Sam Kerr launches new football academy for Australian kids

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Sam Kerr Football
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Sam Kerr has announced the creation of her own football academy, to help develop the next generation of Matildas and Socceroos.

The program is named ‘Sam Kerr Football’, and will include business opportunities for people to purchase a franchise.

With the motto of ‘helping kids fall in love with football’, the academy will be tailored for children aged between three and 14.

“Sam Kerr Football incorporates a prescriptive but flexible football curriculum, along with broader health and wellbeing initiatives that are fundamental to player development,” a statement on the academy’s website read.

Kerr is already taking online registrations for the program, which will begin on football pitches across Australia sometime next year.

“Growing up, there weren’t opportunities for me to develop my game in a way that allowed me to be my best,” Kerr told the Sydney Morning Herald.

“It wasn’t until I turned pro that I learnt things like how to nourish my body to perform at my best or how to manage my mental well-being. My hope is that delivering a comprehensive program that is more than just skill development will give young players the best chance to live out their potential as a player.”

“Being in the position I’m in today, I want to give back to the sport I love and to my young fans. It’s an incredible privilege to be able to share what I have learned to better the sport, to build a legacy, and to inspire and connect with the next generation of Australian footballers.”

“The program will be developed under my guidance with support from the best in the game both in Australia and around the world.”

The news comes after the Matildas had their most successful ever World Cup campaign, finishing fourth out of 32 competing nations.

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Key concerns for FIFPRO’s Player Workload Monitoring report

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FIFPRO has recently released their annual Player Performance and Recovery report for 2024, this report is developed by FIFPRO IQ in conjunction with Football Benchmark, a leading data and analysis group on football business.

The report explains in detail the problems facing professional footballers by leaders within the industry and the players themselves. This report not only factors in the physical impact of the sport but also the psychological impact.

FIFPRO’s Player Workload Monitoring tool (PWM) the primary system behind this report monitors 1500 players spread across 100 leagues and 150 nationalities.

They have pointed out the obvious lack of appreciation by tournament organisers for the physical and mental well-being of football players and an evident lack of organised calendar planning.

Acting FIFPRO General Secretary Stephane Burchkalter stressed the importance of this report via press release:

“We release these reports for a good reason. Because, today, we face one of the most serious and urgent problems in our sport. A problem that results from the abuse of governance and a failure of the duty of care. The holistic workload that confronts our players is unprecedented. It has produced a physical and mental fatigue that is now dangerous.”

With increased match loads, travel loads and shortening of preparation the risks have never been higher with 54% of PMW players experiencing excessive or high-demand workloads.

88% of players’ time is recorded to be spent in the workplace environment and 17% in national team environments.

The world-renowned Uruguayan coach Marco Bielsa stated via press release:

“To ignore the consequences of the number of games and amount of travelling will end in injuries for any player.”

This report identifies that some players have seen their free time fall to nearly 12% of the calendar year, which adds up to less than a single day off per week. This fails to comply with international Occupational Safety and Health standards.

There have been calls for a guaranteed rest period which 72% of players and 78% of coaches support.

As the demand for games grows and the push for more revenue skyrockets, the players see their health and voices continue to deteriorate.

This report and FIFAPRO highlight the firm action that needs to happen to protect the stars of the sport.

For more information about the report, read more here.

Football Coaches Australia presents the Attacking Principles of Play coaching masterclass

Liam Watson
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Football Coaches Australia (FCA) has confirmed details of a coaching masterclass session to be run on Thursday, September 12 at 6pm AEST.

Based around the Attacking Principles of Play, the coaching masterclass from FCA is delivered by Hills Football Association – in collaboration with Australian College of Physical Education and Global Institute of Sport.

The masterclass aims to support and extend coaches’ understanding of attacking principles of play and how coaches utilise these to support teams’ game models/playing styles.

A panel discussion will be presented via a webinar with leading coaches from the UK and Australia.

FCA’s Executive Committee member Mara Watts will provide her insights to the game, featuring a panel which will welcome The Football Association’s Senior Women’s Coach & Development Lead Mark Swales, alongside Plymouth Argyle Analysis Show’s Lead Analyst Aaron Cusack.

Completion of the coaching masterclass will accrue 1 hour of Continued Professional development (CPD).

To register for the FA CPD Hour, click here: https://lnkd.in/gCHstPVr

To register just for attendance and without the CPD Hour, click here: https://lnkd.in/g9xZSmcj

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