PlayStation 4 has introduced a new initiative that will add another element of excitement to this year’s PS4 NPL competitions around the country.
Since the introduction of the PlayStation 4 NPL, many talented aspiring young players from PS4 NPL clubs have progressed to the Hyundai A-League, whilst the PS4 NPL has also provided opportunities for Hyundai A-League players to return to the national second tier competition to resurrect their footballing dreams.
The PS4 Player Pathway of the Year Award will provide another avenue for young players to realise their footballing potential.
The winner of the PS4 Player Pathway Award will receive a two week training trial with Sydney FC’s Youth Team for an opportunity to further their football career.
Sydney FC will provide this opportunity by exposing them to the next level of professionalism that is required to reach the top flight of football in Australia, the Hyundai A-League.
Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Australia, Michael Ephraim said, “The PS4 NPL is widely recognised as the engine room for the future of professional league football in Australia.
“By introducing the PS4 Player Pathway Award we are offering another opportunity for players who have missed selection through traditional routes to follow their dreams into the A-League.”
The two day camp will be held at Football New South Wales’ state-of-the-art training ground, Valentine Sports Park, where the selected players will vie for a spot to trial with the Sky Blues Youth Team, who were crowned Foxtel National Youth League 2015/16 Champions earlier this year.
Ephraim added, “We are incredibly grateful to our partners at FFA, Football NSW, Sydney FC and the Member Federations for supporting our initiative and are looking forward to seeing some excellent talent emerge during the 2016 season.”
PS4 Pathway Player of the Year Award
Selection Criteria
• The player must be 16-20 years of age during the 2016 Calendar Year (i.e. if they turn 21 in March 2016 they are ineligible)
• The player must NOT have been registered with a Hyundai A-League club* during the:
• Foxtel National Youth League 2015/16 Season; or
• Hyundai A-League 2015/16 Season; or
• PS4 National Premier League 2016 Season.
• The player must be registered at the conclusion of the PS4 NPL Season to a cClub participating in the highest NPL division
• The player must be an Australian player as determined by the player points system that operates in the PS4 NPL
• The player is not eligible if he is registered to a Member Federation representative team participating in the NPL 2016 Competition (i.e. Canberra United and FFA COE)
* Any player registered with the Hyundai A-League club’s National Youth League Team, Hyundai A-League Team or Hyundai A-League club’s team participating in the NPL.
Member Federation Selection Process
• Each Member Federation will determine their three representatives via a 3-2-1 voting system.
• The Member Federation will collate the votes at the conclusion of the home and away season and determine the three highest ranked eligible players obtaining the most votes.
• The three highest ranked players shall be selected to represent the Member Federation at the PS4 Player Pathway Training Camp.
• In the event of a tie, the Member Federation Technical Director will have the ultimate discretion as to who will represent the Member Federation at the Training Camp.
Training Camp
- A total of 24 players, three (3) from each of the participating Member Federation’s NPL competitions will be invited to attend a PS4 Pathway Player Training Camp conducted by FFA National Team Unit Coaching Staff.
- The camp will be conducted over two days at Football NSW headquarters, Valentine Sports Park on 27 th and 28 th September.
- A schedule of the technical components of the camp schedule will be determined in conjunction with the FFA National Teams Unit and will be released prior to the camp commencing.
Selection Panel
FFA and PS4 have nominated a selection panel with some of the top football minds in the country to select the winner following the two day camp and trial match.
• Ante Milicic, Former Socceroo and current Socceroos Assistant Coach
• John Kosmina, PS4 NPL Ambassador
• Rob Stanton, Sydney FC Youth Team Head Coach
• Craig Foster, Former Socceroo, Chief Analyst for The World Game on SBS and Chairman of the PFA
PS4 Player Pathway Award - Selection Criteria
At the conclusion of the camp the selection panel will utilize the “6 Key Competencies” set out by FFA’s Talent Identification Program:
• Mentality of a “WINNER”
• Emotional “STABILITY”
• PERSONALITY
• Physical parameters “EXPLOSIVE”
• DECISION MAKING
• BODY & BALL CONTROL