AFL Tasmania’s 2025 Coach Masterclass Series has arrived, offering more access, more insight, and more support for community coaches than ever before.
This free professional development opportunity is open to all accredited community coaches, offering practical tools, expert insights, and real-world strategies to strengthen coaching across all levels of our game.
Sessions throughout June will include both online and face-to-face formats, featuring some of the most respected voices in football:
- AFL Hall of Fame inductee Deb Lee, one of the pioneers of women’s football, will share her experience in coaching leadership and cultural connection.
- Tasmanian AFL umpire Nick Foot, fresh off officiating the 2024 AFL Grand Final, will offer rare insights into how the game is interpreted, and how coaches can better prepare players to adapt on game day.
- Jack Rolfe, founder of The Coaching Lab, has worked with some of the world’s biggest sporting organisations — including West Ham United, Hawthorn FC, and the German Hockey Federation — to support game-based, player-led learning.
- The Hawthorn FC Senior Men’s Coaching Group will deliver an in-person Masterclass at UTAS Stadium ahead of their Round 16 match against North Melbourne, offering local coaches an opportunity to learn directly from AFL-level systems, insights, and coaching techniques.
In addition to this elite insight, AFL Tasmania is also running a series of Fundamentals Masterclasses in each region, focused on supporting coaches to confidently teach and coach the basics of our game. These practical, face-to-face workshops begin in June with Kicking Masterclasses, led by AFL Tasmania Coach Developers and Devils Academy coaches — ensuring we’re investing in grassroots coaches who are shaping the next generation.
Further Masterclasses across July, August, and September will be announced soon.
All sessions are completely free, and registered attendees will earn 50 coach accreditation points per session towards their 2025 season requirement — helping them maintain their current level or work towards a higher one.
AFL Tasmania Coach Education and Development Lead, Will Tatchell,said: “It’s vital we continue to support the growth and development of our community coaches by offering a broad range of learning opportunities.
"These masterclasses are about more than just Xs and Os — they’re about connecting coaches with industry-leading professionals, exploring fresh ideas, and building confidence to create great environments for their players.”
For more information or to register, contact Will Tatchell at will.tatchell@afl.com.au