Football Program

The Football Program recommenced in May 2011

 
  The Academy's 2011 Football Squad

The program has been developed in consultation with the Football Federation of Victoria and the Gippsland Soccer League. It is structured to provide a more effective pathway into Victorian squads for promising young Gippsland players.

To develop the highest levels of technical skill, the Academy provides intensive sessions, specialised coaches, and individualised programs.

Profile of the coaches

Head Coach - Eugene Lawrenz:  Eugene has been coaching since 2005, spending the majority of his career in Canberra. He started coaching various junior sides at Tuggeranong United, including their inaugural U16 Premier League squad in 2008, and eventually became their Technical Director that same year being responsible for running development squads, mentoring coaches and overseeing the development of the 1000 players registered with the club. During this time he also worked as a coach for the Australian Sport Commission, Arsenal FC’s Australian Soccer School as well as working with several High Performance squads with Capital Football.

At the time Eugene left Canberra in 2010 he had recently taken two ACT Futsal teams to National Championship grand finals, and was the ACTAS women's assistant coach which included working with several Matildas and Young Matildas. He left Canberra to take up a role with FFV as Gippsland’s Zone Development Officer, and has since been appointed Head Zone Coach for the Gippsland Knights as well as Assistant Coach for the U13 Country Boys state squad.

Eugene’s qualifications include an AFC C-Licence, AFC B-Licence and Diploma of Sport Development. He is also a qualified referee, sport trainer and first aid officer.

Assistant Coach - Adrian Salvatore:   Adrian is currently the coach of the Falcons 2000 reserve team in the Gippsland Soccer League, having previously coached junior sides with the club for several years. He is also an active senior player with the club, and represented Gippsland in the Super League as a junior player. In the most recent VCL season he was co-coach of the U15 boys squad for the Gippsland Knights.

Adrian's qualifications include an FFA Youth Licence, FFA Senior Certificate 1 and FFA Senior Certificate 2.

Goalkeeper Coach - James Nicolopoulos:   James was an elite goalkeeper in his youth having played at National Youth League level before being given the opportunity to become an elite referee. James spent 2 years as goalkeeper coach at Oakleigh Cannons in Melbourne, and is currently an A-League and Victorian Premier League referee.

James' qualifications include an FFA Senior Certificate 1, as well as being a highly qualified referee and having first aid qualifications.

All three coaches are young and motivated, having been educated in the new methods of coaching under the National Football Curriculum, and utilising great levels of detail in regards to planning and evaluation. They are working hard to teach the players a new modern way of playing football, and the technical, tactical and mental demands required of players at elite levels.

The squad of 31 (including four U17 train-on players from the Victorian Country League Country Women’s Premier League squad) trains at Latrobe City Sports Stadium in Morwell on Monday and Wednesday nights from 6:30pm. Local coaches are invited to attend training to observe and discuss the coaching methods and principles used by the coaching staff. Please email Head Coach Eugene Lawrenz at elawrenz@footballfedvic.com.au if you would like to come along one night.

  Football Photographs

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