Football Queensland is proud to support Australia’s first national football-only coaching conference in nine years, which will be held on the Gold Coast on Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 May 2019.

Hosted at RACV Royal Pines Resort, the International Football Coaching Conference Australia (IFCCA) will bring together global keynote speakers and Australian football industry leaders to deliver insight, research and approaches used by leading clubs and associations around the world.

IFCCA delegates will also receive official Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points for attending the two-day conference as well as opportunities to network with fellow football coaches, conference speakers and panellists.

Conference director Ken Stead said IFCCA presented a fantastic opportunity for coaches at all levels to learn from world-renowned football presenters on topics such as the role of high performance, player recruitment challenges and youth academies.

“Finally, we have a tremendous opportunity to get together to share football knowledge and discuss football issues,” Stead said.

“At IFCCA, football coaches will develop a greater understanding of the world game through exposure to some of the best football education practices internationally.”

The conference’s first confirmed keynote speaker is Grant Downie OBE, who has had notable roles with Manchester City Academy, Middlesbrough FC and Glasgow Rangers, at club level in the United Kingdom.

He was also the lead physiotherapist for England at the FIFA Under 20 World Cup in 2011, physiotherapist for Great Britain at Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games and physiotherapist for Scotland at Glasgow 1982 Commonwealth Games.

“I always love to see how others in similar roles to mine in other countries and sports do their job,” said Downie, who currently consults to the City Football Group, the Premier League and the Scottish Football Association.

“I have had the pleasure to speak in five continents across the world, this will be my sixth. This is a brilliant opportunity to share knowledge and learn more, I can’t wait.”

IFCCA’s second confirmed keynote speaker is Thomas Federspiel, who has served as a head scout for German clubs Bayer 07 Leverkusen, 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

“I look forward to coming to Queensland to share current concepts and strategies used by the world’s elite clubs,” Federspiel said.

“Player recruitment has been completely globalised and the hidden markets are no longer hidden.

“A big part of our scouting business has become digital.  However, we need to identify potential and for this, the human eye is irreplaceable.”

IFCCA delegate passes give attendees access to all conference sessions and all exhibitors across the two-day conference, as well as exclusive accommodation discounts at the RACV Royal Pines Resort.

Early bird registrations for IFCCA are now open. Please visit www.ifcca.com.au to secure your delegate pass now.

KEY INFORMATION

Date	Saturday, 25 and Sunday, 26 May 2019
Venue	RACV Royal Pines Resort, Gold Coast
Cost	If purchased before Tuesday, 20 November (early bird offer) – $365 If purchased after Tuesday, 20 November – $425
More info	www.ifcca.com.au