MWFA

Challenge Cup Begins On Sunday

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The Men’s and Women’s editions of the 2024 MWFA Challenge Cup begin on Sunday, providing a good chance for the participating teams to tune up ahead of the Premier League and AL1 seasons.

Twelve teams will participate in Round 1 of the Men’s Challenge Cup, with a place in the Quarter Finals at stake. Four games at Narrabeen High and two matches at Cromer Park mean we’re set for a busy day of knockout football on the Northern Beaches.

Meanwhile, the Women’s Challenge Cup starts with a game between Wakehurst and ABH United on the main field at Cromer Park – the winner goes through to the Quarter Finals.

 

Men’s Challenge Cup
Sunday 10 March

10am – Narrabeen v Mosman, Narrabeen High Field 1
12pm – St Augustine’s v Manly Vale, Narrabeen High Field 1
2pm – CC Strikers v BTH Raiders, Narrabeen High Field 1
4pm – ABH United v Wakehurst, Narrabeen High Field 1
4pm – Harbord v Pittwater, Cromer Park Field 2
6pm – Dee Why v Brookvale, Cromer Park Field 2

(Forest Killarney & Seaforth have received a bye to the Quarter Finals).

 

Women’s Challenge Cup
Sunday 10 March

7pm – Wakehurst v ABH United, Cromer Park Field 1

(Brookvale, Curl Curl, Manly Vale, Mosman, Narrabeen, Pittwater & Seaforth have received a bye to the Quarter Finals).

UPCOMING COACH WORKSHOP: PRE-SEASON TRAINING

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  • What is the best way to develop fitness during the pre-season?
  • Is it endurance running, sprints, gym work, or something else?
  • How can you also develop teamwork and skill at the same time though?
  • And how can you achieve all of this with limited sessions?
  • Do your players also need to train with more intensity?
  • But do you also need to ensure you prevent injuries?

 

All of these questions will be answered in MWFA’s upcoming Coach Workshop on Wednesday March 13 at Cromer Park starting at 6:30pm.

 

MWFA runs a large number of Coach Workshops at various clubs during the winter season. These coach education opportunities compliment official FA coaching courses, with topics based on feedback received on what coaches would find valuable. For more information about official coaching courses available, please see here: https://www.mwfa.com.au/coaching-courses/ 

 

Coaches can attend any and all of these workshops if they wish to, even if they are not a member of the club hosting them. Please ensure you arrive at least 10 minutes early to sign in so the workshops can start and finish on time. It would be appreciate if all participants can bring football boots (ideally) or runners, and appropriate clothing to play football in, just in case they are needed as players on the night.

 

All MWFA Coach Workshops are completely FREE, but registration is required.

See here to register: https://manlyunited.wufoo.com/forms/mwfa-2024-coach-workshops-registration/

 

 

Pre-Season Coaching Courses Available Now

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We are pleased to confirm a number of official Football Australia coaching courses during the pre-season period, which will help coaches to run fun, safe and engaging training sessions. We are committed to making Coach Development as flexible and accessible as possible throughout the season, and so more courses will also be added as they are confirmed.

Please note that you need to register as a coach with your club on ‘playfootball‘ before you can register for coaching courses using your FFA number. This process may take up to 24 hours.

 

 

MINIROOS COACHING COURSES

This course is designed for coaches of U6s up to U10s, but also for any beginner coaches of any age group or those looking for a refresher.

You will learn how to keep your players engaged while picking up new skills through playing 30+ drills, along with many coaching tips in a fully practical environment.

The course goes for 2-3 hours and is completely free. There are also 2 online modules to complete as part of this course which should take about 30 minutes in total.

Monday March 36:30pm to 8:30pmDavid Thomas Reserve (Manly Vale)Click here to register
Monday March 246:30pm to 8:30pmKitchener Park
(Pittwater RSL)		Click here to register
Monday March 316:30pm to 8:30pmCromer Park
(MWFA)		Click here to register
Monday April 76:30pm to 8:30pmLionel Watts Oval
(Wakehurst)		Click here to register

 

FOUNDATION OF FOOTBALL COACHING COURSES

This course is designed for coaches working with beginner players to competent level players of varying age groups (U8s up to seniors).

You will learn the basics of techniques as well as learning about basic playing principles of the game, along with many coaching tips in a fully practical environment. Coaches will participate in group discussions and tasks with the goal of exchanging ideas and experiences.

The course goes for 9 hours across 3 nights, and the course fee is $100 which must be paid up front. We are pleased to confirm that if you are an MWFA registered coach in the 2024 season, we will fully reimburse you the course fee upon completion of all sessions and online tasks.

There are also 2 online modules to complete as part of this course which should take about 30 minutes in total. This course is also a pre-requisite for the C Diploma.

Monday March 3 & Monday March 10 (Foundation of Goalkeeping)6pm to 10pm (both nights)Cromer ParkClick here to register
Sunday March 99am to 4pmCromer ParkClick here to register
Sunday March 309am to 4pmCromer ParkClick here to register

 

MWFA STANDS FOR RESPECT AND SAFETY

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As Football Australia addresses recent concerns, we remain steadfast in our commitment to the core values of safety, respect, and well-being for all participants in our sport. The incidents involving the conduct towards match officials during A-Leagues’ matches this season underscore a broader challenge within our football community.

James Johnson, CEO of Football Australia, asserts, “Every individual, from grassroots volunteers to professional players and match officials, deserves to participate in football in a safe and respectful environment.”

“The behaviour under scrutiny goes against the values of the sport. Abuse or misconduct towards any of our staff or officials is unacceptable and contradicts the spirit of football. We have a zero-tolerance policy and are dedicated to creating a positive experience for all,” emphasised Johnson.

Highlighting a significant challenge, Football Australia acknowledges the concerning trends among our match officials. “Annually, we lose 40% of our registered match officials, which translates to around 4,200 individuals leaving their roles at all levels of the game. Despite the growing participation in football and the success of our national teams, our base of 11,000 officials has not expanded since 2011,” Johnson revealed.

One of the most significant factors contributing to this loss is the negative experiences officials face – from parents, coaches, fans, and players alike. “This environment is unsustainable and contradicts everything we stand for. Our National Code of Conduct and Ethics, which applies across all levels of the game, is designed to combat such challenges, ensuring that football in Australia is enjoyable and safe for everyone involved,” Johnson added.

Creating a respectful and safe working environment for our officials is not just an obligation but a fundamental aspect of our commitment to football. “We must all work together – across all levels of the game – to improve the culture surrounding football. This includes fostering respect and understanding for the vital role match officials play in our sport,” stated Johnson.

In closing, Johnson calls upon the entire football community: “Let us come together to address these challenges and reinforce a positive culture in our game. Our collective efforts are crucial in ensuring that football continues to be a source of joy for all.”

The Football Australia National Code of Conduct and Ethics can be found here.

MWFRA Referee Courses 2024

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The Manly Warringah Football Referees Association (MWFRA) have provided information about this year’s MWFRA Referee Courses.

These courses are for people who wish to become referees for the first time in 2024. The process contains both online and in-person courses – you must be at least 14 years old by 31 December 2024 to become a referee for the upcoming season.

For full information, please visit the below link:

Becoming a Referee with the MWFRA

If, after reading the information in this link, you have any further questions, please email Sigrid Mulherin ( admin@mwfra.org.au ) or Rob Iacono ( courses@mwfra.org.au ).

 

Note: the above is separate to the Team Referee process. Information on Team Referees will be provided to clubs shortly.

2024 Registrations are now open!

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Manly Warringah Football Association are delighted to announce that registrations for the 2024 winter season are now open.

Head to playfootball.com.au, find your club and register today! If you have an unused Active Kids voucher from the previous program, you can redeem it as long as you register by January 31.

We’re anticipating another massive year in football on the Northern Beaches, so get your friends together and sign up for what will be another wonderful season. There’s a team out there for you, regardless of your skill level or previous playing experience.

Annmarie de Uriarte: Avalon’s ParaMatilda

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2024 has been a big year for Annmarie de Uriarte. The Avalon W16 player received her first callup to the ParaMatildas (Australia’s national team for women with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injury and symptoms of stroke), and she was a key member of the team that won the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships.

Annmarie had always participated in mainstream sport, but when she heard about the ParaMatildas via the Cerebral Palsy Alliance, she was eager to take up the opportunity.

“A couple of years ago, I realised if I wanted to take my football to the next level, I would have to look into para sports. I wouldn’t say I hid my disability, but I wasn’t open about it either. I just wanted to keep playing football and I found this amazing community where everyone is so supportive. I’m very grateful everything worked out the way it did.”

After participating in training camps at the Australian Institute of Sport, Annmarie was selected for September’s tour of Japan, where she made her ParaMatildas debut and scored her first goal for the national team. She was appreciative of the support provided while they were overseas.

“Going up to Japan, I will admit I was a bit nervous. Getting my kit and representing Australia, I’ll always remember that.

“We had a whole team of staff there to support us. Being a younger member of the squad, everyone would check in on me, that was nice and comforting.”

Annmarie kept her place in the squad for the IFCPF Asia-Oceania Championships, which were held at The Home of The Matildas (La Trobe University, Melbourne). The team’s intense pre-tournament preparations paid off as the ParaMatildas beat Japan 2-0 to earn their first trophy. Annmarie scored twice during the tournament and set up a goal in the Final.

“We had a week of camp beforehand, with training, media, game analysis and other events. Our games were televised, so more people were watching, that was pretty cool. Being on home soil was awesome.

“I started in the final, that meant a lot to me. I had a hard time finding the back of the net, but coming away with the victory, you can’t beat that, and it was a great celebration.”

She’s still very young, but Annmarie has already thought about the bigger picture in terms of how she can help both the national team and para sports in general.

“The Pararoos have been around for 25 years, they have more of a history and competition is strong. I would really like to see the ParaMatildas grow into something like that, I would love to be a part of the growth and getting more countries involved.

“Down the line I’d like to get more involved with inclusion and the visibility of para sports, creating pathways for others with disabilities is really important.”

 

Feature image courtesy Ann Odong / Football Australia.

Roy Sider – MWFA Meritorious Service Award

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For his service to Manly Vale Football Club and the local competitions, Roy Sider is a recipient of the MWFA Meritorious Service Award.

Roy is a Manly Vale local and loves The Vale. He joined Manly Vale as a young boy nearly 50 years ago and has played every season since then in the maroon and white. Roy’s playing career saw a number of Championship wins, with one highlight being an appearance in the Football NSW Champion Of Champions Final. As his playing career keeps on going, Roy’s playing style is that of a player who just keeps running. He can be seen running around David Thomas Reserve every day – there would not be anyone who has done more laps of Vale’s ground.

In 2000, Tom Miles made the step up from Secretary to Club President and was on the lookout for a capable person who had the club’s interest at heart. Tom didn’t have to look far as he knew Roy was the right person for the job and thankfully Roy was willing to become Vale’s Secretary. He is still in the role 23 years later and with his son Dimi due to start playing for Manly Vale next season, there is no sign of retirement on the horizon, especially as Roy has fantastic family support, particularly from his wife Angela.

Vale are blessed to have Roy as he is amongst the most experienced and capable club Secretaries in the MWFA. His abilities shone through when he navigated the complexities of dealing with the local council and government departments for grant funding – Roy’s hard work resulted in the construction of new amenities and floodlighting at David Thomas Reserve, which replaced the antiquated facilities that had been there when he started playing for Vale 50 years ago.

Roy’s commitment to football goes beyond Manly Vale. He has made himself available for many MWFA committees over the years and currently serves on the Appeals Committee. This is not Roy’s first award – his contribution to football was recognised in 2012 when he received a Football NSW State Award.

Manly Vale FC is immensely grateful for the contributions of Roy Sider and his family.

Joe Scaramuzza – MWFA Meritorious Service Award

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For his service to Manly Vale Football Club and MWFA competitions, Joe Scaramuzza has been given the MWFA Meritorious Service Award.

Joe joined the club over 20 years ago when his children Lauren and Tom started playing for Manly Vale in the Under-6s. Through the kids playing football, Joe and his wife Robyn met Vale stalwarts Caroline & Dave Hodges. After long-standing canteen manager Connie Greco stepped down in 2006, Robyn was instrumental in running the canteen alongside the Hodges family, which led to Joe, Robyn and their kids spending weekends at David Thomas Reserve. It wasn’t long before he volunteered to help out by marking fields, putting up nets and performing canteen / BBQ duties.

Alongside Dave Hodges, Dennis Bayley, Neil Davison & Luke Ventress, Joe has been a key member of the club’s groundskeeping team. Joe has been tirelessly volunteering his time to the club for the past 16 years, and in addition to groundskeeping he always makes himself available for anything the club needs. Whether it’s doing deliveries, fixing equipment, helping out at club events or sorting the club’s gear, he is always there to help.

Manly Vale FC is very fortunate to have the contribution of Joe Scaramuzza and his family.