Former Perth Glory captain and PFA Executive member Tash Rigby spoke about the challenges of playing on part-time contracts in the PFA’s A-League Women’s report and why it is ultimately, unsustainable.
By Tash Rigby
I balanced full-time work for six of my total eight years playing in the A-League. I was ‘working’ approximately 55 hours a week, not inclusive of interstate travel for games or compulsory player appearances. I continued to work full-time because I needed to support my living costs. The club wage was not close to being able to support this, and still isn’t for a large portion of players, particularly in the current cost of living crisis.
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Contracts only lasted six to nine months and the certainty of getting another one was not always consistent or secure. There is also the risk of injury and football not always being ‘forever’. Therefore, I was eager to pursue my professional career in sport management after attaining my undergraduate degree.
Click here to read and download the report.
In the final two years of my playing career, I put my sports management pathway on hold and coached casually in the afternoons instead. It was a difficult decision, but it was necessary as I was incredibly burnt out and my mental health had taken a significant hit. I was sacrificing time with family, friends, and my relationships, which was pertinent to my wellbeing.
I worked with my GP and psychologist to manage my anxiety and reduce my workload and stress. This also gave my more time to improve my nutrition, sleep, recovery, and sense of control. It is difficult to perform at one’s best when these things cannot be prioritised due to workload.
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I was very fortunate to work in organisations with supportive managers who allowed me flexibility with my work, particularly around travel requirements. Not every player has this luxury. This could potentially result in a lack of support, guilt, and a poor reference from an employer who does not understand the requirements of professional sport.
Security is key. I personally believe that annual contacts should be prioritised to ensure a reliable and secure income for a minimum of 12 months. Coupled with this, I would love to see the minimum wage increased to decrease the amount of other work and income required, to allow players to prioritise their playing. One of the factors that influenced my retirement was the want to purchase my own home and this was hindered by my inability to provide a secure and consistent income stream to my bank.
