Is this the Final Decision by the CF Board on the HPP Playing Squad Situation?

As you are probably aware, the CF Board withdrew to consider its position on several issues that were the subject of discussion at a meeting last week between the Zone representatives (and Club Presidents) and the Capital Football Board. The decision by the CF Board to continue HPP playing squads, which saw players removed from clubs to play for a Capital Football Team(s) against Club teams in the local Junior Football competition, was one important difference between the the Board and Zone Reps / Clubs.

The CF Board was put on notice, which must have come as a shock for some of them.

The meeting is due to reconvene tomorrow evening (Tuesday) to establish the Board's final (?) position. Beyond that all is unknown. Until now!

Capital Football have today released the document below on the subject of the Football HPP. Assuming the meeting is still to happen, this is an interesting response. Has it, or will it, satisfy the Zone Reps / Clubs? Perhaps there has been a lot of hard thinking at Board level and a good deal of work behind the scenes by the Zone Reps / Clubs to bridge the gap? Until told otherwise, the NPL will continue to assume that the meeting will reconvene tomorrow night and await advice of outcomes. We'll let you know as soon as we do.

Whatever the situation, the changes published today by CF on their website(see below) are a significant and sensible advance. Why it took them so long when they had this good advice many, many months ago is a mystery. This was all so avoidable. Nevertheless,this latest position looks like a victory for common sense and Club development. For example, U14 and U15 Boys are free to play for their clubs because CF is not running a playing squad team int he loacl competition.

One thing is remarkably puzzling. For those HPP groups that must trial / train /prepare for the NYC, it is the U13 Boys that was the easiest to resolve in favour of a return to playing at Clubs. Their NYC is in April, their committments concluded they can and should return to Club for the ordinary season competition. Instead, this group will be retained as a playing squad and therefore, unable to play for the Club of thier choice. Why? I imagine that any Junior Club would be only too happy to have their ACT rep player(s) back at the Club. It will be interesting to know the reasoning behind this decision.

Surely the simple and most productive solution was just to scrap all the HPP playing squads? Was this some sort of peculiar concession sort by the Board? The CF Board nearly got there.

Let's hope we have no repeat of this debacle and this time next year they all go back to Clubs to play in season and no playing squads, only representative teams to compete at the NYC.

Now, about ACTAS???


Got to Capital Football for the orginal item:

01.03.10 – 2010 Capital Football High Performance Program - Winter 2010 for Boys 1997, 1996, 1995. 1st March Update


Capital Football High Performance Program - Winter 2010 for Boys 1997, 1996, 1995
as at 1 March 2010

1997 Boys (under 13s)

The 1997 Boys HPP Winter squad will play in the Capital Football Junior League Under 14 Division 1 Open competition as the Capital FC ‘97s. The selection process for this squad will be as follows:

· In February, all 1997 HPP players must register with a Club of their choice.

· The ACT Under 13 Representative Squad that will compete in the FFA National Junior Championships to be held in Canberra from 8 to 10 April 8-10 has been announced.

· This rep squad will essentially become the Capital FC playing squad for the junior league commencing in May although some new players may be added from time to time.

· Those players NOT selected in the ACT Representative training squad of 22 will continue to train with the HPP Summer program until April 1st. Those players will then leave the HPP and join the club they have previously registered with for the 2010 winter JL season.

· The Capital FC 97 squad will take a break after the NJC and return to training on 21April to prepare for the JL winter season B14s. The player’s registration will be transfered to Capital FC from their previous club registration.

· Players registered with Capital FC will not be able to play for another club in the Junior League. Players will train with the CF HPP twice a week and play a JL match on Saturday.

· The cost for this squad for the entire winter season is $600.

1996 Boys (under 14s)

The 1996 Boys HPP Winter Development squad will play midweek non competition games against targeted opposition at PL16 level as arranged by the Technical Director to provide quality opposition. The development squad will continue through until October as part of preparations for the National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour. The selection process for this squad will be as follows:

· In February, all 1996 HPP players must register with a Club of their choice in either the Junior or Mens League. Players are free to play with their club side in any competition on the weekend.

· The HPP summer program ends on 1 April. The Winter Development Squad will be announced in April following a selection process conducted by the Technical Director and coaches at training and matches.

· Players may be brought into or removed from the winter development squad at any time at the discretion of the Technical Director and coaches.

· Trials for the ACT under 14 rep squad, if determined necessary by the Technical Director, will be held in August. All age-eligible registered players in CF competitions will be entitled to trial for the rep squad.

· The ACT Under 14 Rep squad that will compete in the FFA National Youth Championships in October will be announced in August. Additional representative squad players will train with HPP Winter Development squad in preparation for the NYC. (That is, players may be selected outside the HPP Winter Development squad to represent the ACT at the NYC.).

1995 Boys (under 15s)

The 1995 Boys HPP Winter Development squad will play midweek non competition games against targeted opposition at PL 18 level as arranged by the Technical Director to provide quality opposition. This squad will continue through until October as part of preparations for the National Youth Championships in Coffs Harbour. The selection process for this squad will be as follows:

· In February, all 1995 HPP players must register with a Club of their choice in either the Junior or Mens League. Players are free to play with their club side in any competition on the weekend.

· The HPP summer program ends on 1 April. The Winter Development Squad will be announced in April following a selection process conducted by the Technical Director and coaches at training and matches.

· Players may be brought into or removed from the winter development squad at any time at the discretion of the Technical Director and coaches.

· Trials for the ACT under 15 rep squad, if determined necessary by the Technical Director, will be held in August. All age-eligible registered players in CF competitions will be entitled to trial for the rep squad.

· The ACT Under 15 Rep squad that will compete in the FFA National Youth Championships in October will be announced in August. Additional representative squad players will train with HPP Winter Development squad in preparation for the NYC. (That is, players may be selected outside the HPP Winter Development squad to represent the ACT at the NYC.).

Note 1: Midweek non competition games may include players from both the 1995 and 1996 boys winter development squads.
Note 2: A new fee schedule for the 1995 and 1996 boys programs will be published in March.