ACT Futsal Athletes With Disabilities (AWD) Representative Team At the FFA Futsal Nationals

Sourced from Capital Football http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/site/news.php?id=1185

Amongst all the activity of th FFA Futsal Nationals, there was one terrific ACT team that did as well as most going around in ACT colours - it was our AWD Team. They were coached by Eugene (Kik) Exposito and  the CF Game Development Manager, Pat McCann. Check out the final table at the bottom of this article - the ACT team was one of three teams that had the same number of points at the end of the competition rounds and alas, they missed the semis by the narrowest of margins - one goal, as it was decided on goal difference. That's as close as it gets. The article below tells it all. Well done!

AWD success at Futsal Nationals


The ACT squad that competed in the Athletes with Disability Division at the recent FFA Futsal National Championships had an immensely enjoyable time.
The team, coached by Eugene (Kik) Exposito and Capital Football Game Development Manager Pat McCann, missed out on a semi-final spot by the narrowest of margins but were buoyed by some impressive results throughout the week.
Goals were scored and fun was had by the group which did their Territory proud. Exposito's squad was selected on the back of Capital Football's highly successful Football-Connect program which offers football coaching for athletes with disability. Capital Football would like to thank Eugene for his superb work with Football-Connect and the AWD squad.
This is how the AWD reads at the end of the competition rounds:

What Does It TakeTo Make The Talented Player Pathway Work In The ACT Region?

Tonight’s program begins on a high note. The young ACT Football and Futsalroo, Tom Rogic has won a place in the prestigious Nike Football Academy in the UK. He was one only eight players, from a world wide baseline of 75,000 aspiring young football players, to win a scholarship to train at the Nike Academy. The process that saw him selected from many in Australia, then go to the UK to compete among a highly select group of finalists – is call “the Chance”

Well, it certainly is that for the young Tom Rogic – 18 years of age and looking at the world of football froma very lofty height.

The Nike Academy will provide an unrivalled opportunity for Rogic to make himself known to the prestigious football clubs in Europe. All things being equal, good timing and a good deal more hard work, Tom Rogic is on his way.
Tom Rogic picture and story made front page news for Football in the Canberra Times - now you don't see that every day of the week in ACT Football!

I do not know the detail of Rogic’s football story. I have seen him play a few games over recent years in both football and futsal. I wish he was playing for my club. In researching this story I have spoken to some who reckon they do know his story, but mostly I think they do not. One person who definitely does know is his immediate past PL Coach at ANU – John Mitchell.
So we begin tonight’s program with a short discussion with John Mitchell, Tom Rogic’s Pl Coach for the last two years. John brings us up to date with young Rogic’s success and makes the very important point, that Rogic’s success can be traced back to his football education from the age of 11 to 14 years, where he developed the good football habits pioneered here by Ron Smith.
Then we follow with a fascinating interview I did with John Mitchell about his work with ANU and the ANU Under 20 Elite program. The NPL has broadcast some part of this interview before, but given Rogic’s success, the finalisation of the Ron Smith Review and the very recent appointment of a new TD at Cf – this interview has a lot to recommend it. Mitchell’s ANU U20 Elite program was a bold initiative at the time, one that made other PL clubs stand up and take notice and change. Mitchell’s plan was to do something about what he refers to, in talented footballer development terms as a “tragic vacant space” for those of our ACT talented players between the ages of 17 to 20 years of age.
In so many ways, John Mitchell got it right and in doing so, provided Tom Rogic with exactly the football diet he needed to assist in his desire to break into professional football. The interview speaks for itself and merits careful consideration, particularly as we enter a period that fair bristles with the prospect and necessity for positive change concerning the development of all our young players. If we do what we have always done, we will get what we have always got.
We have a new TD about to take his post at CF and a comprehensive “football operational” style review by Ron Smith that points squarely in the direction of “are you serious”! Many in the Football community are waiting to see how it will all unfold in 2011.

As they say, we live in interesting football times. And Australia is in the semis of the Asian Cup.
The time for change couldn’t be better. The extravagantly talented young Rogic and energetic football ideas people like John Mitchell, show that we can change our player development environment here in the ACT for the better, for all our players. As they say, “Game On”!

Download Podcast here:

ACT Player Tom Rogic Wins a Professional Contract at the Nike Academy in England

Sourced from http://au.fourfourtwo.com/News/194387,aussie-wins-nike-chance.aspx
Aidan Ormond Jan 23 2011 11:01

Sometimes dreams come true. It has for Tom Rogic. Front page news in the Canberra Times today.

Others know the Rogic story in detail, I do not. I've certainly seen him play Football and Futsal in recent years. I do know that the path he walked to get the opportunity now before him was the hard way to do it. I also know that many coaches would have contributed in their way, along the way. But none more so in the last two years than his former PL League Coach at ANU - John Mitchell.
 
I wonder - would this have been possible if Mitchell had not got motivated and  raise the ANU Under 20 Elite program? I prefer to think that Rogic's talent would have got him there anyway. You hope so.

The simple truth is that in 2009 particularly (and 2010) the ANU Under 20 Elite program provided Rogic with an unmatched opportunity to engage in high quality periodised training, like no other Club at the time in the ACT. John Mitchell raised the bar in the Premier League here in the ACT (outside the AIS and ACTAS) and many of the rest of the Clubs took the hint and have followed in their fashion.
 
Then their is Rogic's talent at Futsal, which got him to the Futsalroos. Strewth, can he play! That must have helped a lot.
 
The point I make is this - someone, somehow had to construct an opportunity for a young player outside the AIS, with no local A League Youth team to go to, to get a shot at professional football. I think John Mitchell and his ANU Under 20 Elite program was the essential input at the right time. There is a lesson here for those that conduct our development programs, if they look carefully. It was pleasing to see Mitchell referred to in the Canberra Time today.
 
There are a lot of clues in the ANU Under 20 Elite program (now defunct) for the way ahead with our talented young players - the best of the best at age!
 
Go back and listen to our interviews with John Mitchell on the NPL. Its all there!

The FourFourTwo article reads as follows:
ACT starlet Tom Rogic said he was stunned and elated after winning one of eight professional contracts at the Nike Academy in England announced in London on Saturday night.

At a function attended by former Arsenal and Barcelona star Giovanni van Bronkhurst, Rogic was the final name to be read out for the eight full-time contracts on offer.

“Words can’t describe it,” Rogic told au.fourfourtwo.com just moments after the announcement.

SBS Sport Will Broadcast Highlights of the 2011 Futsal Nationals - So Why Doesn't the FFA Do a Bit More of this for Football and Futsal?

Capital Football advise that SBS Sport will broadcast a one hour packaged highlights program of the FFA Futsal National Finals on
SBS 1, Sunday 13th February, from 1-2 pm.

I notice that the media coverage in this case is credited as follows: "Produced in Association with Capital Football and FFA by
Eurocam Sports Production & Distribution"

I assume that this will cover all finals, but not sure. Either way its good for Futsal.

Perhaps next year the FFA will organise itself to video all the finals and make DVD copies available to players/parents/coaches/supporters at a reasonable cost. Why not arrange to stream the finals and selected games throughout the Championships - and not just the Open category games, a common mistake with the media in Futsal. Now that would be progress.

While I am on the subject - Same for the Football National Youth Championships and NTC Challenge. We can bid for a World Cup but we can't get our act together and promote the game at community level to our own Football and Futsal community. A lot fo these games are a damn site better to watch than far too many of the A League games - which are not free to air.

Vikings Futsal are doing it now for Futsal!

Reflections on the ACT Performance at the 2011 FFA Futsal Nationals by Capital Football Futsal Technical Manager, Roger Cua

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3 mhz) through the Australian Community Radio Network, Tuesday, 18 January 2011 at 7:00PM.

The 2011 FFA Futsal Nationals have concluded. The overall performance of the ACT teams is an improvement on 2010.

However, NSW increased their dominance with 15 finals wins from a total of 17 finals contested at the Nationals.

Whatever we are doing to improve Futsal, we need to remember that NSW is not standing still and admiring past performance.

Roger Cua joined Capital Football in the latter half of 2010 as the Futsal Technical Manager. The changes he made tidied up some loose ends and that made a difference to the overall results. Roger speaks candidly to the NPL about the Nationals, the ACT performance, what makes NSW strong at the Nationals, talented identification, selection, the need give all squad players sufficient game time in the Nationals at the junior / youth levels to ensure development, the need to regenerate the Open Mens' team, an ACT Futsal State team competition, increasing the scope of the ACT Premier League, futsal coaching clinics during the Football season, Coach education and a good deal more about Futsal as it affects the ACT.

Roger has a three year plan and he has made a good start.

Download Podcast here:

Capital Football Appoint New Football Technical Director

Sourced from http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/site/news.php?id=1169

Capital Football advise the following:

Capital Football is pleased to announce the appointment of Royston Thomas as the new Technical Director for the ACT and surrounding region.
Thomas, 60, was selected from a high-quality list of applicants and comes armed with decades of experience as a player, manager, coach and high performance director across a range of countries and across the full spectrum of age grades and both genders.
Born in Swansea, South Wales, United Kingdom, Thomas was a well-travelled youth and reserve team player appearing for Swansea City, Bristol Rovers and Oxford United before enjoying a spell with Arcadia Shepherds in South Africa.

He moved to Australia when he was 22 and was appointed youth team coach at Sydney City and worked his way up to assistant manager for Australia during the 1980’s. Moving back to Wales Royston joined the Welsh FA and for the next fifteen years was in charge of national player development taking control of player progression from under-12 to under-16 level.

A major achievement whilst with the Welsh FA was being appointed as Women’s National Coach where he implemented a scheme to promote the talent of the countries under-16, under-18 and under-20 squads in order to make the senior side a more competitive unit.

Following this, Royston travelled to Lebanon where he was appointed manager of Al Ansar, a club famous for winning sixteen league championships in a row, enough to score a place in the Guinness Book of Records at that time.

Returning to the UK, Royston headed back to his home town club, Swansea City where he was named Technical Coach before finally returning to Australia to take up the post of Football NSW Coaching and Development Manager.

Throughout his varied career Royston notes that his time with the Welsh FA was perhaps his most important.
“Whilst with the FAW (Football Association of Wales) I was in charge of player development and coach education which, to my mind, was the most important role I have had so far,” he said. “I implemented a scheme to identify talent at a younger age in order to make the national team competitive on the international stage and we saw several youngsters progressing into the first team from that era.”
The amiable Welshman has an important task ahead of him and has identified his main aims as twofold.
“In no particular order, firstly, I aim to improve the coaches and work with all the coaches I can to improve their understanding so that they can work to their maximum potential to create better players. Secondly, I aim to improve player development from grassroots up to the elite level,” he commented.
“I’m a very approachable person and look forward to working with the local clubs to help the ones who haven’t been serviced in the past to make sure people have access to the latest methods and modern trends as well as to implement as best as we can the FFA national Football Curriculum.”
Royston Thomas will take up his new post as Technical Director on 14th February.

Trouble in Futsal Paradise - Vikings or Football NSW for Futsal - Its a jungle out there!

Sourced from http://futsal4all.com/2010/12/vikings-futsal-nsw-in-turmoil/

Vikings Futsal have done astonishing things in Futsal for a long time. Some say that Futsal would have been a lot less than it is in parts of Australia had Vikings not appeared and made things work. I have heard some say that Vikings are "only in it for the money". This has always struck me as ill informed and often disguising other agenda.

The Vikings Futsal business model seems to me to be first rate - they try to keep every dollar in the game - and they plough a lot back into the game. I stress - the sporting business model. Go back into archive on the NPL and have a listen to the Vikings CEO explain how they do it and why they do it. Hard to argue against it.

When we last spoke to the CEO Vikings, we spoke at some length of the "conflict" between the FFA / FFA Federation members and Vikings Futsal. The FFA has only  recently (in terms of the time the game has been played) taken over Futsal through its member Federations. Of course, that does mean the FFA is the sole proprietor of Futsal, bu that's the way they would like it. Plenty would suggest that precious little funding is put to Futsal by the FFA. We don't exactly spend a lot on it here in the ACT - parents and players do that. We don't own a dedicated Futsal facility in the ACT to underpin the game, preferring instead to pay others for the facilites they build to accommodate our needs. As a result, we don;t have enough availbel facilities to train. Not good.

Both the FFA / Federation members and Vikings  seem to be contesting the same sport for the same pool of players around the nation, with varying degrees of success. Its a bit hard to know the full story. Vikings are not in the ACT, never have been. In one respect that's a pity - we need their business model in this game.

As we know, Football NSW's Futsal teams (Thunder and Lightning as they call them) are almost completely dominat at the FFA Nationals these days. Its been heading that way for a few years. Changes to Futsal Nationals preparations for ACT teams may have slowed the decline, but 2011 saw us barely stay close to last years Nationals performance.

To this add the FFA's woeful record in relation to Futsal Coach Education in the ACT. There was just nothing availabe for the FFA that anyone at Capital Football could call upon. In the last two years their has been a modest attempt to run Coach education and a good thing it was, but it has barely scratched the surface. Mostly, we are Football coaches coaching Futsal. Vikings have always been strong in the conduct of Futsal coach education, as they have with support for referees. Point of difference.

The Football NSW Futsal competitions (Premier and Super Leagues) are incredibly strong local competitions, which probably eclispe all other State Federation competitions under the FFA banner (if I can put it that way). Not sure how this proposition holds up where Vikings are dominant or have a substantial competitive / participation precence. Again, hard to know for sure.


In the ACT, our domestic competition doesn't come close to the Football NSW Premier League or Supa League. We have only one Club that competes in the Football NSW Futsal Supa League - the Boomerangs. This was a priate intitiative by two committed Futsal Coaches from the ACt - they just got off the backsides and made it happen. And boy has it happened. They are going gangbusters and very close to being promoted to the Premier League for 2011/ 2012 season. They get precious little support to do this important Futsal development work for our young players. Vikings Futsal would in all probability take a different view and push their success - but that's just speculation on my part.

But back to the point of this Blog.

Futsal in NSW is dominated by the Football NSW Futsal organisation / competitions. They are strong and very competitive, week in week out. The proof is in their superior performance at the FFA Nationals.

Vikings appears to have had a very difficult time breaking into NSW to the degree it has in other States.

Vikings held their "Nationals" at the same time as the FFA Nationals. It did not go unremarked upon by some Futsal officials from various places during the FFA Nationals.

However, I did notice that Vikings televised (streamed) their Futsal Nationals competition, produced short video summaries of the finals for publication on the web and made video copies of each final (full game) available at a reasonable cost to anyone who is interested. The FFA did none of this for the patrons / players / parents for the finals. Makes you think.

The article below makes some intersting points. Time the NPL spoke to the CEO Vikings to get his point of view (and some ideas). Futsal in intersting times!

Vikings Futsal NSW in turmoil - Vikings struggling to increase their presence in NSW
By Kay EmmayPublished 8/12/2010

Vikings Futsal NSW is again in turmoil after the sudden departure of its NSW Manager, Phil Dolton, after only 5 months in the role.
Despite their formidable presence in QLD and NNSW, Vikings have struggled to establish clubs and build playing numbers in NSW. The appointment of Dolton, one of the most experienced Futsal administrators in this state, was seen by many as a strategic move to either gain a stronger foot hold in NSW or unify the sport & integrate the Vikings club into the FNSW structure.

Asia Pacific Football Institute - Think Local and Act Local!

Sourced from http://www.northernstar.com.au/

Craig Foster is at the forefront of a fantastic Football inititative in Australia. It's breath taking. Together with the Southern Cross University (SCU), FFA, State Government and Local Government, they have put together a remarkable concept that is about to become a reality. And its all about Football!

As you read this article, just think what we could have done with a part of that $26 million over ten years the ACT Government handed over to the AFL for an AFL Franchise Club start up in Western Sydney. Its not a good deal for AFL, it almost certainly ensures that very little will be available going forward for Football (the largest participation sport in the ACT region) nor any other sport, and its such a rotten deal, an atrocious waste of public funds in its present form. Oh well done Mr Barr. What a spectacularly poor decision for all young sports persons in the ACT for years and years to come. It is a real kick in the guts for Football.

What a clever piece of sports politics at election time. Having established that we seem to have completely missed the AFL raid on the ACT Treasury, did anyone on the Capital Football Board think to use our Football constituency to motivate the Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Simon Crean at election time, at any time, to do some good for Football in the ACT region. Ahh, but then you would need to have a few good ideas. Or is the extent of our fiscal reach and sporting clout limited to applying for grant money - crumbs from the master's table! It makes you weep tears of frustration, particularly when others do it right under your nose. And the AFL deal is such an easy one to beat. Why aren't we out there - loud and proud! Who will lead us?

Why am I on this topic again? Simple! The kind of mistake made by Mr Barr and the ACT Government will hold Football back unless the ACT Government finds new funds quickly and in sufficient amount over time to make a difference for our young players. Only Capital Football could have stood in the way, been an obstacle to this profligacy, and secured some investment for Football. They got king hit and we are penniless by comparison.

Contrast our situation with the the football intitative undertaken by Craig Foster, the Federal Government, NSW Government and importantly, Southern Cross Uni. It demonstrates just how stupid the ACT Government was in handing out money for the equivalent of an A League team and one that doesn't even have the virtue of being domiciled in the ACT region. The vague promise of an "academy" is little more than political slight of hand, because you can bet it wont be in the ACT. Oh yes, and four games of AFL . Strewth!

The Asia Pacific Football Institute by contrast is a sensational idea. It will serve the Football community. A Barcelona-esque kinda thing. Wow! This is thinking right outside the square. Fantastic.

Now just stop and think for a moment about what we might have here in the ACT - Uni of Canberra, Capital Football, FFA, ACT Government, Federal Government, AIS, ACTAS and hand over the A League money Ivan to kick start the bank account and we might have something that is every bit as sensational. Something substantial and designed to last and serve the football community.

I am reminded of a thought that the ever forward thinking John Mitchell said in an interview with the NPL some time ago - he proffered the notion that we here in the ACT could set up a Football development entity that could develop players to the highest standards for the world market and in so doing, fund all our ACT  community and talented development needs / programs. Not a bad idea to be starting with and I reckon that the Asia Pacific Football Institute will move into this space in order to underwrite all the other development work they seem to wish to do across the football community.

As Ron Smith is fond of saying - "are you serious". Well, Craig Foster and Southern Cross Uni certainly are!

What about the ACT? What will we do and who will lead us - where?

I'll follow up on this one. Again, we can learn a lot from others. Well done Craig Foster.

Soccer complex for Lismore


World game: Soccer legend Craig Foster with Page MP Janelle Saffin and Education, Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Simon Crean at the announcement of the $2.5m soccer complex at SCU.

Mr Crean visited Lismore yesterday to announce a re-elected Labor Government would put $2.5 million towards the long-awaited Asia Pacific Football Institute in Military Road, Lismore. The institute would be built by Southern Cross University (SCU), which has set aside 14 hectares of land and $1 million for the facility, to be run by a newly-created ‘University Foundation’.

2011 FFA Fustal Nationals Dominated by NSW - Results Summary

The FFA Futsal Nationals have just concluded. Once again, NSW has dominated the finals with their NSW Thunder and NSW Lightning teams in most age groups / divisions of the competition.

Now this is not new in recent years and nor does it mean that our ACT teams did not give a good account of themselves. Its just that NSW has become so powerful.

In some age groups / divisions our ACT teams came very close / or won a game against them in the rounds. We challenged in some finals. Usually, its slim pickings against NSW these days in the games that count.

Getting to the semi finals is the first objective and then of course, to the final and winning it. It is in this "finals" zone that the NSW teams excel.

Anyway, there was lots of good Futsal to see, particulary at the junior and youth age groups.

Our Open Women's team came as close as it is possible without winning. Our Youth Men's team let it slip through their fingers - but they were a real chance! Our U11 Boys Cobras team produced some of the best Futsal I have seen from an ACT team in years, but sadly, could not quite replicate their competition form in the final.

Here is how the overall resutls look:

• Total Number of Finals Contested: 17

• ACT teams in Finals: 6 ( 1x Boys, 2 x Girls, 2 x Youth, 1 x Open Women)
• ACT teams win Finals: Nil

• NSW teams in Finals: 19 (4 x Boys - U15 & U16 both teams), All Girls - U16G both teams, All Youth, All Open)
• NSW teams win Finals: 15 (all Girls' finals, all Youth, all Open)

• Other State / Nation team winners of Finals: 2 (U11B - Auckland, U13B - Victoria)

The specific Age / Division Finals winners are as follows:

• 11-BOYS: Auckland Rio 4  ACT Cobras 2
• 11-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 4  Victoria 2
• 12-BOYS: NSW Thunder 4  NSW Lightning 3
• 12-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 7  Victoria 2
• 13-BOYS: Victoria 2 Solomon Islands 1
• 13-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 3  ACT Cobras 0
• 14-BOYS: NSW Thunder 8  Victoria 1
• 14-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 6  ACT Cobras 2
• 15-BOYS: NSW Thunder 6  NSW Lightning 2
• 15-GIRLS: NSW Thunder 3  Queensland 1
• 16-BOYS: NSW Lightning 2  NSW Thunder 0
• 16-GIRLS: NSW Lightning 2  NSW Thunder 0
• ATHLETES WITH DISABILITY:  Southern NSW 6 NSW Lightning 1
• YOUTH MEN: NSW Thunder 2 ACT Cobras 1 
• YOUTH WOMEN: NSW Thunder 2  ACT Cobras 0
• OPEN MEN: NSW Thunder 2  Victoria 2  – Thunder win 3-2 on penalties
• OPEN WOMEN: NSW Thunder 1  ACT Cobras 0

Futsal Nationals Flood Appeal

Capital Football advise that the organisers of the FFA Futsal Nationals will be holding a public appeal to raise money for the victims of the  floods in the Queensland and Northen NSW regions - which I might add are yet to peak. Its a miserable start to 2011 for some of our citizens and the Football / Futsal community in the affected areas. Anything you can give is a kindness long remembered.

The Capital Football website advice is as follows:

Organisers of the 32nd FFA Futsal National Championships will be holding a collection at the Grand Finals on Friday 14th January for the victims of the Queensland and Northern NSW flood disasters.


Volunteers will be circling the AIS Arena throughout the day with collection buckets to accept donations from spectators attending the Finals. With twelve teams representing Queensland and eight from Northern NSW attending the FFA Futsal Nationals, plus volunteers and referee’s also from the States, the tragedy has directly affected many involved with the tournament.

Participants and spectators are encouraged to give generously in support of the Queensland and Northern NSW Flood victims this Friday throughout Grand Final Day.

The Grand Finals of the 32nd FFA Futsal Nationals Championships commence at 08:00 and conclude with the Youth Women’s Final at 19:00.

For further details on this appeal please contact Capital Football General Manager Steven McIntyre at general@capitalfootball.com.au.

Social Media In Football - How to write in-game Tweets like a pro

This is sourced form that excellent site, run by Amanda Vandervort (GK!) "Soccer Science" at http://www.amandavandervort.com

We continue to explore the inclusion of social media into the Football community. Clubs just have to get into this medium and Capital Football should be leading the way on this one - perhaps they can launch prior to the 2011 season. Just look at how young people, well not just young people, communicate!

What would your tweet be if you saw this at the game?? I observed this a few times this season in the PL. I recall watching a conversation between a player not unlike this fellow, to his mates in the stands (who were playing later for the same club) to a mate in the stands behind them. You could say the world has gone made - me, I say get with the change and use it!

I can only imagine this coach's Tweet if he looked over his shoulder and found his red hot sub on the " blower" talking and tweeting! "Put that bloody phone....." Ouch!

I know a couple of coaches who have their assistants / managers tweet and SMS with trusted observers in other parts of the ground. I watched last season as such person SMS'd an observation to the coach, but got his left and right mixed up. He was behind the opposition goalposts. The on field change that followed raised eyebrows and gave rise to some cursing by the person who gave the advice. The discussion around him quickly made him privately realise that he was geographically misplaced.  He blamed the small keyboard as I recall.

Get with it - its all happening right now.

Every tweet has its time and place, and I’m writing this blog specifically to address the in-game Tweet. If you work for a sports team, department or league as a PR professional, social media community manager, or “team tweeter”, here are some tips on how to write better in-game tweets to help communicate with your fan base. We’ll address:


1. Pre-Game Basics
2. In-Game Updates
3. Post-Game Follow Up

Introduction

Twitter is succinct and it’s real-time. Fans want expect that their team provide pre-game information, live updates in-game and final game scores. But all too often, here’s where sports teams go wrong. “Quantity over quality” is the current trend. Teams pump out as many tweets in-game as they can muster, often saying things like “Press 1v1″, or even “Jon. Busch.”.

If you know that Christen Press is a standout forward at Stanford University or that Jon Busch is a stellar goalkeeper at the San Jose Earthquakes, you can probably already guess that they’re making some good plays on the pitch, but that’s about it. There’s no context – What was the result of the play? What minute of the game are you in? Who are you playing?

Just because the information on Twitter passes more quickly and in fewer characters doesn’t mean it’s less important. In fact, incorrectly tweeting can be a recipe for total disaster. Every. Word. Counts.

Space: the final frontier?

This item is sourced from footy4kids.co.uk.

I thought this was a good one to start the 2011 Football season. The more we do for our children in Football, at the local, community based level that is of quality and costs nothing to parents, makes the kids happy and keen to play, the stronger our game gets.

"It's no good simply telling your players to "spread out" because it doesn't mean anything. Should they should stand five yards apart? 20 yards? 30 yards?"

While it may be unreasonable to expect three year olds to abandon their natural inclination to swarm round the ball and spread out across the field, the question "why won't they spread out?"' is a good one.

The stock answer is that very young children are primarily interested in themselves, are not mature enough to understand the concept of teamwork and they just want to have fun! And for a young soccer player, the fun is where the ball is, not guarding a piece of grass 20 yards or more from the action and hoping to receive a pass that never comes.

My advice to coaches who have teams of very young players is to not waste their time trying to make their players spread out. Instead, they should let them carry on swarming around the ball because they are learning so many useful skills. They include how to tackle, how to take the ball from another player and how to keep it when they've got it.