Top international coaches and advisors will share their knowledge with New Zealand coaches in a one-day online conference on Sunday November 12.
The 2023 OFC Coaches Conference is open to all coaches, from beginners to seasoned professionals.
Tickets for the conference are $50pp but Oceania-based learners can access complimentary tickets.
The online sessions will be held from 11am-6pm (NZT).
Featured speakers
April Heinrichs
FIFA Technical Expert
A seasoned FIFA high-performance specialist and mentor for FIFA and US Soccer coaches, April Heinrichs is a two-time technical director for the United States women’s national teams and the guiding force behind their Olympic Gold and Silver victories.
She captained the inaugural FIFA Women’s World Cup champions, and was inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame with an impressive 35 goals in 46 international matches.
Melissa Andreatta
Assistant Coach, Australian national women’s team & head coach, Australian U-23 women’s team
A professional coach, Andreatta holds an AFC/FFA Pro Diploma, working in Football Australia’s National Team’s Unit since 2016. Currently the Matildas assistant coach and U-23 national team coach, she has been involved in high-performance football for more 20 years as a scout, analyst and coach.
She played at a semi-professional and professional level, and with International age group Futsal teams.
Ives Serneels
Head Coach of Belgium national women’s team
Serneels has been a mentor for the FIFA Coach Mentorship Programme for five years, where he first mentored Stephanie Spielmann (Tahiti) and more recently, Natalie Lawrence (New Zealand).
He works with the Director of Coach Education in Belgium sharing his knowledge and experience from the field and cooperating on developing coaching methodology. He has been The Belgian Red Flames head coach for 12 years and holds a UEFA PRO diploma.
Paul McGuinness
Consultant & former English FA coach developer
McGuinness has a long-standing association with football, particularly with Manchester United where he was a youth and reserve player for the club between 1983-1986 and 1989-91.
McGuinness has held several significant roles, including Education & Welfare Officer, Centre of Excellence Director, Assistant Academy Director, and U-18 coach at Manchester United from 1992 to 2016. He later joined the English FA as a Senior Coach Developer from 2017-2021. He was Academy Head of Player Development at Leicester City from 2021-2022.
Youssif Maximos
Researcher — Victoria University
Maximos, who has coached at grassroots and elite youth level for more than 12 years, focuses on player and coach development from a pedagogical perspective. The holder of an AFC/FA B Licence, he has frequently travelled to further his sporting education and experience including attending seminars with UEFA Pro Licence candidates and has worked in match analysis with Granada CF in LaLiga.
He has presented at national and international conferences on football curricula that aim to develop talent. His work has been noticed by professional clubs and national federations, including FIFA.
Ben Galloway
Physical education teacher
A young football coach based in Townsville, Australia, Galloway works as a health and physical education teacher. He is currently doing his A Licence with the Australian FA. He runs a YouTube channel, ‘Opposite Direction’, making short educational videos about football coaching.
His mentors include Deportivo La Coruña’s Jose Barcala, former professional player Remo Buess, ecological psychology expert Dr Ian Renshaw and his first major influencer, David Da Silva.
Doug Lemov
Author
Lemov is the author of several books on teaching and coaching including The Coach’s Guide to Teaching and Teach Like a Champion (now in its third version).
He has worked extensively with school systems around the world and has provided support and guidance to the national rugby teams of England, Australia and Scotland as well as the US Soccer Federation, the English FA, and the Premier League.
Tanya Oxtoby
Head Coach, Northern Ireland national women’s team
Oxtoby has a UEFA Pro Licence, a diploma in football management, and a Psychology degree and continues to seek professional development from both internal and external environments. She was a dual career athlete studying whilst playing at the highest level in both Australia and England, before transitioning to coaching.
Oxtoby has won three FA Cups and two WSL league titles with Chelsea, as well as experience within the Champions League. She has had extensive experience at domestic level in Australia and England, as well as recently being appointed as the senior women’s manager for Northern Ireland.
Pascal Zuberbühler
Senior Football Expert at FIFA
Zuberbühler, a former professional goalkeeper whose clubs include Grasshoppers-Club Zurich, FC Basel, and Fulham FC, earned 51 caps for Switzerland. He played at UEFA Euro 2004, the 2006 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2008.
Since moving into coaching, he has worked with the Philippines national team and English club Derby County. He also provides expert analysis for the Swiss Super League and Champions League on the Pay-TV channel Blue.
Steven Dillon
Clubs and Leagues Manager, Oceania Football Confederation
Based in Auckland, Dillon has been part of the ICCE / NCDA Coach Developer Academy, as well as the Sport NZ trainer and coach developer programmes.
Previously the National Coach Development Manager for NZ Football, he has a passion for coach development.
James Bannatyne
Goalkeeper Development Manager, Oceania Football Confederation
Bannatyne is a former New Zealand international and professional goalkeeper and was a member of the All Whites squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
He works with Oceania Football Confederation, leading goalkeeper development and coach education. He has also worked with the Red Bull Global Football project as Head of Goalkeeping with Red Bull Ghana.
Issy Coombes
Lead Female Sports Scientist, Wellington Phoenix Academy / NZ Football
Coombes played a three age group World Cups and was a member of the Football Ferns before moving into sport science. She has worked with the national U-17 women’s team and is helping the New Zealand U-20 women’s team prepare of the 2024 FIFA U–20 World Cup.
She is the Lead Female Sport Scientist at the Wellington Phoenix Academy and is completing her PhD which looks at “menstrual cycle characteristics in elite and academy female footballers in New Zealand”.
How to register
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