Football Coaches Australia (FCA) extend support for PFA Past Players Program members

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Former Australian professional footballers wishing to pursue a career in coaching will be provided additional support through the PFA’s partnership with Football Coaches Australia (FCA).

Members of the PFA’s Past Players Program will have their joining fee for FCA waived, providing developing coaches with access to coaching-specific resources and services such as professional coach development, contracting standards and legal advocacy.

The initiative is a result of the partnership between FCA and PFA established in 2018 and built on a commitment to driving the highest standards of professionalism in Australian football and collaborating on professional development opportunities for elite players and coaches.

FCA is the official association for Australia’s qualified football coaches which represents and prepares professional coaches.

Key benefits of the FCA membership are access to the FCAXV Essential Skills program, encompassing modules on leadership, resilience, communication, emotional intelligence and culture, in addition to PD programs, which attract FA Licence CPD points, a comprehensive national psychology service and financial guidance.

A standard contract and independent grievance procedure for coaches is currently being pursued in discussions with Football Australia.

FCA’s Executive Committee member, former A-League Men’s player and PFA Alumni, Terry McFlynn, said:

“There is a common purpose across the PFA and the FCA, with many of our members being former players occupying or pursuing opportunities within coaching in Australia.

“Given this common ground, and our shared desire to support those entering the next phase of their lives, it is a natural fit for us to work together to support the next generation of Australian coaches, alongside the PFA.”

PFA Co-Chief Executive Beau Busch said:

“There is one certainty in our members’ lives and careers; that their playing days will eventually come to an end. Our responsibility is to ensure they are not only supported during their careers but have developed adequate skills in areas of interest and that there are opportunities available to them after they hang up the boots.

“We know that transitioning into any new field or profession is challenging so having a partnership with the FCA ensures that our past players know they will be supported by both the PFA and the FCA if they choose to embark on a career in coaching.”

Since 2018, the PFA and FCA have maintained a close working relationship between players and licensed coaches, with the latest offer demonstrating a commitment to ensuring players are supported after their playing careers. The organisations cooperate on a range of issues impacting Australia football including:

  • collaborating on professional development opportunities for elite players and coaches at all levels of the game from grassroots to professional competitions;
  • seeking solutions to challenges and barriers to football through collaboration and consultation;
  • working with stakeholders to protect children and youth footballers within an elite sporting environment; and
  • ensuring that elite training environments across the country provide a positive experience and give due regard to the holistic development of coaches of players
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Tottenham Hotspur deliver player development workshop for Football NSW

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Image credit: Football NSW

The workshop focused on sharing knowledge and insights regarding player development, bringing together more than 120 coaches from across NSW with those from Tottenham Hotspur.

 

Experience, insight and education

Valentine Sports Park hosted the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) workshop, uniting Football NSW coaches and members of Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff to encourage discussion and learning opportunities about player development.

Tottenham’s player development pathway – from the academy to the first team – has produced some of the most respected names in Premier League history, including Harry Kane and Ledley King.

Under the leadership and guidance of Tottenham Hotspur Player & Coach Pathway Co-ordinator (and UEFA A Licence Coach), Jimmy Martin, as well as members of Tottenham’s coaching staff, Shannon Maloney, Kevin Moffatt and Tyler Blackwood, the workshop was a unique opportunity to learn from some of the most experienced coaches in the game.

“Coach education is a vital part of developing football across NSW, and having more than 120 coaches attend this workshop highlights the appetite within our football community to continue learning and improving,” explained Football NSW Head of Football, Edward Ferguson.

Ferguson continued to outline the value of learning from an organisation like Tottenham Hotspur, a team who have helped grow some of the game’s most exceptional talents. The lessons taken will consequently help to inform future approaches to coaching in NSW.

“The focus remains on creating better learning environments for players, encouraging decision-making, creativity and long-term development.”

What the workshop involved

The workshop encouraged coaches to dive into all aspects of player development: the technical, tactical, physical and mental aspects which contribute to the English academy setup.

Furthermore, Maloney, Moffatt and Blackwood – all of whom helped deliver a practical session for attendees – showed how a club’s playing identity can work alongside challenging training environments for players.

Game understanding, creative problem-solving and technical proficiency underpinned the main themes driving the workshop. In an age where individual expression on the pitch appears a dying art, Tottenham Hotspur coaches remain committed to encouraging players to feel confident adapating to a range of in-game scenarios.

Football NSW coaches were also able to attend a Q&A session with King, who spoke about his playing experiences for both club and country.

 

Final thoughts

As Australia continues to nurture the current and upcming generations of talented footballers, workshops such as this are a vital, fundamental part of the journey.

The fastest way to be among the best is to learn from them. The aim now is for Football NSW coaches to take the lessons learned, and apply them to football development in their own academies and teams across the state.

Why the A-League’s collective bargaining negotiations matter

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Image Credit: A-Leagues

The Australian Professional Leagues (APL) and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) remain at odds over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA), with players recently rejecting the league’s latest proposal ahead of the new A-League season.

The APL has made financial sustainability its priority in CBA negotiations. After several challenging years, the league is looking to keep club costs under control while still offering a slight increase to salary caps and minimum wages. It’s a cautious approach designed to give clubs greater financial certainty.

The PFA believes caution alone won’t grow the game.

The PFA has rejected the proposal, arguing it does not go far enough to support the long-term growth of the game. The players’ union says greater investment is needed if the A-Leagues are to remain competitive, retain talent and increase their commercial value.

These negotiations are taking place at an important time for Australian football.

Australian football has become increasingly successful at producing players for Europe and Asia, but that success comes with a trade-off. Clubs often lose their best talent, with the A-Leagues providing an ideal platform for players to showcase their ability. However, rather than being the final destination, it has increasingly become a stepping stone to bigger opportunities abroad.

While this pathway has produced a large share of the next generation of Socceroos and Matildas, it has also left A-League clubs in a constant cycle of rebuilding, with success on the pitch often followed by the departure of their brightest stars. As a result, player recruitment and retention have become central issues in discussions about the long-term growth of the domestic game.

The issue of player retention was also highlighted this week by Matildas captain Sam Kerr.

Kerr said many Australian players would consider returning to the A-League Women if the league offered stronger professional conditions and salaries. While her comments weren’t directly about the CBA, they highlighted the same issue confronting the men’s and women’s competitions alike.

With negotiations stalling, the outcome of the CBA is likely to shape not only player conditions, but also the financial framework and competitive direction of the A-Leagues for years to come.

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