What You Should Know
Purpose
To provide an independent and complementary resource to ongoing player union activities on performance issues.
Function
To deliver thought-leadership, inform player-centric policy development and enhance existing evidence-based research and expertise.
Composition
Comprised of 12 expert practitioners operating in high-performance roles across elite sport. Members are spread regionally and based across the FIFPRO Divisions. All have extensive experience working in elite-level football. The group composition will be evaluated periodically and remains open to the future integration of additional experts.
FIFPRO launches elite performance forum to advance strategic priorities on player performance
The Player IQ High-Performance Advisory Network (HPAN) will provide an independent and complementary resource to ongoing player union activities on performance issues. It will also inform player-centric policy development, and enhance existing evidence-based research and medical expertise.
Meet HPAN's Chairperson
Dr Darren Burgess
Darren is currently the High-Performance Manager at Adelaide Football Club. He is also the Chair of the FIFPRO HPAN, having acted as a Senior Advisor on Player Workload, Health & Performance over recent seasons. Darren’s prior experience includes senior performance roles at Arsenal, Liverpool, the Australian Men’s National Team and Melbourne AFL. He has also spent time lecturing in Exercise Science at Australian Catholic University and holds a PhD in the movement analysis of AFL and soccer players.
“The creation of the Advisory Network represents an advancement in enhancing our player-focused capabilities and addressing key industry challenges.”
— by Michael Leahy, Manager, Strategy & Intelligence, Men’s Football & Player IQ
Managing player workload – why football must learn from other sports
The voice of professional footballers is ignored: they have little or no say in the decisions that affect every aspect of their working lives. And that comes with a heavy price, as Dr. Darren Burgess explains.
