A group of Australia's most promising futsal coaches have recently taken an important step in their development journey, successfully participating in the Football Australia - AFC Futsal Level 2 course held at the Centre in Dural, Sydney.
The course forms a key component of the National Futsal Coach Development Project 2026, an initiative designed to identify, develop and support coaches across the country as both high-quality practitioners and future coach educators.
Bringing together coaches from across multiple Member Federations, the National Futsal Coach Development Project 2026 continues to strengthen national alignment and raise standards within the futsal coaching landscape. The cohort for the program were selected due to their coaching potential, leadership qualities, and commitment to ongoing development and included:
Damon Shaw |
NNSW |
George Lethbridge |
NSW |
James Soufis |
VIC |
Jamie Dib |
SA |
Jessica Mclean |
QLD |
Nestor Fonseca |
WA |
Nicholas van Aalst |
ACT |
Peter Spathis |
NSW |
Thalita Ziero Lunelli |
WA |
Thirone Correia |
QLD |
Other coaches on the Football Australia - AFC Futsal Level 2 included:
Beau Jenkins |
NSW |
Brett Hewit |
NSW |
Dane Stokes |
QLD |
Grant Davoren |
ACT |
Jacob Basden |
NSW |
Jordan Guerreiro |
NSW |
Jose Galindo |
WA |
Julian Lam |
NSW |
Raul Ocana Villegas |
QLD |
Ryan Fletcher |
NSW |
Sarah Moore |
NNSW |
A National Approach to Coach Development
The Futsal Level 2 course is a central pillar of the broader national project, designed to enhance tactical understanding, coaching methodology, and session design capabilities. Delivered in a positive engaging learning environment, the course in Dural provided a unique opportunity for coaches to engage in both theoretical and practical components aligned with contemporary futsal principles.
Throughout the program, participants were challenged to deepen their understanding of the game. The learning experience also emphasised the importance of player-centred development, ensuring coaches are equipped to design sessions that reflect the realities of the game.
Learning Environment and Collaboration
The Centre in Dural offered an ideal setting for immersive learning, combining classroom-based education with on-court application. Coaches worked collaboratively, sharing experiences from their respective states and engaging in critical discussion around best practice.
This collaborative approach is a key feature of the national program, aiming to build stronger connections between states and create a more unified coaching framework across Australia. By learning together, the coaches not only enhanced their individual capabilities but also contributed to a collective uplift in knowledge and standards.
Building More Than Coaches
Beyond technical development, the program also focuses on preparing participants for future roles within coach education. As part of the wider pathway, each coach will go on to assist in the delivery of Level 1 courses, develop their own coach education resources, and deliver on-court sessions within their local environments.
This dual focus of developing both coaching and educator capability-is critical to expanding Australia's coach educator workforce and ensuring sustainable growth within the game. The experience gained during the Level 2 course is a foundational step toward these broader responsibilities.
Looking Ahead
Following their time in Sydney, the coaches will continue their journey through ongoing mentoring, practical delivery, and engagement with international futsal experts.
The successful completion of the Futsal Level 2 course in Dural marks a significant milestone, not only for the individual coaches involved but for the continued evolution of futsal in Australia.
As this group returns to their respective states, they carry with them enhanced knowledge, stronger connections, and a clear responsibility: to contribute to the development of players, coaches, and the broader futsal community across the country.
