Football Queensland (FQ) has strengthened its commitment to achieving its vision of uniting football in Queensland through a valuable new partnership with The Great Public Schools’ Association of Queensland (GPS).
“We are delighted to be working with GPS and school football and look forward to delivering quality outcomes for participants of school football,” FQ CEO Robert Cavallucci said.
“It is critical we continue to unite football in the state whilst constantly looking for innovative ways to improve the experience wherever football is played and this partnership enables us to do that, creating consistency in refereeing across school and club football.”
Forming part of FQ’s School Strategy and following on from months of constructive discussions, the two parties have agreed a Memorandum of Understanding that will see FQ provide GPS schools match referees alongside fresh development opportunities for referees and coaching, with a goal to improving the overall football experience for school participants.
GPS Competition Administrator Katie Veitch said: “The new partnership with Football Queensland will deliver tangible benefits for our member schools, allowing us to improve the quality and support of match officials and coaches across the GPS network and encouraging growth in participation.
“We look forward to working with Football Queensland to further strengthen the delivery of GPS football as we provide exciting opportunities for our participants and their football development moving forward.”
“One of Football Queensland’s strategies will be the delivery of free referee courses to build capacity within GPS schools and mentoring match officials during school games, reflecting FQ’s commitment to growing the number of referees in the state through increased development opportunities,” Cavallucci said.
“We will also be making coach education courses available to GPS school coaches to ensure their young players are benefitting from the best possible guidance.
“Football in Queensland United is a critical strategic objective, and we can only achieve this by bringing together and welcoming communities into the football family.
“A united game with a shared purpose, demonstrating we are the largest participation sport across Queensland, FQ will advocate football with a stronger position across all levels of government.”
Founded in 1918, GPS administers sporting and cultural activities for nine secondary schools based throughout Brisbane, Ipswich, the Gold Coast and Toowoomba, and has featured football on the Association’s sporting calendar since 1991.
