What’s Changing for Coaches in the 2026–27 Football NSW Season

A Practical Guide to the New Club Standards & Benchmarking Framework

If you coach in Football NSW’s Boys’ Youth League (BYL) or Mixed Junior Development League (JDL), the 2026–27 season introduces several changes that directly affect how you coach, how you plan sessions, and how you manage match day.

Football NSW has released the 2026–27 Club Standards & Benchmarking Framework, and while it applies at club level, coaches now play a more visible role in assessments than ever before.

This article explains:

• What’s changed for coaches

• What Football NSW assessors will be looking for

• What you may need to do differently next season

What Are the Biggest Changes for Coaches in 2026–27?

The key shift is toward evidence-based development.

Under the new framework, clubs are assessed not just on results, but on:

• Player development practices

• Coaching qualifications

• Session quality

• Fair and transparent game time

• Alignment with the club’s Player Development Model

For coaches, that means how you plan, deliver, and document your work matters more than ever.

NSW Football Game Time Rules: What Coaches Need to Know

Is game time tracking mandatory?

Yes. Accurate game time tracking is now a core expectation.

The 2026–27 framework places strong emphasis on clubs having detailed records of player game time, including:

• Minutes played per player

• Positions played

• Distribution of game time across the squad

These records must be:

• Updated regularly after each game week

• Accessible to coaches and the Technical Director

• Aligned with the club’s Game Time Policy

Why is Football NSW focusing on game time?

Game time data now feeds directly into:

• Individual Development Plans (IDPs)

• Player reviews and parent discussions

• Retain / release decisions

• Squad planning

• “Safe to Play” compliance

Without accurate records, it becomes difficult for clubs to demonstrate that development opportunities are being managed fairly.

How Coaches Can Track Game Time Effectively

Many coaches are moving away from handwritten notes or spreadsheets and instead using digital tools that track game time during the match.

One example is Mingle Sport, where coaches can:

• Set line-ups before kick-off

• Start a match timer

• Record substitutions as they happen

From this, the system automatically calculates:

• Minutes played per player

• Time spent in different positions

• How evenly game time is distributed

Having this information readily available helps coaches and clubs provide clear evidence during Football NSW assessments and supports more objective conversations around development.

The 2-Year Licence Cycle: Why It Matters for Coaches

From 2026–27, Boys’ and Men’s competitions move to a two-year licence cycle, consistent with the Girls’ Youth program.

What does this mean in practice?

Clubs are assessed across two seasons, with league placement influenced by:

• Coaching qualifications

• Development practices

• Player progression

• Club standards

• On-field results

For coaches, the message is clear:
individual player development over time is as important as short-term results.

Coaching Qualifications: What’s Expected Now?

Do coaches need a C Diploma?

For U13–U18, all coaches and assistant coaches are now assessed using an updated points system.

If a coach does not hold at least a C Diploma, they contribute zero points to the Technical Qualifications score.

Points allocation:

• No qualification or Foundation only = 0 points

• C Diploma = 1 point

• B Diploma = 2 points

• A Diploma = 3 points

This applies to all U13, U14, U15, U16, and U18 teams.

Is it compulsory?

It’s not mandatory to coach, but it has a direct impact on your club’s assessment outcome — making upskilling a priority for many clubs.

Coach Contracts Are Now Required at All Levels

All coaches in BYL1, BYL2, and BYL3 must now have a formal contract in place.

Contracts are expected to include:

• Clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Development expectations

• Alignment with the club’s coaching methodology

As a coach, you can expect more clarity around what success looks like — and that success will go beyond match results.

Session Design Is Now a Standalone Assessment Area

Session Design is now assessed separately from general coaching delivery.

Football NSW assessors will be looking for:

• Clear session objectives

• Alignment with the club’s development model

• Age-appropriate technical and tactical focus

• Team, unit, and individual player tasks

• Logical session flow and organisation

• Use of scaffolding

• Evidence of reflection

Session plans should be written, accessible, and consistent with what’s delivered on the field.

Practical Tip: Keeping Session Plans Accessible

Some coaches are choosing to write their session plans directly into tools like Mingle Sport, saving the plan against each training session.

This allows:

• All team members to see the session structure and objectives

• Session plans to be stored historically across the season

• Easy reference during training or assessment visits

Coaches can also add staff-only notes that are visible only to coaching and support staff. These notes are often used for:

• Individual player focus points

• Planned constraints or progressions

• Post-session reflections

• Discussion points for Technical Director reviews

Keeping planning, delivery, and reflection together helps demonstrate consistency — something Football NSW assessors now look for more closely.

SOCHANGEIT Is Now an Explicit Expectation

The new framework specifically references SOCHANGEIT:
Space, Overload, Condition, Handicap, Area, Numbers, Game Rules, Equipment, Inclusion, and Time.

Assessors expect coaches to:

• Adapt sessions based on what they see

• Modify activities to meet player needs

• Avoid rigid, one-size-fits-all drills

Being able to explain why you changed an activity matters just as much as making the change.

Match Day Coaching: Managing Cognitive Load

A new matchday expectation is that coaches deliver instructions clearly and concisely, without overloading players.

This includes:

• Focused halftime talks

• Minimal sideline instruction

• Prioritising one or two key messages

The emphasis is on quality of communication, not quantity.

Technical Director Attendance: What’s Changed?

Technical Directors or Heads of Youth are now expected to attend both home and away fixtures.

For coaches, this provides:

• More consistent support

• More observation and feedback

• Greater alignment across age groups

This should be seen as a development opportunity, not just oversight.

Quick Reference: What’s Changed?

Coach Action Checklist for 2026–27

1. Track game time accurately after every match

2. Use a consistent system to record minutes and positions

3. Check your coaching qualification level

4. Write and store session plans in an accessible format

5. Include reflection and staff notes as part of your planning process

6. Understand and apply your club’s Player Development Model

7. Use SOCHANGEIT principles confidently

8. Attend the 2027 BYL Youth Development Conference

9. Engage regularly with your Technical Director

Final Thought for NSW Coaches

The 2026–27 framework is not about catching coaches out.
It’s about raising the standard of youth football development across NSW.

Coaches who:

• Plan sessions clearly

• Track game time accurately

• Communicate effectively on match day

• Commit to ongoing learning

will be well placed to support both their players and their club through the new assessment cycle.

If you’re unsure how these changes affect your role, speak with your Technical Director or contact Football NSW’s Club Development Unit.

Good luck for the 2026–27 season.