NEPEAN FA

It was great to return to some form of normality in 2022, even if the weather still provided significant challenges.

Unfortunately, five clubs were so badly affected by the wet weather that they never made it onto their respective fields for a single match or training session in 2022. This made the timely delivery of the new synthetic surface facility at Jamison Park an even bigger

Another aspect of sport that NFA have evolved is in the delivery of the game and engagement with members through improved communication methods and its competition management platform. 2022 was the first year using the Dribl platform and, notwithstanding the expected teething problems of a new product, NFA are extremely happy with its performance, as were team and club administrators. Players also loved the real time and immediate fixture updates provided through the platform.

The NFA continues to enjoy a healthy financial position, which allows for some strong forward planning around the delivery of value-added enhancements to the game in the local district. Pleasingly, the Association has been able to assist some clubs with venue maintenance and facility development grants, and NFA will continue to offer this service to clubs.

NFA remains fortunate to benefit from services, at both Association and club level, of brilliant community volunteers, who are driven by equal parts of a love for their community, a love of the sport and a desire to make local spaces the most joyful place to be spending recreation hours.

The Association has taken a serious look at diversity & inclusion in the district, assessing ways in which it can ensure that policies address the key issues as well as looking at events that will send a clear message to the greater community; that football, and Nepean clubs are welcoming, inclusive and a place where all people can feel safe and valued. NFA also spent many meetings looking at how it engages with First Nations members of the community and how, as an organisation, we can show respect, support and a willingness to work harmoniously with First Nations community members moving forward. There is much work to be done in this area to correct the past.

The Wellness team has studied the many ways that wellness can be incorporated into programming and operations and have been particularly pro-active in making the region’s sidelines safe and enjoyable for all football members, including referees, fellow spectators, club officials and players. Educational campaigns and resources have been developed to help in this area and, pleasingly, violence in sport has seen a significant decrease.

Across multiple areas, NFA has addressed gender equity in the sport. This was done by encouraging more clubs to offer female only teams to help build a strong and deep female player base. NFA leads by example in having females in leadership positions and have also allocated significant funds towards the development of female coaches and referees, ensuring that football has a robust gender balance in the coming years.

The NFA congratulates all clubs on the outstanding resilience shown during what has been one of the most difficult years to deliver grassroots football in a very long while. It has been heart-warming to see the level of concern and co-operation displayed by clubs towards each other and the free flow of support and assistance given when required. The demonstration by clubs, showing that they work not only for their communities but for football to prosper, has been the biggest sign of football’s maturity and of the giantsized heart of the Nepean district.