Gippsland United FC recently hosted a Football Australia C Diploma coaching course at Baxter Park in Warragul, with 18 coaches completing the four‑day program.
The course was led by Coach Education Tutors Anouk Meerboer and Grant Spence, who guided participants through technical skill development, practice design and the Principles of Play.
Across both weekends, attendees took part in practical on‑field sessions that allowed them to test, refine and apply the concepts covered throughout the course. The mix of classroom content and hands‑on learning created a strong environment for collaboration and development ahead of the upcoming season.
Anton Sbaglia, Senior Men’s Head Coach at Traralgon Olympians SC, said a highlight was “seeing how other coaches go about their business and the key points to get the most benefit for players from a training and learning perspective. It was a valuable course that helped me build on my knowledge, communication and practical coaching skills.”
Tara Dennison, relief coach at Gippsland United FC, said “Completing the C Diploma coaching course was an incredibly valuable experience. Coming into the course having only completed the Foundations of Football last year and half a season of coaching, I learnt an enormous amount from both the facilitators and the group. It strengthened my understanding of the principles of play and how to embed them into session design, and most importantly, it built my confidence as a coach. It has also given me the knowledge and capability to better support other coaches and colleagues around the club.”
Football Victoria thanks Gippsland United FC for hosting the course and supporting the continued growth of coach education across the region.
This builds on from a successful recent Foundations of Football course hosted by Monash SC, reinforcing the strong demand for coaching development across Gippsland. With growing interest and ongoing commitment from local clubs, we still have more coach development opportunities coming up in the region.
Upcoming Gippsland Coaching Courses
To help coaches prepare for the 2026 season, Football Victoria has scheduled two more Foundations of Football courses in the Gippsland region:
- Sale United FC, February 28
- Phillip Island SC, March 28
These entry‑level courses provide new and developing coaches with the tools to create positive sessions, understand key coaching principles and support players at all stages of their development.