Football Coaches Australia presents ‘The Football Coaching Life Podcast’ S2 Ep 7 with Gary Cole interviewing Dr Craig Duncan

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Craig Duncan

Dr Craig Duncan is one of Australia’s top ‘Human Performance Scientists’. In the good old days Craig was a Strength and Conditioning Coach, it’s amazing how things change!

Craig played for NSW as a junior before realising his best bet in the world of athletic performance was via a university degree. He speaks about how his role today is to take a holistic approach with footballers to ensure that they are as best prepared so as to enable the coaches to do their magic with them on the pitch.

He has worked with various sucessful coaches, including Vitezslav Lavicka at Sydney FC where he won a championship; and with Tony Popovic at the Western Sydney Wanderers where he won an Asian Champions League; as well as alongside  Ange Postecoglou with the Socceroos where he won the Asian Cup and qualified for a World Cup. Craig has also worked Carlos Queiroz with Iran at the Asia Cup. Craig explains how he learned from all of these very experienced coaches.

We spend time discussing the importance of finding a ‘mentor’ for all coaches. And how both mental health and being present can only improve coaching and player performance.

Craig has had to deal with a ‘spontaneous coronary artery dissection’ and a few heart attacks which helped him focus on both his health and his family and also helped him to understand the importance to ‘Be wherever you are’ as well as the importance of resilience.

Dr Craig is also leaving a legacy by sharing his wisdom as both an author and content creator. His one piece of wisdom for coaches is to find a good mentor and not chase the dollars early but rather learn the culture of football.

Please join me in sharing Dr Craig Duncan’s Football Coaching Life.

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GIS partners with University of Newcastle to launch stadium campus in Sydney

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Image Credit: Global Institute of Sport

The Global Institute of Sport (GIS) has announced a landmark partnership with the University of Newcastle to launch a state-of-the-art campus in Sydney.

Sydney’s iconic sporting precinct, which is home to the historic Sydney Cricket Ground and the world-class Allianz Stadium, is set to welcome a new wave of students preparing for careers in the sports industry.

With the nation heading into a golden decade of sport in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the new campus is set to play a key role in developing the talent that will drive the industry forward.

This collaboration will offer postgraduate programs at these inspirational sporting venues as well as the University of Newcastle’s Sydney CBD campus, thanks to a partnership with Venues NSW.

The unique ‘stadium-based’ campus model of learning is based on GIS’ success of campuses including Wembley Stadium in London and Inter Miami’s Chase Stadium in the USA.

The new Sydney campus will offer two master’s degrees: a Master of International Sports Business and a Master of Sports Analytics, along with a Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics.

These programs are the first Australian university degrees with teaching from inside stadiums and are open to both domestic Australian and international students from January 2026.

“This partnership marks a significant milestone for GIS and reinforces our commitment to providing world-class sports education,” said Sharona Friedman, President and CEO of Global Institute of Sport.

“By combining our global expertise with the academic strength of the University of Newcastle and the unique access to elite venues provided by Venues NSW, we are creating a first-of-its-kind learning experience for Australian students as well as producing the next generation of leaders for the ever-growing Australian sports industry.”

The Master of International Sports Business will provide students with a comprehensive understanding of the global sports landscape, covering areas such as sports marketing, sponsorship, economics, sustainability, leadership, integrity and athlete management.

The Master of Sports Analytics and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics will focus on the use of data analytics to improve sporting performance, fan engagement, and business decision-making, one of the fastest growing areas within sport.

“We are excited to be partnering with GIS to offer these Australian-first programs which will deliver experiences far beyond the traditional classroom setting,” said Professor James Skinner, Dean of the University of Newcastle’s Business School.

“To further mark the University of Newcastle’s 60th year delivering world class education, this unique collaboration offers our students unparalleled access to international experts, hands-on experience and world-renowned facilities to set them up for successful careers in the dynamic sports sector.”

Sydney-based students will also be able to learn at GIS’ professional sports facilities around the world which in addition to Wembley Stadium and Chase Stadium also includes the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, RSC Anderlecht’s Lotto Park in Brussels, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment’s BMO Field in Toronto, and football academies in Dubai and Jamaica.

This access, facilitated in Sydney by Venues NSW, will provide students with real-world insights into the operations of major sporting venues, events and organisations as well as access to a vast network of sports industry guest speakers that has already included the likes of Socceroo and Liverpool legend Harry Kewell, former Wallabies captain James Horwill, and senior executives from Cricket Australia, Tennis Australia, AFL clubs and A League clubs.

“Venues NSW is delighted to support this partnership and contribute to the development of future sports industry leaders, as well as the sector and the economy more broadly” said Matt Hart, General Manager – Commercial at Venues NSW.

“The Allianz Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground are inspiration venues, and we are excited to provide students with the opportunity to learn in these world-class settings.”

Applications for the Master of International Sports Business, Master of Sports Analytics, and Graduate Certificate of Sports Analytics are open now. For more information about the programs and how to apply, please visit www.gis.sport.

Information session

An open evening and networking event will be held at the Allianz Stadium on Monday 12th May from 5.30pm. Register at www.gis.sport/events.

The PFA have announced a new partnership with La Trobe University

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Image credit: PxHere

Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) has announced a new industry partnership with La Trobe University as their official Education Partner for the next four years.

This collaboration highlights La Trobe’s ongoing commitment to giving students valuable opportunities to connect with the sports industry and gain hands-on learning experiences.

Throughout the alliance, La Trobe and the PFA will collaborate on important research and consulting projects.

They’ll also offer a jointly funded PhD scholarship focused on research that supports the well-being and development of professional footballers.

Each year, the PFA will host three La Trobe students for work placements across different areas of sport, giving them the chance to gain real-world experience within the organisation.

La Trobe will also work with the PFA to create a specialised education program tailored to football, and the PFA will have access to La Trobe’s top-tier sport and exercise science research facilities at the La Trobe Sports Park.

On top of that, PFA members who choose to study at La Trobe will be supported through the La Trobe Elite Athlete Program (LEAP), which helps athletes balance their studies with their playing careers.

This includes flexible and online learning options, plus a new scholarship program for selected players.

Chief Executive of Professional Footballers Australia, Beau Busch, said the opportunity to partner with La Trobe would further enhance its ability to support the holistic development of players and further elevate its research capacity.

“La Trobe University provides world class education and learning, research programs and sporting facilities,” Busch said via press release.

“The partnership will ensure that players have access to flexible professional development opportunities, quality sporting infrastructure when undertaking their coaching qualifications, whilst their careers will be further advanced through a comprehensive research commitment.

“We also see our partnership with La Trobe centred on sharing our institutional knowledge with students to help them develop their educational experience and professional networks within the sporting industry.”

La Trobe Pro Vice-Chancellor for Health Innovation and Dean of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, Professor Russell Hoye, said the formation of the partnership with the PFA underlined La Trobe’s commitment to providing outstanding student employability outcomes within the sport industry.

“This partnership with the PFA will provide our students with access to unique work-integrated learning opportunities within an organisation that supports professional footballers with health, education and professional development,” Professor Hoye said via press release.

“La Trobe also looks forward to assisting professional footballers to undertake higher education studies across our suite of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.”

By combining academic expertise with the practical needs of athletes, this collaboration aims to support players both on and off the pitch, fostering a more sustainable and educated future for the game.

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