Football Queensland’s Club Assessment process continues to build technical capacity and capability in clubs across the FQ Academy system
Football Queensland’s Club Development Assessment is designed to ensure clubs deliver quality assured programs and provide clear pathways for young players, the assessment evaluates every aspect of a club’s operations, from program planning to player outcomes, creating a system of transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Aligned with global best practice, the Club Assessment process underpins the makeup of the FQ Academy Leagues. Each year, clubs receive a Club Development and Assessment Guide outlining criteria and requirements ahead of assessments throughout the calendar year, providing clubs with a clear pathway to improve their programs in line with best practice.
Click here to review the 2025 Club Development and Assessment Guide
Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said that the process is a key part of FQ’s long-term technical strategy to build capability and capacity within clubs who self-select to be in the player development system and support the ongoing growth and advancement of football across Queensland.
“The Club Development Assessment was developed to ensure our aspiring young players experience football and develop their skills at the highest standard, while recognising each club’s strengths and identifying areas for growth and development,” Football Queensland CEO Robert Cavallucci said.
“Entering its seventh year, the assessment provides a rigorous, multi-layered evaluation of each club’s planning, delivery, and outcomes. In each club, we measure over 1,500 data points across 75 weighted criteria to generate each club’s assessment score, which then underpins the club’s league placement in the FQ Academy Leagues.
“The assessment process ensures that development is sustainable and further assists us in supporting our clubs to lift their technical standards and create more opportunities for players and coaches to reach the next level.”
During the year, each club works closely with a FQ Club Development Ambassador, as well as being supported by additional highly qualified FQ staff in development areas such as coach education, talent management, and program improvement. Each cycle the assessment is tailored to the club’s tier: Tier 1 applies to top-level programs, while Tier 2 provides a quality assurance framework for clubs in FQ Academy League 3 or 4, as well as regional clubs demonstrating a commitment to youth development.
Clubs are evaluated across key areas critical to long-term success, including but not limited to:
- Player and coach progression pathways
- Female participation and coach ratios
- Safeguarding and child protection standards
- Fee transparency and affordability
- Member experience, safety, and retention
- Talent identification and connection to advanced competitions
The process is rigorous, objective, and transparent. Each line item is scored using a detailed rubric aligned with best practice, with weighted scores reflecting the importance of each area. Scores are independently 360 degrees moderated to ensure consistency and accompanied by qualitative feedback to guide future development. Rolling averages in planning documentation reduce administrative burden while maintaining long-term fairness.
Once the initial assessment process is completed, each participating club is provided with a 40-page report, as well as 2 opportunities to review their score with Football Queensland prior to their ranking being ratified.
At the conclusion of the process, clubs receive an overall rating of Gold, Silver, Bronze, or Development Committed, with outstanding achievement recognised through awards including Technical Director of the Year, Club of the Year, and Academy of the Year. The results of the assessment determine league placements for the FQ Academy Leagues for the 2026 season, ensuring clubs are positioned relative to their delivery and growth.
“The 2024 Double Pass audit of our FQ Academy and Club Assessment process confirmed that our approach provides a solid foundation for quality football and continues to set benchmarks for excellence, helping all our clubs grow in capability and ensuring that our great game sustainably thrives well into the future” Cavallucci said.
In 2025, seven regional clubs have successfully been provided ‘Development Committed’ status, allowing them to be clearly benchmarked against clubs across the FQ Academy pyramid, further demonstrating FQ’s commitment to improving technical outcomes in the regions.
The continued growth of capacity amongst our regional clubs is another strong indicator of the increased statewide progression opportunities available and the appetite of clubs to work with Football Queensland to advance the standard of football and coaching expertise across the entire state.
These clubs who have received their ‘FQ Development Committed’ badge will have the opportunity to work towards a Tier 1 rating in the coming years to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold rating.
The full list of clubs who have been categorised for season 2026 can be found below.
