15 years of Sport Star Academy

15 Years of Sport Star Academy: From One Sport to a Movement That’s Changed Lives

What started as single football session in Melbourne has become a sporting movement that’s shaped the lives of over 100,000,000 children across Australia and is now expanding internationally.

This year, Sport Star Academy (SSA) proudly celebrates 15 years of empowering young people through sport. It’s more than a milestone — it’s a moment to reflect on how far we’ve come, and the incredible journey we’ve shared with families, franchisees, coaches, and communities.

💥 From One Sport to 22 Programs

In 2010, Sport Star Academy began as a passion project to provide quality Football (soccer) coaching for young children — and quickly discovered there was a demand for more than just a game. Families wanted structure. Children wanted confidence. And communities needed support.

Fast forward 15 years, and Sport Star Academy (SSA) has now expanded into 22 brands and activity-based programs — the most popular including soccer, footy, basketball, rugby, cricket and now evolving into more than sport, under The AllStars Academy.

Each brand was created to deliver age-appropriate, high-quality coaching experiences that combine movement, confidence, teamwork, and fun. Every single one of them was built with purpose — and powered by passion.

🏟️ A National (and Global!) Footprint

From humble beginnings in Melbourne, our footprint has grown to:

• Over 390 schools and venues across Australia
  
  
• Franchise partners in every major state, including VIC, NSW, QLD, WA and SA
  
  
• International expansion into India, USA, UAE and soon Hong Kong!
  
  
• A dedicated National Support Office in Moorabbin, once a paint factory, now our creative and operational HQ
  
  

Our network of franchisees, many of whom started as parents or coaches, now deliver programs that positively impact their communities every single week.

⭐ Famous Faces & Special Moments

Over the years, we’ve had the honour of sharing the field — and the spotlight — with some of Australia’s most iconic names in sport.

• Ange Postecoglou, global football manager and former Socceroo, once joined us at Soccer Time Kids with his own son.
  
  
• The legendary Shane Warne was a friend of SSA and a proud supporter of our mission.
  
  
• And behind it all, our founder and CEO Peter Nikolakopoulos — who just so happens to be a World Cup 5-a-side champion, winning gold for Australia in Korea back in 2002.
  
  

These moments remind us that even the biggest names started somewhere — and they believed in the power of grassroots sport.

🙌 A Movement Built on Community

What we’re most proud of, though, isn’t the numbers. It’s the stories.

• Kids who started with us at age 3 and are now junior coaches.
  
  
• Families who made lifelong friendships on the sidelines.
  
  
• Franchisees who built businesses that give back every week.
  
  
• Parents who’ve told us, “My child walks taller now — thank you.”
  
  

These are the real wins.

Whether you've been with us for one term or all 15 years — thank you. You've helped turn a single program into a national legacy.

Here’s to the next 15 years of movement, growth, and stars in the making. 🌟