Revealed: The real cost to parents of Football Federation SA’s elite pathway system

It’s billed as a pathway to the Socceroos or the Matildas but South Australian parents are shelling out thousands to get their young football hopefuls selected for an elite FFSA program.

Children playing soccer, with four players in action.

Children have been charged almost $5000 a year to be among SA’s elite junior soccer players, with the parents of the state’s best collectively paying the SA federation more than $450,000.

That is equal to 7.5 per cent of the $6 million annual Football Federation SA turnover, according to soccer’s state governing body.

The Advertiser can reveal 91 boys and 91 girls made soccer’s full-time elite programs this year.

They were charged the basic rate of $1080 per child for being selected but some children were charged closer to $5000 for the year.

It’s understood a trip for an underage SA representative side to Malaysia last December cost almost $2000 per child on top of the FFSA basic annual fee.

And representing SA in a tournament at Coffs Harbour, NSW, this year cost more than $1800.

FFSA U12 & U13 Boys representative teams have today set off to Malaysia for the 2017 Supermokh Cup. FFSA congratulates all players on their selection and wishes the teams all the best for the tournament! https://t.co/P8oPQBVF7o pic.twitter.com/gHIA8zHNeY

— Football Fed SA (@FootballSouthAu) December 11, 2017

“All players are provided with home and away playing kit, training kit, tracksuit and bag,’’ an FFSA spokesman said.

“All full-time squads have at least three to four training sessions per week as well as one to two matches each week.”

There are also about 500 players on a part-time FFSA elite program that can also play for their junior clubs.

An FFSA spokesman said their elite soccer programs have helped create national team prospects from South Australia.

“The FFSA full-time program started in 2012/13 and since its inception Alex Chidiac (Atletico Madrid) and Emily Condon (Adelaide United) have played for the Matildas,’’ an FFSA spokesman said.

“Riley McGree (Melbourne City on loan from Club Brugge) has also been selected for Socerooos (camps).”

“Riley McGree and Stefan Mauk have been selected into national training camps for the Asian Cup.”

FFSA’s elite pathway system is described on paper as the beginning of a rise to the Matildas or Socceroos with the body claiming it also injects revenue back into juniors.

“The FFSA invests in excess of $800,000 annually in game development programs including participation initiatives, regional programs and camps,’’ said an FFSA spokesman.

“The FFSA invests just shy of $1 million annually in pathway programs annually.”

Just two national premier league clubs responded to The Advertiser’s junior fees report which was sent out in February.

Now one NPL club has set a state record price for juniors, raising fees to almost $1500 per child for the 2019 season.

Follow @ValMigliaccio