The AFL Players’ Association was a key player at a gathering of the minds focused on helping elite athletes combat the challenge of managing both study and sport.

Members of various sporting bodies and university representatives from around the country gathered at the Elite Athlete Friendly University Forum held at Griffth University last week, to discuss ways to help facilitate more professional and amateur athletes into tertiary study.

The average life span of an AFL career is just six years, so more than ever AFL footballers are aware of the importance of preparing for life after football. Clubs ensure their players enjoy the balance study or work beyond the football field brings and work-life balance is something the AFL Players’ Association invests heavily.

However, the reality is that the busy tertiary and AFL timetables mean combining the both can be difficult.  Only three AFL players left the system with a bachelor degree in 2012, but AFL Players’ Association Player Development Manager Marissa Fillipou believes this number will increase with greater communication between the key stakeholders.

“It was great to meet face to face with these people and share the challenges we both face in helping our athletes engage in study and then prioritise it despite their busy schedules and the short term goals they have to achieve success in their professional sporting careers,” she said.

Through the Athlete Friendly University Network all but two universities in Australia have a representative based on location whose job it is to liaise with student athletes and ensure their university experience is as tailored as possible.

The AFL Players’ Association was represented by its player development regional managers who provided a unique perspective insight into the challenges faced by a professional sport athletes and in particular the challenges around the busy schedule of a team environment.

“There is a perception that professional sport athletes, like ours, have it laid out for them. But the reality is that they are expected to be at the club for eight hours a day and despite the one day off per week and four hours professional development time worked into the schedule, it is difficult for guys to get time off beyond that.”

Fellow PDRM Clair Mitchell-Taverner believes a stronger relationship with the Elite Athlete Representatives will allow footballers and other professional athletes to navigate their way through the system and feel more a part of their university

From her experience dealing with players in a tertiary setting, lecturers and tutors can be reluctant to bend the rules for athletes who are facing issues with scheduling or workload. Conversely athletes are reluctant to ask for help too, but through the right communication channels flexibility is achievable.

“Academics can be very academic, and believe there nothing is more important than an assignment being due. These guys can present a holistic case and advocate for the student,” Mitchell-Taverner said.

Fillipou believes there is a misconception student athletes aren’t engaged or appear to take advantage of their position.

“If they say they can’t complete an assignment or be at an exam generally its because they can’t. It takes a lot for an athlete to put their hand up and they need help. I think we can all collaborate to assist.”

Professor Paul Wylieman from the European Expert Panel on Sport and Education provided an insight into the European student-athlete model and spoke of the importance of promoting the individual from a dual career perspective.

This model, not unlike the American college system, places a strong emphasis on academic results, with grades acting as a key driver for program funding.

In a time where achieving work-life balance is widely recognized as a major hurdle for AFL footballers in 2013, for Fillpou says this model reinforces the need to shape study for the individual athlete to make the process as smooth as possible.

“Guys want to study, they understand the importance of it, but they want to do it in a way that suits them. In small bites, they want to be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel and they want to finish the year with a qualification as opposed to only being a couple of units into a degree,” Fillipou said.

“Sure there has been a decline in the number of guys leaving the game with bachelor degrees, but if you look at the amount leaving the game with certificates and diplomas, there are more than ever.”

Mitchell-Taverner, an Olympic gold medalist in her own right with the Hockeyroos, says despite the hectic schedule AFL footballers must adhere to, they are blessed compared to those pursing an Olympic or amateur sport.

“Our players are so fortunate, they are in such a good place compared with the non-professional athletes. They are so well supported. They have time blocked out in their week. The swimmers have to do three sessions per day and work and go to Uni.”

The discussions at the conference will help guide how footballers and the support services provided by their clubs and the ‘PA communicate with tertiary institutions to develop a tailored program so a dual career approach is achievable in a demanding industry like AFL.

The AFL Players’ Association has recently formed a partnership with La Trobe University in Melbourne where some AFL footballers are already students. The La Trobe sport program is a leader among tertiary institutions and fosters an environment where students can combine both sport and education with equal priority.