The difficult career choices confronting young women footballers................
A typical women’s A-League contract can be about $25,000 for a season lasting about six months.
That is less than the average annual wage. Most players need part-time work to fit around daily training and travel commitments, and suitable employment is not always easy to find.
A recent report into the women’s professional game was sharply critical of pay and conditions in the Ninja A-League.
It noted that players in sports such as Australian rules and cricket can earn about three times as much for a comparable workload.
Through my daughter, Natalie Olson, I have followed closely the transition many talented girls make from secondary school into professional football. Writing and commentating on women’s football and futsal has also kept me connected to that pathway.
To be on track for national selection or a professional contract, these players must be both talented and dedicated. Many are also high academic achievers. That combination can create a set of difficult decisions for them to make about their future.
Should a young player commit to university study in demanding fields such as law or medicine, which require years of full-time work and intense dedication?...................................
...............Another talented football and futsal player, Maxine Cooper, also faced a similar choice.
Cooper, who represented the Futsal Ferns, ultimately prioritised her studies. Now Dr Maxine Cooper, she is working towards a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon.
The Wellington Phoenix have attempted to address part of this challenge. Using the New Zealand Institute of Sport facilities in Lower Hutt, the club have developed a charter school programme for academy players.
The initiative mainly targets Year 11–13 students, with programmes designed to better accommodate the demands of elite sport.
Sola Freeman, one of the driving forces behind the project, says demand has been strong. The programme’s quota of about 100 students, across several sporting disciplines, is already close to full.
Freeman believes mainstream schools often struggle to accommodate young athletes who train early in the morning before attending classes.
While initiatives such as this provide valuable support at school level, they do not solve the dilemma facing many players once they leave school.
Several members of New Zealand’s current U-17 women’s team, who are preparing for a trip to Morocco, will soon face those decisions themselves. Professional opportunities may follow, but so will questions about education and career security.
It is a difficult choice for many young players: pursue the dream of professional football, or prioritise long-term stability.
