Balmain DFC Future Coaches Program

Registration for the 2026 Future Coaches Program is now open.

Program Overview

The objective of the program is for our club to provide a mentoring program for young people aged 14-19 interested in coaching. Coaches will be accredited through coaching courses, involved in coaching holiday camps, mentoring sessions, coaching in our development programs, and being paired up to coach MiniRoos teams during the winter season. The club will provide mentors to lead the development of these coaches sourced internally and externally.

We want to develop the next generation of coaches at our club with the right skill set to succeed in their roles and continue to develop our players. Generating more coaches through this program year after year will help build capacity throughout the club and improve the overall quality of the football experience for BDFC players.

Key Outcomes

Increase girls and women’s participation

By increasing the number of girls and women coaches, we provide young girls with strong role models who have first-hand experience and success in the sport. This helps girls visualize their potential in football and encourages them to participate and stay committed to the sport. Our program fosters a sense of empowerment among girls. When they see women in leadership roles within the football club, they are more likely to feel confident, motivated, and inspired to pursue their goals in football. This empowerment translates into increased participation as girls become more eager to take part in training sessions, matches, and other club activities.

Improve leadership opportunities for young people

By providing opportunities for young girls and boys to learn coaching techniques, strategies, and effective communication skills, they gain a deeper understanding of the sport. The program can facilitate networking and mentoring opportunities. Pairing them with experienced mentors allows for personalised guidance, advice, and support. There will be an increased visibility of young people in coaching roles. This can attract other aspiring girls and boys to become coaches, who may have been hesitant to participate due to a lack of representation.

Why Join?

  • Development
    • Develop transferrable skills through coaching (teaching, organizing, analysing, motivating, communicating etc.)
    • Contribute to the development of young players and see them grow
    • Opportunity to include coaching hours as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Program
  • Courses
    • Coaches will be put through a MiniRoos Certificate and a Foundation of Football Course (for those 18 and over) prior to starting the program
  • Mentoring
    • Opportunities to be mentored by experienced coaches at BDFC and external coaches who can share experiences and provide guidance throughout the program
  • Holiday Camps & Programs
    • Opportunities to work at our Holiday Camps (paid role) where possible
  • Team Coaching
    • Appointed to winter season MiniRoos Teams (U6-U7 Mixed or Girls teams) in pairs and work with a parent volunteer coach to practice learnt skills
    • Training the team once per week during the season (if the team has a scheduled session)
  • Progression
    • Progress to coaching in our development program
    • Future employment opportunities as casual coaches after completion of the program
    • Opportunities to receive funding for Advanced Coaching licences in the future

Commitment

  • Attend the Induction Session
  • Attend the January School Holiday Camp for internal training to prepare for future camps
  • Attend Online sessions
  • Complete a MiniRoos Coaching Course
  • Complete a Foundation of Football Course
  • Coach a MiniRoos team during the winter season

The program will run for roughly 11 months, from December to October every year.

Timeline

Key Milestones

  • Monday 27th October 2025 – Launch program for 2026
  • Wednesday 26th November 2025 – Announce 2026 program intake
  • Tuesday 10th December 2025 – Induction Session
  • January – Holiday Camp Training Session
  • February – MiniRoos Certificate (Dates TBC)
  • March 2026 – Foundation of Football Course (Dates TBC)
  • Mid to Late March 2026 – Pre-Season Online Session (TBC)
  • Late March 2026 – Appointment to winter teams (TBC)
  • Late Mar/Apr 2026 – MiniRoos team training begins (TBC)
  • April 2026 – Early-Season follow-up for those with teams (TBC)

BDFC Holiday Camps

See our Season Calendar page for BDFC Holiday Camp Dates.

Each Future Coach must go through a training session at 2 days of holiday camp before they are eligible to be appointed for a paid coaching role.