Diploma of Football (Development, Management and Performance)

The Diploma of Football (Development, Management and Performance) is a one-year qualification from The Australian College of Physical Education, built for people who want to work in the game rather than just watch it. You study football from three angles at once: how players develop, how clubs and competitions are managed, and how performance is measured and improved. That means coaching sessions and skill acquisition, talent identification and pathway planning, sports management and administration, and the physical preparation and performance analysis that sit behind a team's season.

How the course is structured

The diploma runs for one year of full-time study. Like most Australian qualifications, it is organised into units of study, each carrying a set credit points, delivered across semesters or trimesters. You complete a set number of core units plus electives, and the credit points you earn are recognised under the Australian Qualifications Framework. As an AQF diploma, it sits above a certificate and below a bachelor degree, which is why it works either as a standalone entry point to the industry or as a pathway into further study with credit for what you have already done. Practical work is central to a football qualification, so expect coaching and performance sessions alongside lectures and tutorials, and check the official course page for the exact unit list and any placement requirements.

What you actually learn

You finish with skills employers in football ask for: planning and running training sessions, breaking down match footage, reading and using performance data, understanding how clubs recruit and retain players, and organising the people, schedules and budgets that keep a program running. You also build the softer side of the job, like communicating with players, parents, coaches and committee members, and working within the rules and integrity frameworks that govern the sport.

Who it suits

This diploma suits school leavers who want to move into football development or club administration, coaches and volunteers already involved in community or representative football who want formal qualifications, and former players looking to shift into coaching, talent pathways or operations. It also suits international students who want an Australian qualification in a sport with a deep local culture. If you are coming from overseas, you will need to meet the college's English requirement, and remember that while you study, a Student visa generally allows you to work up to 48 hours per fortnight. Once you finish, the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) post-study work stream may be an option depending on your circumstances. Tuition is published on the CRICOS register under course code 111314C, and you should confirm all details on the official page before applying.

• Football development officer with a state federation, association or local council
• Community or junior coach at a club or academy
• Club administrator or football operations coordinator
• Talent identification and pathway support roles
• Performance analysis assistant
• Sports program coordinator in schools or community organisations
• Match day and competition operations roles
• Player welfare and support officer

Employers include professional and semi-professional clubs, state and national football bodies, community clubs, local government sport and recreation teams, school sport programs, and private academies. The diploma also gives you a credit pathway into related bachelor degrees if you want to keep studying.