Australian Soccer Association - Definition

Football Federation Australia (FFA) is the governing body for the sport of association football (soccer) in Australia. Before January 1 2005, it was known as the Australian Soccer Association which in turn succeeded the former body Soccer Australia in this role (in 2003).

Among other duties, FFA oversees Australia's national soccer teams (including the Socceroos (men), the Matildas (women), and various youth teams); national level coaching programs; co-ordination with the various state and territory soccer governing bodies; and the national level soccer competition. Until 2004 the national competition was the National Soccer League, however the FFA is seeking to establish a new national league in 2005, the A-League.

The ASA was formed in 2003, following the collapse of the previous soccer governing body, Soccer Australia. Following an independent inquiry established by the Australian government, the Crawford Report recommended the reconstitution of the body with an interim board, headed by prominent businessman Frank Lowy. Other recommendations were eventually adopted by the stakeholders in Australian soccer after considerable persuasive efforts. Following another recommendation by the report, the ASA renamed itself at the start of 2005 to match the general international usage of the word "football".

State football federations

FFA is associated with the various state and territory football bodies. These include:

• Australian Capital Territory: Soccer Canberra - http://www.soccercanberra.com.au/
• New South Wales: Soccer NSW - http://www.soccernsw.com.au/home/
  • Northern NSW: Northern NSW Soccer Federation - http://www.isport.com.au/soccer/nnswsf/
• Northern Territory: Soccer Northern Territory http://www.soccernt.asn.au/
• Queensland: Queensland Soccer - http://www.qldsoccer.com.au/
• South Australia: South Australia Soccer Federation - http://www.sasf.com.au/
• Tasmania: Soccer Tasmania - http://www.soccertas.org.au/
• Victoria: Victorian Soccer Federation - http://www.soccervictoria.org.au/
• Western Australia: Soccer Administration of WA - http://www.australiansoccer.com.au/public/Article/show.asp?Articleid=4775&lvl=3&menuItemID=28

External links

• Football Federation Australia site (http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/)
• Independent enquiry that led to the ASA's establishment (http://www.soccerinquiry.org.au/index.htm).