Football: Calmer Sigmund studies life cycle

Ben Sigmund is anticipating a better disciplinary record this season. Photo / Getty Images

Ben Sigmund spent most Friday mornings last season hiding in Phoenix coach Ernie Merrick's office.

The All Whites defender wasn't trying to get the inside word on selections or avoiding some aerobic work. Instead, he was completing online training for his ambitious post-career plans. Sigmund has become a life coach and wants to spearhead efforts to improve player welfare in football.

As someone who has spent most of his career trying to cut opposition strikers in half, Sigmund now wants to focus on looking after the whole person.

He completed a six-month online course in March, with an American-based training company, and would attend virtual class via Skype before trainings.

"I used to hide in Ernie's office," Sigmund said. "I got a bit of stick from the boys and it was hard, especially if we were playing away from home. But the hard work paid off when I graduated."

It was a practical course, and Sigmund leaned on many of his team-mates to complete his homework and assignments.

"All the time together on away trips was pretty handy," he said. "Some of the senior players and even some of the junior ones were my guinea pigs as I went through all the exercises we had to do."

On a personal level, Sigmund admits he needed to change, given his chequered disciplinary history. He served a three-match ban for violent conduct in 2010 and missed three games at the start of the 2012-13 season for his part in a pre-season fixture's brawl. Then there was the ugly incident last year against Saudi Arabia, with his two-footed stomp labelled one of the worst tackles in All Whites history.

"I've definitely changed," said Sigmund. "My team-mates like to laugh about it - 'what's happened to you since you did the course?' - but it's true. I'm a lot calmer and let things slide a bit more. It's about understanding the consequences of your actions. You give 100 per cent and that's all you can control. I've come a long way. I used to fly off the handle a bit and was getting suspended left, right and centre."

Sigmund started thinking about life after football late last year. He had worked in the corporate world before his late entry into the game (he was 27 when he joined the Phoenix) and wanted something that could combine both.

"I've got a passion for helping people and I'm big on player welfare. I think the game can do more to look after future and current footballers, not just throughout their careers but also prepare for life after football."

Sigmund cites the recent case of former All Whites captain Chris Jackson, who battled depression and drug and alcohol abuse during his career and is now working as a cleaner in Sydney. Sigmund's goal is be at the forefront of new initiatives encompassing the Professional Footballers' Association, New Zealand Football and Phoenix.

He has also started running courses with elite teams and players from Capital Football, dealing with issues aspiring footballers face. He wants to branch out into the corporate and schools market.

Sigmund is confident about this A-League season, despite Australian bookmakers writing them off.

"You get that from the Australians," Sigmund said. "I'm really impressed with our new players. I don't want to get too excited - we have done that before and it hasn't worked out - but I'm happy for us to sit under the radar."