football
• Participated in a full-day session with internationally renowned sports psychologist, Dr. Noel Blundell
• Had a training workshop on Workplace Mental Health Skills with Black Dog Institute
• Were coached on strategies that address Indigenous health issues via nutrition and exercise by Dr. Tugay Esgin from the University of Sydney
• Observed a Sydney FC Academy training session in action.

In line with FFA curriculum and in collaboration with Football NSW and FFA, we thank Sydney FC, Western Sydney Wanderers FC, and Central Coast Mariners for their training work with our local IFW19 coaches during the week.