Touch Football Australia (TFA) would like to inform our community of an important step approved by the TFA Board at its recent meeting – the establishment of a National Selection Policy to guide the selection of players, coaches, and selectors for national representation.
This initiative responds to feedback from members and aligns with guidance from the Australian Sports Commission. It aims to ensure our processes are fair, transparent, and consistent with the standards expected of a leading national sporting organisation — particularly as we pursue Olympic recognition, alignment with the Australian Institute of Sport, and high-performance excellence.
To guide this work, a Steering Committee has been established, comprising respected figures from across our sport, including:
- National Opens Coaches: Renee Murphy, Phil Gyemore, and Dave Nolan;
- TFA Hall of Famers: Sharyn Williams, Tony Trad, Peter Bell, and Gavin Shuker;
- Leah Percy, Alliance representative and former Australian Opens representative;
- TFA’s High-Performance Team;
- A Chair of the Steering Committee, who will be appointed by the Board and will be a Director; and
- Facilitated by James Sharp, TFA National Education & Policy Manager.
The Steering Committee has been tasked with reviewing past practices, benchmarking against best practices, and recommending a draft policy and phased implementation plan. This work is to be completed by 16 May 2025.
We see this as a critical governance initiative, and we’re committed to ensuring it reflects the perspectives and needs of our broader community.
We thank you for your ongoing support and look forward to working collaboratively as the policy is developed.
