Football Star Academy unveils Partnership with Directed

Football Star Academy (FSA) has announced a new partnership with Directed Electronics Australia, the exclusive distributor of Playermaker across Australia and New Zealand.

This collaboration marks an exciting leap forward in the development of both athletes and coaches, giving players across Football Star Academy programs nationwide access to Playermaker’s cutting-edge wearable technology.

Playermaker is the world’s first foot-worn player development system, purpose-built for football and certified by FIFA for match use. It’s already trusted by top clubs like Manchester City, LA Galaxy, and Borussia Dortmund, among others.

Thanks to this collaboration with Directed, FSA franchisees will now be equipped with Playermaker’s innovative ankle-worn devices that track players’ movements in real-time.

These insights give coaches and athletes a deeper understanding of key performance metrics—like speed, distance, and physical load—helping them train smarter and prepare more effectively for matches.

The benefits of this partnership extend well beyond FSA’s own network, offering schools and sports clubs across Australia the chance to access this groundbreaking technology and take their athletes’ development to the next level.

Anthony Grima, Chief Operating Officer of The AllStars Academy (TAA), shared his excitement about the partnership.

“We are obviously delighted to partner with Directed to bring Playermaker’s game-changing technology to the FSA community,” Grima said in a press release

“This partnership will empower our franchisees, schools, and sporting clubs with the ability to track and analyse player performance in real-time, making training more data-driven and impactful.

“By offering them access to Playermaker’s wearable devices, we are furthering our commitment to providing the best resources for athlete and coach development.”

Playermaker’s wearable technology delivers valuable insights by tracking how players move during training and games.

It captures key data like ball touches, kicking power, speed, distance covered, and overall physical load.

By using this data, coaches and athletes can fine-tune training programs, reduce the risk of injury, and improve performance on the pitch.

As part of this collaboration, participating schools and clubs will also have access to exclusive offers and discounts, making it easier to bring Playermaker’s advanced tools into their own programs.

Directed’s exclusive distribution rights to Playermaker and other top-tier sports, fitness, and wellness technologies give FSA a major advantage—ensuring the latest innovations in performance tracking are available across the region.

This partnership also supports FSA’s long-term vision of providing world-class tools and support to its franchisees, partner schools, and clubs—helping players and coaches across Australia reach their full potential.

General Manager of Brand Partnerships & Strategy at Directed Karl Schuster expressed enthusiasm about the team up with Football Star Academy, highlighting how Playermaker will empower athletes and coaches with valuable performance insights, enhancing training and reinforcing FSA’s leadership in sports development.

“We are excited to join forces with Football Star Academy,” Schuster said in a press release.

“With Playermaker, athletes and coaches can gain valuable insights into their movements, helping them make smarter decisions, train more effectively, and unlock their full potential.

“This collaboration will further strengthen FSA’s position as a leader in sports development in the region.”

To learn more about discounted Playermaker products for schools and sports clubs, you can contact Anthony Grima at anthony@taabrands.com or on 0466 208 213.

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GIS and ACPE join forces to strengthen football coaching and tactical development

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) and Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) will support Hills Football Association in delivering a specialist coaching workshop designed to improve player development, tactical understanding and performance analysis.

Taking place on Wednesday, 21 October 2026, at the ACPE campus in Sydney Olympic Park, the workshop will bring together experienced football coaches and performance analysts to explore practical approaches to developing players’ tactical awareness, decision-making and understanding of the game.

Titled Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding, the event will run from 6pm to 8.30pm and feature two workshops focused on translating coaching theory and performance analysis into practical learning environments.

Former Matildas head coach Tom Sermanni, who has also led the national women’s teams of the United States, Canada and New Zealand, will present the first session, Working with International Players.

The workshop will examine how coaches can design training sessions that develop tactical execution under realistic match conditions, with an emphasis on practice design, player decision-making and effective coaching behaviours.

The second session, From Video to Understanding, will be facilitated by experienced performance analysts from GIS and ACPE.

Participants will explore how match footage can be used to strengthen tactical learning, encourage player reflection and develop independent decision-making.

The session will also examine how coaches can structure effective video reviews that align with coaching objectives and a team’s playing model.

Supporting the next generation of football coaches

The initiative highlights the growing importance of combining traditional coaching methods with modern performance analysis to support player development across Australian football.

As clubs and football organisations increasingly seek to improve coaching standards, access to practical education and industry expertise remains an important component of developing more effective learning environments.

The workshop is designed for coaches seeking player-centred approaches that encourage footballers to read the game, understand tactical situations and make better decisions on the pitch.

Participants will receive two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development (CPD) recognition.

For GIS, the collaboration provides another opportunity to connect its specialist sports education and analytics expertise with the practical demands of football coaching.

The institute delivers postgraduate sports education through online learning and stadium-based campuses internationally, including Sydney’s Allianz Stadium and SCG.

Its Sydney offering includes the Master of Sports Analytics and Master of International Sports Business, supporting the development of professionals across the sporting industry.

ACPE, established in 1917 and based at Sydney Olympic Park, brings extensive experience in sport, health and physical education, with a strong emphasis on industry-focused learning and practical professional development.

Together with Hills Football Association, the two education providers aim to equip coaches with practical knowledge that can be applied directly within their football environments.

Event details

  • Event: Developing and Supporting Players’ Tactical Understanding
  • Date: Wednesday, 21 October 2026
  • Time: 6pm to 8.30pm
  • Venue: ACPE Campus, 10 Parkview Drive, Sydney Olympic Park NSW 2127
  • Presenter: Tom Sermanni
  • Facilitators: Performance analysts from ACPE and GIS
  • CPD: Two hours of Football Australia Continuing Professional Development

Coaches interested in attending are encouraged to register through the event’s official registration channel.

For more information about the education providers, visit Global Institute of Sport and Australian College of Physical Education.

Football NSW backs 20 female coaches with qualification scholarships

Football NSW has supported 20 female coaches to complete their AFC/Football Australia C Diploma qualification in 2026, using scholarships funded through Football Australia and CommBank’s Growing Football Fund to reduce the cost of coach education.

The initiative included a dedicated female-only C Diploma course delivered by Football NSW in April and May, attended by 13 coaches. An additional seven received support to complete courses closer to their local communities, improving access for coaches across metropolitan and regional New South Wales.

Football NSW Head of Women’s and Schools Football Hayley Todd said the scholarships had helped address a key barrier to coaching development.

“These scholarships have helped remove a significant barrier for many female coaches seeking to progress their coaching journey,” Todd said.

Todd said the combination of a female-only course and support for locally accessible qualifications had created pathways for 20 women to develop their skills and contribute to football in their communities.

The program reflects an ongoing challenge for the sport: increasing women’s participation also requires investment in the coaches who lead teams, develop players and help shape club environments.

By helping cover qualification costs, the scholarships give recipients an opportunity to strengthen their coaching knowledge and leadership capabilities while expanding the pool of qualified female coaches available to clubs.

The support also connects to the wider Growing Football Fund, a joint Football Australia and CommBank initiative aimed at creating more opportunities for women and girls in the game.

The fund’s community grant program offers eligible clubs and associations grants of up to $5,000 to help attract or retain women and girls in football, with applications for the 2026–27 round closing on 20 October 2026.

The governing body also offers Women in Football Coaching Scholarships worth 50 per cent of course costs, with applications limited.

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