Victory on the Pitch and in the Classroom: Using Football (soccer) to Build Respect, Resilience and Belonging
Session Description
Movement has the power to teach far more than physical skills. When intentionally designed, football provides authentic opportunities for young people to practise the personal and social capabilities that underpin success in school, relationships and life.
Drawing on Melbourne Victory Football Club's work with thousands of students across Victorian school settings, this highly interactive workshop invites participants to experience a series of practical football-based activities that intentionally develop respect, accountability, resilience, empathy, leadership and cultural understanding. Through active participation, facilitated reflection and collaborative discussion, attendees will explore how simple game-based activities can transform traditional football sessions into meaningful learning experiences that align with curriculum, strengthen engagement, inclusion and wellbeing.
Designed for educators across primary and secondary settings, the session demonstrates how these approaches can be adapted to meet the needs of diverse learners, including students who are disengaged from school or displaying at-risk behaviours. Participants will discover how movement can become a powerful tool for building trust, strengthening relationships and creating psychologically safe environments where every young person can experience success.
Rather than focusing on technical football coaching, the workshop provides a practical framework that can be applied across Health and Physical Education, wellbeing and whole-school initiatives. Participants will leave with ready-to-use activities, facilitation techniques and evidence-informed strategies that use football to intentionally develop pro-social behaviours, increase student engagement and foster belonging both on and beyond the playing field.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
• Explain how football and purposeful movement can be used to intentionally develop pro-social capabilities, including respect, resilience, accountability and belonging.
• Facilitate practical activities that combine physical participation with structured reflection and behaviour development.
• Adapt football-based learning experiences to engage diverse student cohorts, regardless of ability or sporting background.
• Apply a simple framework for embedding personal and social capability outcomes within Health and Physical Education, wellbeing and whole-school initiatives.
• Identify strategies that strengthen inclusion, engagement and positive relationships through movement.
• Explain how football and purposeful movement can be used to intentionally develop pro-social capabilities, including respect, resilience, accountability and belonging.
• Facilitate practical activities that combine physical participation with structured reflection and behaviour development.
• Adapt football-based learning experiences to engage diverse student cohorts, regardless of ability or sporting background.
• Apply a simple framework for embedding personal and social capability outcomes within Health and Physical Education, wellbeing and whole-school initiatives.
• Identify strategies that strengthen inclusion, engagement and positive relationships through movement.
Curriculum Level
F - 10
Keywords
Leadership, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Psychological and environmental safety, Student Engagement
Presentation Type
Practical Workshop
F
10