LTFA is a football/soccer academy based in Sydney’s South focusing on providing a fun and challenging program for young children and emerging youth to develop both their football skills and life skills in an enjoyable environment, whether through small group or individual training sessions.
The two cornerstones of our programs:
Shaping Future Players and People On and Off the Field
Develop confident and resilient players and people through our football programs. Our focus is on excelling in both the child’s school and football environments while nurturing essential social skills and personal growth. We strive to have children learn the importance of taking care of both their mind and body, building strength physically and mentally, and developing habits for lifelong health and mental vitality.
Through our personalised life mentorship focus, our students are prepared for success both on and off the field, empowering them to grow as both an individual as well as a teammate.
Balancing Football, Academics, and Life Skills
We help your child improve their group cohesion skills all whilst balancing important commitments between both school and football life. Your child will learn to better manage the inevitable pressures that arise in the early stages of life – a critical skill we strive for our students to carry into their football and well beyond.
Ultimately, we are here with strong passion to develop young human beings through the game of football.
All LTFA coaches have either played or coached at NSW National Premier League representative level. Additionally, all coaches have or are acquiring coaching licenses, ensuring they are always up to date with coaching accreditations.
Founder and Coach
Head of Academy
B-Licence Coach
NPL First Grade Playing Experience
8+ Years Coaching Experience
(NPL & Academy Coach)
As with the many young children currently pursuing their dreams of playing football professionally, I was once no different, embracing the opportunities I was given by my parents to play football in Australia at levels spanning grassroots through to state representative level.
Highlights of my playing career include captaining various teams in the NSW National Premier Leagues, captaining the Ist XI Trinity Grammar School team, captaining and winning the Bill Turner Cup with Trinity Grammar School and training alongside Spanish La Liga players in Serbia in the European winter months. I truly cherished every bit of my time on the field.
Unfortunately, four knee surgeries later amongst multiple other injuries, I came to the harsh realisation that this dream was not to be. However, I truly believe that the life skills I obtained in my pursuit of this dream have served me far better than any professional contract could ever have, leading me to my next chapter in the beautiful game on the other side of the white line as a football coach. With that, I would like to welcome LIFE THROUGH FOOTBALL ACADEMY (“LTFA”) to you – a football academy in which I aim to transfer these life skills over to the young children to whom I, alongside the LTFA coaches who share the same outlook, are lucky enough to guide.
In my view, football replicates life itself. It teaches us qualities about ourselves in a truly unique way, a way that life itself would not have otherwise been able to teach. Football continues to bring out the best in me and I hope to pass on this lens to the people that l am lucky enough to guide. such that they too can reap the benefits that this beautiful sport has to offer both on and off the field
I look forward to connecting with you as LTFA aims to shape the future generation of Australians playing the beautiful game, one young person at a time.
Coach
NPL Playing Experience
2+ Years Coaching Experience
Individual Techincal Training Specialist
My name is Dean Petranker and for the past 14 years football has been my life. I started off playing at Connells Point Rovers FC until the age of 9 years old. I was then scouted by St George FC where I played in the SAP Program (Skill Acquisition Program). I had 4 years of successful youth football at St George FC. Following this, my men’s football career began at Sydney Olympic FC where I now play in the U18 and U20s. This year I’m in the U20 squad for the B-League team and I’m constantly pushing myself to play in the first grade team.
Football is my life and all I’ve ever known.
Understanding the importance of sacrifice, while my friends are out, I’m always training to be better, with my love and passion for football always having been number 1. I would love to pass on what I have learnt and my extensive knowledge on what it takes to play high level football. Beyond that, if you’re looking to improve or to play for fun, I appreciate all aspects.
Coaching has always been a passion to me, with teaching and helping someone else improve being the most fulfilling aspect for me. I want the kids I coach to not only have fun but also learn something new each session and get closer to their goals, whether that is taking football serious and trying to make a representative team or just simply to improve so they can have fun with their friends.
Coach
NPL Playing Experience
3+ Years Coaching Experience
(Teams and individual)
Experienced Youth Player Development Mentor
I have been playing football since I was walking.
Football has been a part of all aspects of my life through playing on the field and becoming a football pundit with my family and mates. I have played at all levels of NPL and AYL football with a variety of clubs with many successful tenures coupled with the lows of playing at a high level of football. This has allowed me to become very persistent, resilient and disciplined with everything inside and outside of football.
I pursue coaching as I look to pass on my knowledge and skills that l have acquired onto others, helping the younger generation to enjoy learning the fundamentals of football while growing in confidence along the way. With the children that I coach, I hope to ensure not only that they learn new skills and aspects of the game, but also enjoy playing football as it is a reminder why we all started playing the beautiful game. Whether they wish to play at a representative level or learn the basic skills so they can have fun with their mates at the park, I aim to accommodate my coaching style to all types of players
Coach
Foundation of Goalkeeping
Head of Goalkeeping LTFA
NPL First Grade Goalkeeper (Current)
Ex-professional Goalkeeper
With over two decades of experience in Australian and International football, Michael Rutherford, known as “Rutho,” has established himself as a skilled goalkeeper and coach. His playing career spans multiple leagues, starting with the NPL Youth League in the early 2000s, and includes stints with prestigious clubs such as Macarthur Rams, Sutherland Sharks, and Apia, before heading to Vanuatu’s Amicale FC for the Oceania Champions League.
After returning to the NPL with clubs like SD Raiders and Hurstville Zagreb FC, Michael transitioned into coaching, where he now leads as the club goalkeeper coach for both Juniors and Seniors NPL at Hurstville Zagreb FC. Michael’s approach to coaching combines his extensive playing experience with a focus on adapting to the evolving demands of the game.
His philosophy centres around three key elements for goalkeepers: perceive, decide, execute, ensuring that his players develop both the technical and mental agility needed to thrive.
By integrating real-life game scenarios into dynamic, fun training sessions, Michael helps his players refine not only their goalkeeping fundamentals but also their footwork and ball skills—key components of modern football.
All LTFA children will have access to a nurturing environment, being free to express themselves while promoting health and wellbeing, all in the context of learning and improving their fundamental football skills and tactical outcomes as the child develops. More importantly, the LTFA Program has a unique focus on facilitating the child’s development of key life skills including self-confidence, commitment, respect, resilience, leadership and social skills amongst many others. Most importantly, the LTFA Program ensures each child leaves feeling better than when they first arrived and with a smile on their face!
Yes! The LTFA Program always include an element of football specific speed, strength and coordination training tailored to suit each child’s age, stage of development and ultimate needs. LTFA also offers separate sessions in a home gym environment focusing on speed, strength and coordination development in an off-field environment.
This is a question of personal preference as well as desired goals. For children, the number one outcome should always be centred around enjoyment and promoting a healthy lifestyle. The LTFA Program is certainly a means through which this can be achieved and adjusted for, however it is important to balance this out with not having the child be overworked. Importantly, the more touches the child gets on the ball, the more likely they are to improve and ultimately have fun in doing so.
The LTFA Program is structured on a term by term basis, consistent with the NSW school terms (typically 10 weeks).
Upon joining the LTFA Program, children will have access to the same time each week for their LTFA session for the duration of the term, with a rollover option available to be carried over into the following term.
The LTFA Tots Program caters for children aged from 18 months to 6 years old, with the LTFA Program catering for young children all the way through to late teenagers.