The BRFC Academy program for selected players aged 12-19 years will kick-off this Monday, 22 January at the state-of-the-art Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Kelvin Grove artificial training field.

The Club is excited about unlocking the unlimited potential in young footballers throughout Brisbane and Australia, helping to create another pathway for junior players to become future Hyundai A-League stars.

On behalf of BRFC, Academy Director Drew Sherman is pleased that the day has finally come to launch the Club's Academy program.

"This week we will create Brisbane Roar history with the implementation of our very own BRFC Academy program which is a wonderful milestone and achievement for our club," Sherman said.

"With the help of our high-level coaches, we are confident junior footballers within our program will be given the best possible opportunity to experience an elite football development pathway.

"We'd like to continue to have strong relationships with the local football community and work closely with all stakeholders to help promote the world game."

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

The BRFC Academy is Australia's only Hyundai A-League Academy which charges no fees to the players and covers all Football Federation Australia and State Federation registration costs.

The program will cater for players aged 12-19 years, with every team participating in the National Premier Leagues Queensland competition.

Each age group will have full-time coaches that hold or are completing their UEFA or AFC Pro Licenses - the highest coaching qualification available.

Part-time staff including a sports science team, GPS analysts, movement coaches, physiotherapists and teachers to cater for the holistic development of players.

There will be 107 registered Academy players that will train four times per week.

BRFC are committed to helping talented footballers across Queensland and on occasions, inter-state relocate through the excellent working relationships the program has with a number of local education providers.

https://www.brisbaneroar.com.au/news/brfc-academy-what-you-need-know

Great stuff.

Great move - hopefully the rest of the HAL teams follow suit. 

We’ve got to find a way to end “pay for play” at all levels of the game. It’s choking youth development.

Exactly. Focusing on philosophy or coaching style misses the main problem with our youth development which is how little our players play and how many leave/don't come to the game because of finances.

Well there is a good story at last.Kudos Brisbane Roar.
Hopefully other clubs will follow.

great, brilliant, and more

Good stuff, the question is why cant all a-league club do the same? After all they have there 2 star status in check from the FFA 

Great stuff from Brisbane Roar, but would it feel that 4 times a week training is not enough? Compared to even countries from Asia and especially in Europe that they train 5 or 6 days per week.

Now we just need Adelaide and the Melbourne clubs to join the line. 

Great stuff and given the players Brisbane have unearthed over the years this is a good move. 

Well done Brisbane, probably the only highlight of 2018 lol.

@ JonoMV

I guess there’s two highlights of 2018 - this Academy which has been well thought through and delivered by Drew Sherman ... and the imminent move in to the Logan Training facility sometime next month. Both are 5-10 years too late imo but they are at least here now.

Great stuff. Can't wait for the day when clubs can start earning revenue aside from all the FFA restrictions and they stop punishing talented kids. 

How much does FC Barcelona charge kids ? 

Good news. Finally. 

It might be difficult to manoeuvre but would Brisbane ever set up academies in Qld cities to funnel the talent to the Roar?

Or would you just piggy back of existing npl academies?

@aussie pride

Basic set up is this for Roar:

U6’s - is the Roar Activity Program which reaches something like 75,000 kids across QLD each year.

U12’s - is done through Partner Academies with clubs from Cairns down to the Gold Coast. 12 clubs in total so probably something like 350-400 kids in total, all playing in Orange and with a dedicated Roar development coach assigned

U16’s - training at Roars QUT Campus, full time with Roar and starting at 107 kids tomorrow rising to around 220 once girls are introduced next year.

U19’s - at Logan. Anywhere up to 50 kids playing up to NYL/NPL level.

There is no cut off though, so say a kid at 15 shows promise but has been under an NPL Academy they can trial for Roars or stay where they are

That's really promising for the women's game. Not sure about the development for girls at other clubs but I'd imagine this could become the best girl's academy in the country. Hopefully we can develop a reputation for producing future Matilda's.

@Waz

Was this Kingmans baby?

I met him (and O'Rouke) first match last season against MV and it was all he wanted to talk about. Saying Roar has more rights to use their own brand more or others could no longer use it or something.

SO is the problem that they're teaching the same program but not paying the licence fee?

I'm not sure. It says they don't have a license to run the program so perhaps they are not allowed to run the same program at all.

Whether it is similar or completely different I don't know.

Monopoly in action, surprised its taken so long

@ balki scott

My understanding is, but I’d need to check, is that Roar aren’t running the FQ SAP and that the choice of Strategic Academy Partner (or another SAP abbreviation) is just unfortunate.

The comment that “the top of the junior football tree is FQ SAP” is rather laughable, if you’re a talented kid where do you aim for, SAP or the Roar Academy? The answer would seem obvious although both must coexist and FQ SAP must, and I mean must, be able to accomodate another professional clubs academy because it’s comingsooner or later.

I do know from talking to Drew Sherman that kids won’t be penalised for not being in Roars academy, so it will still be possible to go through FQ SAP and still land in Roars NYL team ... I presume that’s still the goal of FQ SAP

Drew Sherman did the work but yeah, Kingsman deserves credit for driving this forward and hiring Sherman to execute the plan. It was his passion

I think it is individual from kid to kid. One may thrive in their local team. It may be the best environment for them during certain years.

An example is whether a kid should play for Kawana, Fire or Buderim/SC Wanderers (Roar).

It is better to play as a junior for a local team, a state NPL club or a local club that has now become Roar connected?

You would expect that Wanderers would be scouting and trying to poach the best players and fees from other clubs. A player could stay at their club and go straight to Roar anyway.

It won't be long until 12 year olds are moving to Brisbane with their parents to be part of the set up after being offered a place. We need this, but people will rage at it of course.

Brisbane Roar Academy Townsville

Quote from

BRFC & Academy Director

Drew Sherman

​


"Brisbane Roar are really excited to have joined forces with Gareth Edds Soccer Academy. Gareth has an excellent track record of providing high quality training and opportunities for young players in Townsville over a number of years. As Queensland's only Hyundai A-League club it's important for us to secure a tangible path for talented young players state wide into the A-League and W-League sides. Gareth will act as our head of recruitment in Townsville identifying and developing talented players which we hope to integrate into the Academy program we launch here in January".

What is Brisbane Roar Academy,

Regional Academy's & APC's

​

Brisbane Roar Academy

Is the main central academy that is for players aged 12yrs and upwards. The Brisbane Roar Academy will be delivered in its entirety by Brisbane Roar coaches. Places in the Academy will be offered to the very best players that Brisbane Roar feel have a chance to forge a career as a professional player with our A League team. Brisbane Roar's team of scouts and coaches identify players we feel have high potential to trial with the Academy. We do not accept trial requests.

​

Brisbane Roar Regional Academy

There are 2 regional academy's based in Townsville & Cairns.

​

The Regional Academy Townsville is Brisbane Roar’s program to support the development of players between the ages of 12-16yrs. Any player that Brisbane Roar feel have a chance to forge a career as a professional player with our A-League team can then be selected into the Brisbane Roar Academy .Townsville Regional Academy also has an APC (Academy Preparation Centre) for ages 5-11yrs.


Academy Preparation Centre's

Their are currently 8 Academy Preparation Centre's (APC's). An APC is Brisbane Roar’s program to support the development of players between the ages of 5-11. Brisbane Roar work in collaboration with our partner clubs in the aim of creating world-class environments for children to enjoy our game and develop their footballing abilities.

​

Current Brisbane Roar Regional Academy's & APC's

​

Regional Academy's

Cairns :-Far North Qld Heat

Townsville:- Gareth Edds Soccer Academy GESA

​

Brisbane APC's:-

Brisbane Olympic Fc

Grange Thistle Fc

South's United Fc

Logan Lightening Fc

​

Sunshine Coast:-

Buderim/Sunshine Coast Wanderers

​

Gold Coast APC:-

Gold Coast City Fc

​

QCSA Qld Christian Soccer Association

https://www.gesa-elite.net/forms

GESA Players Membership Package

$375 Compulsory for all players and includes:-

 

• Brisbane Roar Membership.

• Academy Training Kits   x1 Brisbane Roar Kit & x1 Gesa  2018 training Kit

• Opportunity to play in Brisbane Roar Inter Academy Competitions,        (Exclusive of travel expenses, & accommodation costs). 

• Opportunity to play in  further Tournaments  through the year.                 (Exclusive of all travel  expenses /accommodation costs & rego costs).

• Physio for home academy carnivals.

• Coaches for home academy competitions.

• Strength & Conditioning/ Injury prevention/Health related information sessions.

• Access to GESA selected  sponsors specialist deals, eg: (Physio/ exercise physiology sessions/ gym classes/ strength & conditioning / Injury prevention classes)

• Brisbane Roar Academy staff member present at the regional academy for at least 1 full week per season to support the development of program.

• Opportunity to play in Inter Academy Tournaments through the year. Exclusive of all travel & accommodation costs.

• All the benefits of a  free flexi membership as below included.

 

Flexi Membership

Free to Academy players as included in main package.

$65 each to any family members.

Includes:-

​

• -Priority purchase period for 2017/2018 Hyundai A-League Finals Series    (when Brisbane Roar FC feature),

• -Member only e-newsletter

• -Access to Fan Forums

• -Access to member only events

• -Exclusive access to purchase discounted Brisbane Roar FC merchandise

• -Exclusive access to Brisbane Roar FC partner offers

• -2017/2018 Fixture Magnet

• -Bumper Sticker

• -Brisbane Roar FC Member cap

• -Brisbane Roar FC silk scarf

• -2016/2017 Brisbane Roar FC Year book

 

*In addition to the membership fee the following training fees are

compulsory for players in Brisbane Roar Academy Townsville*.

​

• $1,500 Training fees per player ages U10yrs upwards per year.

       (Total for year including Kit / Membership & training = $1875).

         x2      75min  training sessions per week.

        + Option of a third night of Friday evening inter academy cup games @  no cost.

         Per 4 terms.

A payment plan can be set up over 6 payments

​

• $1250 Compulsory training fees per player ages U8yrs to U9yrs per year.

       (Total for year including Kit / Membership & training = $1625).

        x2      60min training sessions per week,

       + Option of a third night of Friday evening inter academy cup games @ no cost.

       Per 4 terms.

  A payment plan can be set up over 6 payments

​

• $850 Compulsory training fees per player ages U5yrs to U7yrs per year.

      (Total for year including Kit / Membership & training = $1225).

        x2      60 min training sessions per week.

       Per 4 terms

A payment plan can be set up over 6 payments

So its like a percentage of all the kids under 12 and the ones that didnt make the central academy over 12 pay for the central academy? and the over 12s non central  pay money to travel to have exclusive rights to play against the kids they pay for?

@ balki Scott

Not sure what I’m seeing with all those figures you’ve produced below. But there’s three separate arms to this beast.

The main Academy talked about here is for U12-U19’s and meets the FFAs requirements which I believe are compulsory for every A League club. The funding for this will come from the club/owners and not the participants

Below U12 are the “Academy Preparation Centers” in conjunction with (up to) 12 partner clubs. This is beyond the FFA requirements and seems relatively unique to Roar. This is under the same Academy umbrella but it is a different beast. The kids end up with dual-clubs, the partner club and Roar. I’m not sure how this will fit it with their normal development squads but I assume it replaces it in most cases?

This section is funded by rego fees to the partner club as usual and the partner club pays Roar an annual fee to participate in the academy prep program (Ive heard several different figures $30k, $42k, $48k mentioned which might suggest there is a different fee structure in place for clubs?).

I’m not involved in any partner club organisation but I am at another junior club level, such a few would represent 10% of our registration revenues each year which is not insignificant. We’re quite a large club so smaller clubs might find this in the 20-30% range, so they have to think this through carefully.

There’s a question as to whether this cost is passed on to participants, I don’t know the answer to that but there was a post from a partner club on twitter yesterday saying that rego fees for U7s had gone down as a result of the program not up.

People also have to understand the economics of junior clubs; in the past junior clubs have spent $25k hiring in the part time services of TDs from Private Brisbane Schools or bringing in football coaching companies at a cost of $10-$40k per season so investing this amount of money is not unusual.

The third leg of all this is the RAP which deals with U6s. Not particularly relevant but 75,000 kids x $50 = $3.75m in revenues and although that has a lot of cost associated with it (coaching staff, admin, equipment, vehicles, insurance, travel) it’s not hard to see this generating profit to sustain the development pyramid.

There is a great presentation on FB Live by Drew Sherman st a fan forum here:

https://m.facebook.com/BrisbaneFootballReview/videos/?ref=page_internal&mt_nav=1

(They’re not labeled unfortunately but it’s the 24th video from the top - press play and it’s obvious)