The Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), in partnership with New Zealand Football (NZF), hosted the first-ever Pro Licence Diploma module at AUT Millennium in Auckland between March 6-10 2023.

Eighteen coaches from Oceania including Auckland United FC Premier Men’s coach José Figueira attended the event, which focused on leading self, and was one of four that will take place in New Zealand.

The course was also attended by highly experienced coaches including Chris Greenacre, Helene Wilson, and Tony Popovich, who shared their wisdom. During the five-day event, participants learned about the role of a professional coach through real-life experiences and case studies. Self-awareness, coach wellbeing, and reflection were also major topics of discussion.

Natalie Lawrence, head coach of the Wellington Phoenix Women in the Women's A-League, expressed her excitement about the opportunity to develop football in the region through the availability of a Pro Licence course. She has attained all her coaching licenses through NZ Football and OFC's pathways and believes that attendees will grow together well.

Sean Douglas, OFC E-Learning Development Manager and former All White, led the event as a facilitator and was pleased with the level of interaction between coaches. He stated that the coaches were challenged to understand what they do and why they lead and work the way they do. This led to some great conversations that raised awareness of potential biases while challenging the traditions and culture in the sport.

Successful candidates who complete the Pro Licence course should demonstrate knowledge and competence in topics such as leading self, leading others, leading culture, the business of football, and the latest trends in world football. They will also be able to demonstrate professional practice, including areas of leadership, management, ethics, and legal responsibilities.

The next Oceania Football Confederation Pro Licence modules are set to take place on May 8-12 (Christchurch), October 16-20 (Wellington), and Feb/March 2024 (Auckland).