These shocking revelations have sent a shockwave of serious concern through the Australian football community. To them, career stability for A-League Women players is essential to their mental health. Our recent survey results show less than half of the players are sure of their career path. Alarmingly, an overwhelming 41 percent of them say they’re having a hard time due to disordered eating habits. Industry experts have called the pressures on today’s athletes, particularly for younger players, “pretty phenomenal.” This further underscores the critical need for systemic change within women’s football here in Australia.
The issues affecting A-League Women players extend beyond mental health, touching on financial instability and a lack of professional support. Many players report feeling unsupported and uncertain about their futures, particularly given the perilous economic state of several A-League clubs. While other leagues across the globe are moving at lightning speed, A-League Women seems to be falling further behind, leading some to call for urgent changes.
Mental Health Concerns
A Player Clubs’ recent survey found that nine out of 10 A-League Women players reported poor mental health. About two thirds of the players reported moderate to severe levels of “sport-psychological distress,” an alarming mental health burden within the league. This anguish can often be traced to a number of alternative causes, from the strain of financial insecurity to the stress of the competitive rat race.
Famed Australian footballer Andrew Redmayne recently called out the crazy pressure that younger players are put under. These athletes are just beginning to build their careers. He shouted, “There’s a huge load of stress on you! This is doubly the case for those who haven’t signed on the dotted line, who lack guaranteed contracts and established career trajectories.”
Additionally, 59 percent of athletes do not feel confident about the direction of their career. They no longer are confident or very confident about their future. This ambiguity may have harmful impacts on their mental health and quality of life.
“There’s a hell of a lot of stress that gets placed on you.” – Andrew Redmayne
Financial Instability and Employment Challenges
Unfortunately, financial insecurity is still a very relevant concern for most A-League Women players. Beau Busch speaks on behalf of player welfare. He focused, in particular, on the plight of players facing “unsustainable” compensation levels, compounding their suffering without the means to escape. The unstable nature of contracts results in more unemployment time for players moving from rosters.
Busch also added that most clubs do not create a healthy and nurturing work environment for players. The most important point that he underscored was how many clubs are not giving those players a proper and safe workplace. Further, he pointed to the need to build an ecosystem that allows players to flourish beyond the pitch. This lack of support exacerbates the challenges faced by players trying to maintain their careers while managing their mental health.
That situation has become even more urgent as poverty in Australia has increased with the skyrocketing cost of living. Unable to pay their bills, players often choose between financial obligations and athletic commitments. Just last week, a handful of Western United’s contracted players were let go. This took place just days after the club’s ability to participate in next season was temporarily suspended.
The Call for Structural Change
Industry leaders have long since backed calls for transformative change in Australian football at level, to ensure A-league women players aren’t left a cut above. According to Tameka Yallop, co-president of the Professional Footballers Australia (PFA), we have to invest in this pipeline of elite athletes. She thinks it’s just as important to create compassionate, thoughtful people. Australian football must make sure it’s not just creating great players, it’s creating great people,” she said.
This is a repeated theme from Busch, stressing that despite some progress being made, it’s not enough and not fast enough. He pointed out that leagues around the globe are advancing rapidly and catching on fast. He noted that, on the home front, the AFLW and others are moving forward while we’ve lagged behind.
In his testimony, he focused on the need for better support systems for injured players. He focused on better career guidance for athletes making transitions within their sports.
“We know that some of those legacy practices are having a significant impact on our players and also, importantly, on our female players.” – Beau Busch
For decades, practitioners have overemphasized strict physical examinations. These skin-fold tests required by a so-called fitness test Busch characterized are “almost shaming.” He underscored that these behaviors can induce long-term damage to players’ mental health and self-worth.
