Kaine Sheppard and Kelsey Quinn are well-known NPL players in Victoria, turning out for Heidelberg United and Galaxy United respectively. Sheppard most recently comes off scoring the go-ahead goal in a thrilling come-from-behind 4-2 win over Bulleen Lions in his return from injury, while Quinn has started every game between the sticks for her side in 2016.
Sheppard’s playing experience has also taken him to English clubs including Leyton Orient in 2011, where was teammates with a young Harry Kane. Quinn, meanwhile, was a member of the all-conquering Melbourne City W-League squad in 2015/16.
Both are part of Pro Life Football (PLF), an organization aiming to foster elite football talent in youth and professional Australian athletes by using different training styles and treating individuals as professionals. Some of their services include skill training for outfielders and goalkeepers, strength training, injury prevention, video analysis, nutrition education and body awareness.
Together with founder Nick Marinos – a legendary former player and current coach at Heidelberg United – each session is catered to an individual’s needs to further develop them to reach their personal aspirations. Pro Life Football’s vision is to become Australia’s leading sport institute, producing players for the Australian A-League/W-League and NPL/NPLW and to help send elite athletes overseas, thus contributing to the overall development of Australian football.
PLF encourages players to not just embrace a career path, but also a lifestyle, bringing about a collective sense of pride in all of its athletes, providing the necessary support to compete successfully at the highest level possible. There are also future plans to utilise an indoor facility to run sessions.
TCF had a chat with both Sheppard and Quinn about their own careers do date both on and off the pitch, along with their involvement in PLF.
How did you get involved in PLF?
Quinn: Nick Marinos started the company for himself back in 2014, and in that time Kaine, Nick and I have gotten to become close friends. One day Kaine and I were talking about our studies and what we were doing with them when we realised we should partner up and thought about Nick’s company and building that. We kept Nick’s company name, and have become a three-way partnership.
Sheppard: I got involved in Pro Life by training with Nick Marinos to improve and develop my own game and we just started discussing my own studies and what I could offer to football. Then Kelsey and I had a conversation about applying our studies to what we do, when we then came to the realisation that if the three of us come together we could start a successful training company. Nick was very keen to get this idea going.
How has your involvement in PLF been progressing so far?
Quinn: It has been going well. It is not easy starting a company, but it has been a fun experience. I am able to apply what I have studied in the past an am studying now to my life. Although we all coach different areas, we work together with all clients so that three different coaching perspectives can help make a player better.
Sheppard: It is progressing well now that I am back fit and ready to coach. We have a lot of enquiries and all three of us work really well together, so it is looking positive.
How does PLF apply to your life off the pitch?
Quinn: Pro Life applies to me off the pitch because I already have a Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Master’s degree in Sport Management and Leadership, and now getting another Master’s degree in Business Administration; it’s great applying what I’ve spent years studying to my everyday life!
Sheppard: Off the pitch it is great to put everything I have been learning into practice. You can study lots, but to me nothing is better than applying what you learn and helping kids and people improve and achieve their goals.
What is it like balancing your on-field playing career with everything you do off it, including PLF?
Quinn: Time management has been huge for me with going to school full time, playing full-time for Geelong Galaxy in the NPLW and trying to get a contract in the W-League, as well as coaching the Galaxy U15 girls and running the company. It is a hectic schedule and I am rarely home, but I love every second of it. I love being busy and being around football.
Sheppard: The balance is good because it gives us something else to focus on because we all know [playing] football doesn’t last forever. It also keeps us busy as we are still studying and we all want to build our coaching skills set. I still find plenty of time to keep myself fit and train, so it works great.
What are your own future ambitions for life on and off the pitch?
Quinn: My future ambition on the pitch is to have a full W-League contract this year, after a season and a half as a training player. Off the pitch I would like to continue to develop Pro Life Football and give back to those chasing their football dreams.
Sheppard: my future ambitions on the pitch are to play full time football and hopefully make the next step to the A-League. Off the pitch, it is to study as much as possible and put it all into practice while building the business.
For enquiries, contact business administrator Kelsey Quinn by email at prolifefootball3@gmail.com or by Facebook (click here), or via any of the coaches directly. Plans are in place for a holiday clinic during the next school holidays in June.
