This has been the guiding vision for more than 20 years for Victoria Police Detective Sergeant Vincent Manno, who has transformed sport into a bridge between institutions and the community—where footballs, uniforms and smiles become tools of trust, connection and hope.
Last year, the project he founded—Sports COPPS: Choices, Opportunities, Partnerships, Participation equals Success—reached Shepparton’s St Georges Road Primary School.
Around 350 students, from Prep to Grade 6, had the opportunity to meet police officers, firefighters, paramedics and coaches, discovering that behind every uniform are people ready to listen, teach and guide.
Sports COPPS is no longer just a slogan but a tangible philosophy that has reached more than 15,000 young people, offering pathways away from risk, access to positive role models and a vibrant, inclusive sense of community.
The innovative program and Manno’s long-standing commitment were recognised on February 11 when Sports COPPS was named Most Outstanding Police Club 2025 by the Victoria Police Amateur Sports & Welfare Society—one of the state’s most prestigious awards.
At the San Remo Ballroom in Carlton North, in the presence of special guests including footballer Melissa Barbieri, basketball coach Dee Butler and former basketballer Nigel Purchase, and attended by Chief Commissioner Mike Bush and representatives from Emergency Management Victoria, Fire Rescue Victoria, Triple Zero Victoria and Ambulance Victoria, the program received further acknowledgement of its impact and success.
Founded in 2001 from Manno’s vision, Sports COPPS uses sport and recreation to develop life skills and prevent crime, creating early intervention pathways and alternatives before the law needs to step in.
Small seeds planted to invest in the future of hundreds of thousands of children and young people.
“It’s about investing time in our young people before problems arise,” Manno explained.
“Alternatives and positive role models are essential. As a community, we all share responsibility for providing positive social interactions and activities that prevent antisocial behaviour or bullying—attitudes and actions that could otherwise escalate into criminal activity.”
Today, Manno is also issuing a call to police officers, sporting clubs, emergency services and community leaders: more opportunities, more mentorship and greater attention can truly make a difference.
The recent recognition as Most Outstanding Police Club 2025 stands as further proof of the vital, often quiet investment being made in the next generation.
