In this interview, Royston speaks of his Football background / experience and describes the first steps he has taken in his new position.
The position of Techncial Director is a pivotal one in ACT Football. In past years the emphasis, almost sole emphasis has been on the very small population of taletend players at age, prior to selection of an even smaller number of players to attend ACTAS. That's no criticism of the persons who have held this position; they obviously did what they were asked to do and the production of talented players in the ACT, beyond State / Territory Federation members is necessary if the we are to see National teams become more competitive. But the truth is that community football and Clubs have got lost in the background, sometimes feeling more put upon than supported by Capital Football and the FFA in these matters. And CAPital Football is in the business of running competitions - good competitions.
Royston arrives at a pivotal time in the development and expansion of the game in the ACT region. The FFA National Football Curriculum and the National Development Plan, together with a massive shift to the good in Coach Education are the prime drivers in relation to Football players across the nation.
The Capital Football development programs (Academy / High Performance in thier turn) have been reviewed to a standstill. The question is now all about the "what" and the "how". Royston is cognizant of this situation. Playing facilities now demand more and more attention in the ACT and impact on player development and the provision of good competitions. Royston enters at a time with as is often said "a lot of balls in the air".
Royston has a mind to widen his contact with the Football community, reaching down to Clubs and Club Coaches, starting a continuing dialogue. He is presently visiting Clubs, junior and senior and speaks of creating a Forum for Coaches. He has quickly picked up on the important connections to the ACTAS Mens and Womens programs and coaches. Its early days and a productive start on a long and difficult journey in Football.
If you see him around the grounds or have him pointed out to you - go over and say hullo. He will need all the contact he can get outside the Capital Football offices, if he is to get across his portfolio in good time and make decisions that make sense to you. He's easy to talk to and a long Football background.
As you listen to this first interview, you will quickly get the impression that this is a person with a passion for Football. He is your Techncial Director, the game belongs to everyone, so use him! Hope you enjoy this first interview - I did!
Download Podcast here:
A bit underwhelming I have to say, a bit like the HPP review and the response.
ReplyDeleteAnd we still have not been given good reasons why the 13 and 14 boys are not playing squads. NSW has its 13s playing in its Super League and Tasmania, one woudl think very similar to us in population and football strength, have decided to also go the playing squad model. See below an extract from Tasmanian website:
“The 2011 state team selection process has been very thorough. Effectively, identification commenced in July 2010 with the three regional representative cup competitions conducted in Devonport, Hobart and Launceston providing an excellent show case of talented players from across the state. Beyond this, the final trial events provided a more focussed opportunity for coaches and FFT staff to complete selection.
“The value in selection into the FFT state team programs continues to improve the overall football experience and opportunity for those identified in the game. FFT offer all participants a full-time football training, match and competition program, facilitated by highly qualified coaches within the state.
“Week-day training is conducted for squad members in the north and south of the state, with a detailed program of activities across weekends. Most teams compete in a domestic winter competition providing excellent team bonding opportunities and challenges.
“These full time programs culminate in participation in the respective National Junior Championship events under the watchful eyes of national talent identification experts.
FFT State Under 13 Boys Squad:
Coach: Dale Itchins - A veteran of some 13 National Championship events, Dale Itchins will coach the Under-13 boys squad, well supported by Devonport based, Fab Pizzirani. This squad will compete in the National Junior Championships at Coffs Harbour, NSW, in early October 2011. In the lead-up to these National Championships, the team will compete in a southern youth competition and are planning an interstate trip to gain further experience.
FFT State Under 14 Girls Squad:
Coach: Bob Nicholson, of Hobart will coach the FFT State Under-14 girls’ squad who will compete in a southern Under-13 male competition in the build up to the scheduled July National Junior Championships at Coffs Harbour, NSW.
FFT State Under 14 Boys Squad:
Coach: Scott Gallacher. The Boys’ Under-14 state squad features a large contingent of players involved in last year’s Under-13 state team program and who competed at the Canberra National Junior Championships. The squad’s program is full time, where a combination of training and competition in a southern male league will contribute to the group’s preparation for the scheduled September National Championships in Coffs Harbour, NSW.
Let's see what happens in Coffs Harbour. But of course by then it will be too late for the current crop of ACT youngsters.
It does seem very much like the big PL clubs have got their way in getting rid of the highly successful Academy playing squads (latest product off to Watford I see) - hopefully this is not a sign of things to come with teh new TD - he must put the players before the clubs or he will be chasing the game forever.
This idea that HPP squads are better for players than Clubs is rubbish. They can work together. A weak league produces weak players. Here's my prediction, those Tasmanian teams will do quite well in the National Champs, because they've been training as a team for ages. But take those players out of that particular team and they will not make the cut alongside players that have been playing in proper Club systems.
ReplyDeleteNot sure what proper club systems. The only leagues of any note in this country at youth level are NSW, Victoria and maybe Qld. The ACT league levels are already abysmally weak once you go past the top 3 or 4 clubs. The majority of the best players in a particular age group are at 3 or 4 clubs (in some age groups 1 or 2) or are playing up 1 or 2 age groups at those same clubs - so those players will get to play 3 decent games a year at club level if they are lucky. They will also not have the coaching that they need at clubland (maybe that will happen one day but I doubt it in a volunteeer world, but it's a long way off if it ever does happen), and they will probably not perfoprm to the best of theior ability at Nationals. So what have we achieved - nothing for the clubs except the top 2 or 3 or 4, and nothing for those players going to Nationals.
ReplyDeleteDISCUSSION TOPIC 1 from the HPP Review - Question "Is it appropriate for CF HPP teams to play in older age groups in club competition for points?"
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The number of players who progressed from this approach to gain ACTAS scholarships, AIS scholarships and places in the Joeys U/17 national team was greater than at any time before or since.
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Is that not something, amongst many other things, that we want from our system?
You guys know better than the bloke who had a huge hand in producing the class of 2006 while working at the AIS when it comes to player development?
ReplyDeletePoor form CF! Next time don't consult Ron Smith, get these guys instead!
If you take the most talented 15 players out of the clubs, then play them an age group up (remembering that the best 15 from that age group are in their own elite squad playing somewhere else) how many decent games do they get? None.
ReplyDelete100% right Gordo, I'm gald someone understands!
ReplyDeleteGiven that the Academy playing squads had by far the ACT's best ever results in terms of players making Australian and AIS squads and teams regularly making the top 4 at national championships I would say that they must have got more than enough decent games.
ReplyDeleteHear hear - that was the point of the previous blog I think. Why does ACTAS have playing squads? If it's a good idea when the boys and girls are 15 why isn't it a good idea when they are 13 and 14? I'm really at a loss to explain the U-turn on this issue over the past few years. Not to mention that other states seem to be going in exactly that direction.
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