The final line-up of speakers for the 2019 NZF National Coaching Conference have now been confirmed and time is running out to book your chance to learn from some of the brightest minds in sport with registrations set to close on Wednesday 24 July.

The two-day conference will take place at North Harbour Stadium in Auckland on 27-28 July and will showcase a number of prominent coaching figures from both the domestic and international game.

The speakers and panellists include Tom Sermanni (Football Ferns head coach), Aaron Walsh (San Francisco Giants performance coach), Leon Birnie (New Zealand U-17 women’s head coach), Gemma Lewis (New Zealand U-20 women’s head coach), Danny Deigan (New Zealand Football Head of Sports Science), Paul Temple (Wellington Phoenix Academy Director), Dom Vettise (Vettise Psychology), Simon Mead (Hudl performance analysis) and Natalie Lawrence (Team Wellington youth coach).

All have amassed a wide array of experience and expertise in their fields, which cover many aspects of coaching.
 

Football Ferns head coach Tom Sermanni (Photosport)

Tom Sermanni for example is one of the most respected coaches in the women’s global game and held coaching roles with Australia, USA and Canada before taking charge of the Football Ferns. He recently coached the Ferns at his fifth World Cup and will lead them to the Tokyo Olympics next year.

Aaron Walsh also travelled to the World Cup with the Football Ferns and is focused on mental skills, player development and creating an ideal environment for performance. He has worked across a variety of sports and currently works with players from the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks in the NFL, as well as the New York Mets in the MLB.

A highly-experienced coach and coach educator, Leon Birnie has been an influential figure in the development of football in the Central Football region and was a finalist in the prestigious ISPS Handa Halberg Awards after leading New Zealand to an unprecedented bronze medal at the 2018 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
 

New Zealand U-17 women's head coach Leon Birnie (Getty Images)

Recently appointed as head coach of both the Future Ferns Domestic Programme (FFDP) and the New Zealand U-20 women’s team, Gemma Lewis has been involved in player development programmes in this country for five years. During this time, she coached Auckland Football to the National Women’s League title – as well as finishing runners-up with the Northern Lights last year – and was assistant coach to Birnie at the U-17 Women’s World Cup.
 

New Zealand U-20 women's head coach Gemma Lewis (Getty Images)

Danny Deigan is passionate about improving performance and managing injury risk by using a holistic approach to sports science. This has led him to work in the Hyundai A-League with the Central Coast Mariners and Western Sydney Wanderers. After five years working with the India national team, Danny has recently joined New Zealand Football as Head of Sports Science.

With a strong record of player development, Paul Temple has worked in federation, grassroots and professional environments. Now academy director for the Wellington Phoenix, he is responsible for the development of players aged 13 to 18 with a view to producing players capable of competing at first-team level in the Hyundai A-League.
 

Wellington Phoenix academy director Paul Temple (Photosport)

Dom Vettise is currently working with a range of sports teams and organisations such as the Black Ferns sevens (rugby), Silver Ferns development, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (both netball), Auckland Aces (cricket) and Canoe Racing NZ. He is interested in how identity shapes human performance and how culture can enhance or lock self-expression in moments of high pressure.

With a huge passion for technology and coach education, Simon Mead currently works for performance analysis provider Hudl. This involves working with schools, clubs and associations to help them deliver world’s best practice in performance analysis, innovation and development.

The extensive coaching career of Lawrence has involved her working in several different parts of the world, including England, USA and Canada. In her previous role as an academy coach for the Vancouver Whitecaps, she was responsible for creating and delivering a player development programme to create future international footballers. On her return to New Zealand, she created history by becoming the first female head coach of a men’s National Youth League team.

The cost of attending the two-day NZF National Coaching Conference is just $150 (+GST) per candidate, with no pre-requisite required to attend.

Registrations for the non-residential conference close on Wednesday 24 July and can be completed by clicking here

NZF National Coaching Conference
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Saturday 27 July, 9am – 4pm
Sunday 28 July, 9am – 4pm

For further information on NZF Coach Development, please visit www.nzfootball.co.nz/coaches or contact Coach Development Manager Owain Prosser at owain.prosser@nzfootball.co.nz

Article added: Tuesday 23 July 2019