coach

At CTF&F, our approach to coach development is grounded in real-world, on-field practice—not just theory. We work in parallel with coaches, integrating support directly into the team environment to ensure everything we do is practical, relevant, and impactful. Our "hands-on" method includes mentoring in real time during sessions, helping coaches with organisation, design, and solving football-specific challenges. Whether you’re a new coach or an experienced one, our tailored support helps you grow with your players, using shared language and consistent objectives across the club.

We offer flexible development opportunities for coaches and clubs across the Central Tablelands. From online support and interactive webinars to in-person workshops and full-season partnership packages, we customise our approach to meet your club’s unique needs. Our upcoming series of free guides and webinars will give clubs a taste of how we build coaching capacity at every level—empowering local coaches to create better environments and stronger players.

U5-U7 Match Day Guide

Matchdays for 5 to 7-year-olds are all about creating a fun, safe, and supportive environment where children can fall in love with the game.

At this age, the focus isn’t on results or tactics — it’s on enjoyment, participation, and helping each child grow in confidence while learning the basic skills of football. As a coach, your role is far more than organising positions or calling the score — you’re a mentor, a motivator, and a role model. So how to we strike the right balance between these and coaching, and how and when do we introduce basic football ideas to our players?

This guide provides practical tips and reminders to help you manage matchdays in a way that reflects best practice for early childhood sport. From arrival and warm-ups to game facilitation, parent communication, and post-game reflections, the aim is to ensure every child leaves the field feeling proud, included, and excited to return next week. Let’s make matchdays a highlight of every young player’s week.

Download our FREE U5-U7 Matchday Guide here.

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