Capital Football Strategic Planning - "Things Off The Field" - The Way Ahead For Football - But Which Way?

Sourced from the SBS World Game.

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 28 June 2011 at 7:00PM.

You recall that last week we listened to Part 1 – "things happening on the field" (technical, curriculum, national team development and coach education. All important subjects that people here in the ACT region would have something to say about, something that would be of vital importance to Capital Football, if we had a "fans form" of our own, if we had a peak body that had all aspects of communication and consultation with its constituency working well.


In tonights program we look at the other group of football issues that guide and inform us all - "the things happening off the field" (organisational structure, communication, governance, the power of the football fan and participation base in relation to growth and financial well being of the game across the nation.

This is of vital importance to us here in the ACT region, as the Capital Football Board begins its strategic planning process, in order to set the direction and priorities for several years ahead - Things on the field and things off the field - nice way to think  about it.

The fans forum we listen to in this program (things off the field) is based at the A League / national level, but if you take the issue and scale it down to the ACT region, it lights up like a beacon! This is an excellent way to consider the state of our game and where it might be heading – off the field and on the field issues. As the Capital Football must dovetail with the FFA Strategic Plan, its vitally important to consider how we will craft a plan that fits with the FFA, when there is no A League presence in the ACT.
This is exactly the sort of analysis that recommends itself as a guide to the Capital Football strategic planning process. If ever a process cried out for broad community engagement this is the one – it sets the tone for everything that follows for all of us in football and futsal in the ACT region. If our strategic planning process is broadly consultative and given time for all interested parties to engage, it could be the model – the exemplar for how things will be done between Capital Football and Clubs going forward. What we have now is not good enough for many reasons.

It must be tempting for some at Capital Football to simply regurgitate chucks of the old strategic plan, in the mistaken belief that all is well and will be again, so do what we done before. That would be a serious error of judgement.

The President of Capital Football, Rachel Harrigan has advised the NPL that consultation will widen to include Clubs and one hopes that before the Boards thoughts are set in concrete, the President opens the process out to the Football Community in general – an "ACT Football Fans Forum" to assist the Strategic planning process – an absolute must. We could begin by putting a detailed schedule of activities and regular progress reports to the community on the CF website.
Next week we will broadcast an interview the NPL conducted with the new President of Capital Football.
I recommend this program – the SBS World Game has set the standard! We should follow in the same fashion.

Download the Podcast here:

A Referee's Job Is Never Done!

Sourced from http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cockup-as-ref-tells-player-to-pierce-off-20110623-1gg7t.html

Thanks for this Alan! Ouch! Not sure how to classify this one. I guess if you stand around the Football fields long enough you see it all. Makes the checking by refs for the right coloured undergarments a bit tame. I wander how this got written up for the discipline hearing and do we have a mandatory sentence for this offence. Brining the game into... well what?

Cock-up as ref tells player to pierce off !

It's a refereeing call that has been branded one giant cock-up.
A player from a Melbourne team was left furious at the weekend when he was forced to sit out a game for having a genital piercing.
Advertisement: Story continues below Aaron Eccleston, who plays for the Old Hill Wanderers reserves in Oakleigh, had jumped up to challenge for a ball, however he mistimed his leap and was hit squarely in the privates.

Eccleston pulled down his pants to "check that it was still there", according to the opposition Swinburne Reserves, when the referee spotted his genital piercing.
Video taken from the sideline, and posted online, shows Eccleston being marched from the field by the referee into the change rooms as the watching crowd chuckles.

The pair then re-emerge before the referee shows Eccleston a red card.
Yang Wu, the president of Swinburne University Soccer Club, said the opposition was angered by the decision.
"We're the opposition team so if their player is sent off it's an advantage for us. We were like, well, you know, it happens," Mr Wu said.
"He pulled his own pants down.
"The player had jumped up for a ball and didn't time it well and it hit him square on that part. So I think he was in shock, he pulled his pants down to check that it was all there. And I think the ref just saw it from there."
Despite the setback, it did not appear to affect the Old Hill Wanderers' performance, with them romping home for a 3-0 win.

"We were beaten quite comprehensively," Mr Wu said.

The soccer club's website reportedly documented the win under the headline: "Old Hill Reserves Triumph despite Cock Up". However that headline had been amended today to read "Old Hill Reserves Triumph despite Red Card".
The Old Hill Wanderers have been contacted for comment.
The controversial decision comes after another incident last month when an umpire ordered an Australian Rules footballer from the field because his mohawk was considered too dangerous.
Simpson Tigers midfielder Nathan Van Someren was sent off during the third quarter of a weekend match against Otway Districts "because his hair was too dangerous" and might have poked another player in the eye, Tigers co-coach Leigh Walsh said.
The decision came as a shock to the 25-year-old who had played with the hairstyle for three years, and had played during the first and second quarters of the match.

When Is The Premier League The Premier League In The ACT???

Have you read the article in the Canberra Times today (22 June 2011 - Sport Section Page 22)? You should. Its a good piece of Football journalism and its about about our local game.

The title of the article is "Woden questions need to put back game against FC". The involvement by Capital Football is the key ingredient in this story.

The situation is simple - Canberra FC made application to make a tour to participate in an overseas tournament in Croatia during the PL season (they are there now). Capital Football said yes and further to that, rescheduled the PL game they would miss while on tour. It could have been two games and two Clubs affected, but one game is a bye for CFC. Importantly, the other Club affected, WVFC was not consulted by Capital Football during the decision making process, they were simply told of the outcome. The WVFC position was not known to the decision maker(s) at Capital Football, because they either forgot to ask them or felt it was not necessary to consult the other PL Club affected by the CFC application (in the context of the PL competition draw). What Premier League Club would be happy with the sitaution WVFC found itself in?

What follows from Capital Football's handling of this situation is not so simple or pleasing for Premier League Clubs.

Has anyone breached any competition or other related rules or regulations for the Premier League? Doesn't seem like it and WVFC aren't saying Canberra FC or Capital Football has done so.

At the heart of this issue is how well the matter was handled by Capital Football. Is this the right way for Capital Football to be doing business between Capital Football and Clubs on very important matters? Obviously Woden Valley FC don't think it is appropriate and I very much doubt other Premier League Club Presidents would have much sympathy with Capital Football's handling of the matter. It could be them next time.

Has Canberra FC done anything wrong - No! They asked and Capital Football gave them everything they wanted. Both WVFC and CFC maintain a good working relationship.

Nothing could illustrate more plainly than this matter, just how poor the communication / consultation can become between Capital Football and Clubs (in this case a Premier League Club) and just how much work needs to be done by Capital Football to come to grips with all aspects of the most senior level of Football in the ACT region - Premier League Football - Men's and Women's.

Some Junior Clubs have similiar concerns for the state of communication with Capital Football. Not for nothing did those who successfully sort election to the Capital Football Board make it clear that communication with the Club was a top priority. It was good to hear. The CEO made some similiar utterances and the Captial Football staff were all present and correct! So who is not getting the message?

The response by the CEO Capital Football in the Canberra Times (see article below) is very disappointing and unlikely to either convince or satisfy anyone who cares to examine this matter closely and asks one simple question - "When is the Premier League the Premier League in the ACT?" Or as one one colleague in Football preferred "How hard would it be to consult and communicate in advance with the other Club affected by any decision by Capital Football?" My response to that was - "only if you don't want have to deal with the response."

This could have been handled so much better and should have been. How hard would it have been to extend Woden Valley FC the ordinary courtesies? Too hard it seems and yet, the CEO seems inclined to go on the front foot in the Canberra Times and attempt to make WVFC seem unreasonable. How do you build communication, trust and co-operation on that basis? I can see the WVFC Womens officials nodding their agreement with the WVFC Mens PL Co-ordinator and then shaking their heads, wondering when this will stop.

But I digress! This matter (subject of the CT article) involves two good Mens Premier League Football Clubs. There is no difficulty between the Clubs - lets be clear on that score and any suggestion to the contrary should be treated with caution and suspicion on this matter.

As is often the case, there are unintended consequences arising from lack of consultation.

Here is another one that that has arisen in WVFC discussions from the original action by Capital Football. When the PL16, PL18 and PPL games are played this weekend between the two Clubs, it will be interesting to see if those CFC PL players who are not on tour (and there are several), will play in the PPL. Now that would raise further concerns for WVFC (and other clubs when they contemplate the situation). Would it be fair for CFC to use these players in the PPL game if they are eligible to play (competition rules prevail here)? Perhaps there has been discussion between CFC and Capital Football on this issue arising, but as there was no consultation between Capital Football and WVFC before a final decision was made on the tour approval and scheduled PL game, WVFC was unable to address this possibility of this additional  matter. One wonders whether this even crossed the Capital Football CEO's mind at the time. Difficult to do so now between the Clubs. Its a delicate matter. I guess we find out on Sunday.

One thing must be said - the Premier League draw must be viewed as something of high importance, not something you make sweeping changes to without careful consultation, an underpinning document that is generally set in cement and only altered if there is no detriment to any Club. Once the season is under way, Clubs train, compete, meet obligations to sponsors, make their plans, generate income and develop their competitiveness on the basis of that draw. That's why proposed changes to a PL draw anywhere in the world are met with careful discussion between ALL the parties. That's the way it should be in the Capital Football Premier League. But it seems it is not! Why?

The CEO Capital Football would probably argue that any changes to the PL draw is an "operational" matter and that the competition rules provide for the Mens League Manager / CEO make the decisions. That may well be the problem. Seems to be in this case - but only if you think it appropriate for Capital Football to have consulted with both Clubs. I do and I should think every other PL Club would feel the same way - and on this point alone, the CEO's defence of this discourtesy to WVFC, is absolutely skewered! This was so avoidable.

Then you ask yourself - where does the Mens Standing Advisory Committee fit into this picture? If they don't they should. A matter of this signifcance should have been referred to the MSAC, it is within their remit. Do the Regional Representatives (South) fit into the picture and having read the CT article I would hope they have contacted WVFC to render assistance and that WVFC ask that this matter be referred to .... who? Yes, a problem there I think! The Mens League Manager or the CEO? Hmmm by the CEO's response that doesn't seem like a good idea. So, as the Regional reps sit on the CF Board, perhaps its time to have the matter elevated to the next Board meeting. I can just imagine how that will cause the emails and mobile phones to buzz in an effort to see it doesn't happen. And maybe that's also part of the communication problem between Capital Football and Clubs.

None of this noise should prevent WVFC from doing what they can to see that future matters are dealt with in a more open and collaborative and consultative manner.

A NPL follower called to remind the NPL that there was a recent difficulty between WVFC Womens PL concerning a proposed later start time in a recent game with ANU. The reason given for the request by WVFC was that it would give time for ACTAS players who had the ACTAS coach's approval to play a whole or part of the PL game with WVFC to make it to the game (they were coming back from Goulburn). And heaven knows, WVFC has taken a lot of stick from Capital Football over the availability of their ACTAS players. The request was denied and WVFC Womens felt they had probably been unfairly handled on the matter (again), a matter that seemed the very epitome of "operation" decision making. As it turned out, it seems ANU would have been advantaged by a later start that day as they had players arriving after the scheduled game start time. Now its worth remembering that the structure inside the Capital Football organisation ensure that Mens and Womens Premier League Football is managed by different staff. Makes you wonder!

But back to the substance of the CT article in todays edition. What was the decision making process that underpinned the decision to postpone the WVFC v CFC PL game? Was it made by the League Manager in conjunction with the CEO? Was the matter elevated to the Mens Standing Committee (the place the competition draw was settled) and if so, who in that committee considered the matter (and how did they meet, was it a telephone call from a CF staffer or CEO), and if not, why not? Did the matter get elevated to the Captial Football Board or was this considered to be a low level "operational matter". Well, if it was the latter, and it seems that is exactly how it was done - I suspect it will not be in the future and nor should it be. Important decisions need to be visible, defendable and auditable - not simply "advised" after the decision is made.

So many questions and a number of them seem to touch on that important distinction between governance and operational matters. Lets have a full and forensic accounting of this one. It further illuminates another compelling issue in front of Capital Football Board - is the Capital Football operational structure now appropriate to the business? I would suggest not and it would seem that thought is shared by others with whom I have been in conversation at Capital Football and in some Clubs. The absence of an operational entity to deal exclusively with the Mens and Womens Premier League (jointly) is a case in point. Its holding the back the development of the Premier League.

How quickly this escalates once you start to think about it and how it affects your Club.

The spotlight now seems to be set squarely on Capital Football and the comments in the article in the Canberra Times, attributed to the CEO Capital Football have ensured that this is one matter than will escalate - but not between the two Clubs.

Just unbelievable, a really poor example of sports administration.

Appeals to the correct application of the rules, risk setting aside the need to contemplate what is best going forward for the integrity of the Premier League.  If you like - the difference between the "letter" and the "spirit" of these rules. This was one matter that was never going to be decided on a simple application of rules as they exist and most definitely not without both Clubs affected by the matter, being consulted in advance of the decision by Capital Football. How did they miss that one?

And then there is the very unfortunate reference in the CT article by the CEO Capital Football to approval given to Junior Football Club teams to tour overseas during the playing season (specifically WVSC). Unbelievable!  Junior Football is all about "DEVELOPMENT" , it is not Premier League Football and indeed, the Club(s) concerned do not send PL16 or PL18 teams overseas during the season. There is one exception in the past - the ACTAS mens teams (U14- U16 players) which plays in our Premier League at an appropriate level and it is a tour which is also for developmental purposes and everyone understands that requirement. It was wrong of the CEO Capital Football to throw this at WVFC and an apology to both WVSC and WVFC would bean appropriate course of action.

You do not judge Junior Football by the same standards (in relation to this and technical matters) as you do the Premier League. The entire National Football Curriculum and Development Plans makes this abundantly clear. How could any Capital Football representative seem to fail comprehend this important distinction, much less appear to use it as justification for a decision in the Premier League situation described in the Canberra Times article? Makes no sense at all and indeed, only inflames an already unsatisfactory situation. Its unlikely to be forgotten in a hurry.

The WVFC PL Co-ordinator, a hard working, respected, fair dealing and very experienced Club official quoted in the CT article, has been told that he should expect a call from Capital Football. I hope it is to apologise, because there is not much point in ringing him or anyone else in WVFC to tell them WVFC has got it wrong.

Will Woden Valley FC make representations to the Capital Football Board to ensure this situation is not handled in this fashion again in the Premier League? I hope so. If they did, it would be a good service to the conduct of game in the ACT.

Will this situation attract the President of Capital Football and the Board members, including the Regional Representatives? It should and as a matter of urgency.

So just in case you haven't a copy to hand, here is the article from the Canberra Times:

Woden questions need to put back game against FC



BY DAVID POLKINGHORNE, SOCCER
22 Jun, 2011 08:20 AM


Woden Valley has questioned the appropriateness of Capital Football's decision to reschedule this weekend's men's premier league clash with all-conquering Canberra FC.
Canberra FC flew out on Monday to play in the Croatian World Club Championship and will return in 2 weeks.
The championships are held every four years and FC was runner-up at the 2007 tournament, losing 2-1 in the final to Canadian club CNSC Toronto Croatia.
While away, Canberra was only scheduled to play Woden, the game pushed back to a mid-week clash on August3.
Woden premier league manager Mike Swan said FC had the depth to cover the absence and the fixture should have gone ahead as planned.
Not all of the senior squad has gone to Croatia, with Adam Spaleta arguably the best player in the competition and John Glass both unable to make the trip.
Swan believed a team could have been built around those two with the addition of reserve-grade players.
''Canberra FC is such a strong club ... that they could field a very competitive first-grade side,'' he said.
''...They might lose, well they might have to put up with what every other club puts up with every week at their hands.''
He said the rescheduling put Woden in a difficult position.
Capital Football chief executive officer Heather Reid said Woden Valley had agreed to the rescheduling.
''It's not like half a dozen of their players were out to attend a wedding, or they're all heading down the coast,'' she said.
''This is quite a legitimate reason and Canberra FC will be representing the national capital at that tournament so we would do what we could to assist.''
But Swan said the club was ''told'' about the change via email rather than asked.
Reid also pointed out that Woden Valley was sending an under-14 girls team to Europe to play in tournaments in Sweden and Denmark in July and had also been allowed to reschedule games.
The Woden Valley senior and junior clubs are separate entities and Swan said there was a distinct difference between junior soccer and the premier league.
''This is first-grade football we're dealing with here, it's not kids football,'' he said. ''... I don't think it would happen in the other [football] codes and I question whether it should happen here.''
Swan said Woden had no issues with Canberra FC, which had been extremely helpful in the rescheduling.
FC coach Rob Graham, who also couldn't make the trip, said it was a great opportunity for his team to play against some quality sides.
''They're going across to play a very high standard of football ... as a coach you should be encouraging your teams to be playing in the highest standard they can,'' Graham said.

A Good Small Sided Game - End Zone Game

Sourced from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gR90Xc6k2-I&feature=mr_meh&list=UL9xMMkZADsmU&index=22&playnext=0

This is a terrific little game that enables the coach to get to a lot of teaching points. Listen to this coach. There are a lot of variations / progressions to this game, but this is good one for a junior coach who has a few players missing, or just enough to rotate one of the teams. Then turn it into a competition - kids love it - so do the older players.Give it a go.

Playing Out From The Back - A Challenge To Coach and Play - But So Good!

Sourced from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liTLmoCDx-w

This short example features the Under 16 Boca Juniors in training.

Looks like we are not the only place that has problems growing grass!

Coerver Coaching - A Proven World Class Technical Solution to Young Player Skills Acquisition

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio network, Tuesday, 14 June 2011 at 7:00PM.

Tonights program is given to an interview with the Vice President, Asia Pacific Director, Coerver Coaching Asia Pacific, Jason Lancsar.

Jason Lancsar and Holger Osieck, Socceroos' coach at the Johnny Warren Football Foundation function in Sydney

In other programs we have spoken at length to that doyen of Football technical coaches and co-founder of Coerver, Alfred Galustian. Our interviews with Alfred have been rich in content and Alfred has shown a lot of interest in Australia and also works with the FFA in a consulting capacity.

Coerver Co-Founder Alfred Galustian 

This interview with Jason Lancsar focuses a little more on the local football scene, through the eyes of a Coerver principal who operates in the most critical area of player development – the acquisition of football skills among young players. The Coerver program is underpinned by a world wide, top quality curriculum, a curriculum that dovetails neatly into the FFA’s National Curriculum. The boys and girls that participate in the various programs get a technical football education that is very difficult, if not near impossible to get elsewhere. It sets the young players up for football for the rest of their playing lives.

Alfred Galustian conducting coach education for the FFA skills aquistion program

Then there is the quality of the Coerver coaches – they are top notch. Their business depends on it. Coaches are the natural leadership group in football and the Coerver coaches set high standards. This is a great comfort to parents.

The thing that I like about Coerver is that it is not elitist, they serve all young players who wish to play the beautiful game – to quote Jason :

“Its an elite program, delivered by elite coaches, for young players of all abilities.”

I think you will find this interview very informative.

Download Podcast here:  

In Praise of Futsal

Sourced from www.footy4kids.co.uk/

A soccer coaching article by Steve Sawtelle

"In a 40 minute Futsal match, a field player on a team using a dynamic system of play...will touch the ball once every 29.5 seconds . . . that's just over 80 possessions per player per match, if the player plays the entire match. This compares to only 30 to 40 possessions per player in a full 90 minute outdoor soccer match."

My goal in writing this article is to share some of the benefits my team and others have gained by adding futsal to our regular winter soccer program.
Futsal has been such an effective development tool that we have replaced the conventional US walled indoor soccer game with it this winter. Our soccer week follows a pattern of one formal skill session on Tuesday using the futsal format, outdoor pick-up games on Saturday, and organized league play in futsal on Sunday. We are not using the walled indoor soccer game to train players at all this winter. The cost of court time and available space makes this prohibitive. I believe that when given a choice for player development, futsal does it better and more economically.

Because of futsal's smaller pitch, touches and shots per minute are also increased. Possession and shots in futsal are more frequent. This playing time differential sells the game to kids.


One of the powerful attributes of this game is its accessibility. Any basketball gym will work. Any open warehouse space will do. You can even play futsal on grass or concrete!

Bottom line? Futsal is a great training tool for developing soccer players.

It is also a very fun and safe game to play and an excellent alternative to traditional 5 a side indoor soccer.
Futsal may be new to some coaches, so I'll describe it briefly here. This is a court soccer game. Its origins are credited to Uruguay some 30 years ago. This game is common in certain areas of Brazil where the shortage of open space encourages short-sided court games and beach soccer. Because of it's availability and small-sided format, Futsal has impacted on the early development of some of Brazil's finest football (soccer) players. It is also played in parts of Europe, the Middle East, and Asia and is the indoor game favoured by FIFA and the English FA.


Quick definition: the name 'Futsal' simply combines the Spanish words for ‘Hall’ – Sala and ‘Football’ – Futbol into Futsal. It is a five-a-side game, played with hockey sized goals and a smaller ball with a reduced bounce.


Futsal is played with a goalkeeper and four field players. The character of this game is outdoor soccer played indoors. It is played in soccer's fundamental shape, which the 4 vs. 4 format is so good at presenting. The futsal ball is smaller and heavier than the outdoor soccer ball and has dampened bounce. Players, U12 and under, play with a ball about the size of a No. 3 outdoor ball. U13 players and above, play with a ball approximating a No.4 outdoor ball. Since the court surface is usually fast and the space small, these modified balls scale the game to the size of the court remarkably well. The smaller circumference makes precision touch and the sweet spot on the ball more challenging to hit.


The rules of the game are similar to the outdoor game with some friendly modifications that fit the game to the smaller space. Throw-ins are replaced by kick-ins and the goal kick is replaced by a goal clearance. The goal clearance is a restart by the keeper using his hands to put the ball back in play with restrictions similar to those of the outdoor soccer goal kick. Substitutions are made on the fly, including the keeper. Most importantly, the game is played with touchlines and goal lines, with all the consequences that go with them. Simply put, a bad play with the ball may result in the ball leaving the field of play with the resulting loss of possession being the consequence. This game also emphasizes skill and control. Rough play is discouraged. Shoulder charges and slide tackles are forbidden. Fouls are tracked and teams penalized for playing too roughly. As in basketball, a sanction is placed on a team after 5 fouls have been assessed in each half. In futsal, this sanction takes the form of a revised free kick process. Only the goalkeeper may defend the goal during the taking of the kick. The offending team loses the privilege of their wall and the ball is spotted on the second penalty spot 10 meters from the goal. As you can see, this is a strong deterrent to rough play. I have rarely seen a game get to this point with young players. For more details about the rules, go to Futsal rules, OK?.

Futsal is great for young players. It provides numerous ball touches in a short period of time and it presents many of the fundamental tactical patterns of the big soccer game. The game contains many of the challenges faced in the final third of the field and provides repeated opportunities to finish. As a requirement of all teaching, futsal provides repetition and recognizable consequence for poor execution. Conversely, it also reinforces good play with tangible results, mostly shots and goals.

In most coach's training sessions, the 4 vs. 4 format is often used. Its effectiveness in teaching players both skill and tactics is widely recognized. The 4 vs. 4 game can present all the primary combination plays. It emphasizes both offensive and defensive support, but most importantly - immediate transition. Futsal can be a brutally honest game. It will isolate and expose your team's deficiencies. It will also showcase your teams strengths. The game is fast and numerous finishing opportunities are offered when played well. Technical and tactical speeds are emphasized. A bad touch or a slow recovery will almost always result with a loss of possession. Quite frequently the lesson is driven home with a goal scored by the opposition. These lessons learned hard are not easily forgotten. The satisfying thing about this game is that these lessons are quickly learned and that players readily adjust themselves to the game's demands.

Coaching clinicians have often stressed that the game is the best teacher. By putting players in learning situations, the results of the decisions and their technical execution will educate them with a minimum of coaching involvement. In futsal, you can see this happen.


When teaching young players, I think some coaches struggle with getting effective player movement off the ball. Players tend to feel that their work is done after they deliver the ball to a teammate or when a shot is taken. In this game, supporting movements and management of space are keys to success. Slow transition and lazy supporting play will result in turnovers and goals to the opposition. This game requires strong play in these areas.

If not shored up, the score can get ugly. Team success requires good spatial management, patience, and poise. Goalkeepers must be more than an obstacle standing in front of the goal, they must also play in the field and support the attack. A good futsal goalkeeper plays is a sweeper and a goalkeeper. Because of the speed of the game, communication and anticipation are necessary and are usually rewarded with ball possession and finishing opportunities. Finishing opportunities generate enthusiasm and reinforce quality decisions and execution. This is a position-less game (excluding the goalkeepers). Players must continually rotate between defensive positions in the back and attacking runs to the front. Players must organize themselves to maintain both defensive and attacking shape.


I think futsal's advantage over 5 a side is that it naturally teaches good habits. My experience with 5 a side is that it doesn't punish bad play or bad decisions. In some cases, a bad decision can turn into an assist with a lucky carom off the wall. Since the ball is kept in play by the boards, players don't have a consequence for a misplayed ball or for bad tactics. A player in trouble can be redeemed with a kick off the wall that sometimes results in an accidental assist or an opportunity to maintain possession. I have watched my young player's movement and work rate diminish steadily over a 9-week season in walled soccer. Sometimes the game declines into a long kick and chase game where possession and control lose importance. Futsal demands play to feet or to playable space. Players learn good possession habits, how to make space, and how to attack space.

Futsal's most powerful selling point to players is that they get more playing time, more touches on the ball and shots on goal.

FFA Technical Director Talks About Coach Education and Les Murray Talks About His Work On the FIFA Ethics Committee

Sourced from the SBS World Game


This program contains two interviews sourced from that fantastic SBS Football program – The World Game. If you haven’t already done so, watch it on SBS 2 on Monday nights, or record it and watch it at a more convenient time, bookmark the website on your computer of mobile phone browser – but make sure you follow this program – it does a wonderful to the Australian game and the major leagues around the world. The SBS World Game – a must for Football tragics.
Tonight we cover two topics that have impact on our local football scene:

- The first is an interview with Han Berger concerning the progress of coach education since the launching of the FFA’s National Football Curriculum and Development plans and in particular, the recent Pro C licence, specifically aimed at those Australians that wish to make a career in professional football coaching and very specifically, our A League coaches. Coaches at all levels of the game are the collective leadership group in the game, they set the standard in every respect and are the means by which the National Curriculum is given life and our game in Australia develops. Simple as that! But note the timeframe that Berger has in mind before a sustainable change through good coaching is achieved. This is a long term job! For myself, the national curriculum is essential, but nothing is more critical than the development of our coaches at every level of game, not just the top level. That may well be Han Berger’s lasting legacy to Australian football and if so, it’s a very good one.

- Then its on to listen to that doyen of Australian Football – Les Murray – Mr Football. Murray has been a member of the FIFA Ethics committee for several years and you would be hard pressed to find a better, more principled and more informed representative from Australia or anywhere else in the world game to FIFA. Now, FIFA have been and are still in some serious trouble at the moment with allegations of corrupt conduct by senior FIFA officials. This most recent catastrophe for Football, follows that very dubious decision by FIFA to award a World Cup to Qatar. FIFA is one the nose and that is bad news for the game. Murray’s interview concerns his obligations through the FIFA Ethics committee , what he can say about what has happened in the last couple of weeks and what is likely to happen in the weeks ahead. Les Murray sets a standard for football officials and we need more of his type leading our game. This is a very informative interview.

What’s the take away for us here in the ACT (aside for concern for the game going forward in the big picture context)?

It is this – our governing body here in the ACT, Capital Football, has in recent years been free of the sort of criticism that we see directed toward FIFA and that’s to the credit of those on the Board over time who have made it so. Football has had a turbulent history in Australia off the field.

However, Capital Football has not been good at communication with Clubs and the wider constituency, a fact acknowledged explicitly at the recent Annual General Meeting. At our level of the game, communication and consultation with the football community on a regular and productive basis is absolutely essential. It guarantees that there are no perceived hidden corners in decision making and it opens up all the expertise and knowledge available to the game in our community.
Importantly, our game is built on volunteers and a constant endeavour is required by the Capital Football to pursue and support volunteerism in football. That’s hard work at Club level – all the time. People do it for the love of the game and/or because they obliged to contribute a community service to the Club that assists their child/ children play the game. You seldom get much thanks for all the work done in a Club. If Clubs feel left out of the decision making process, or kept at an administrative arms length by bureaucratic structures imposed on them, or aggrieved by lack of consultation or co-operation, or feel they lack support or understanding on key issues, or indeed, feel that issues they have raised have not resolved fairly, we have a much bigger problem locally in the game than FIFA has on its plate on the other side of the world.
The challenge for the Capital Football Board was most eloquently put by those that sort election to the Board and the Regional Representatives that spoke at the AGM. Nothing should be allowed to get in the way of their intentions!

Download Podcast here:

Barcelona: passing statistics

Sourced from http://www.zonalmarking.net/2010/03/31/arsenal-2-2-barcelona-passing-statistics/

This data is taken from games between these teams and Barcelona in 2010. Says it all!

Barca v Arsenal
Barca won 3:1
 We were told constantly before the game that Arsenal against Barcelona was a clash of two sides who play football ‘the right way’ – short, quick passes from excellent technical players comfortable in possession. And that proved to be correct, although this graph shows a stark contrast between the sides.

Xavi’s dominance on the field of play transfers to an incredible dominance on this graph, with Sergio Busquets not far behind. The fact that Barcelona have the top 8 players in this graph rather sums up the way the game went.

Barca v Inter

Barca won 1:0

Even taking into account the fact that it’s Barcelona we’re dealing with, these passing statistics really are quite incredible.

Only the two players who didn’t complete the game – Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Eric Abidal – break the pattern that every Barcelona player completed more passes than every Inter player.

The graph again shows the incredible influence Xavi has on games, and it’s getting to the point where it would be a huge shock if he played in a game and didn’t complete by far and away the most number of passes.

Coaching styles: which is the best one for you?

Sourced from http://www.footy4kids.co.uk/

"I think parenting and coaching/teaching are the same thing. And they are the two most important professions in the world." – John Wooden

John Wooden was the most successful college basketball's coach in the game's history. During his tenure at UCLA, his team won seven consecutive national titles, winning 88 games in a row in the process.[1]
Wooden was a great coach and a spiritual man. He was quiet during games, placed great emphasis on treating his players with respect and was more like a father figure than a coach to many of them.

He said there are four laws of learning: explanation, demonstration, imitation and repetition, and his overall coaching objective was one that any youth soccer coach could usefully adopt: to create correct habits that can be produced instinctively under pressure.[2]

Clearly, there is much to admire about John Wooden's coaching philosophy and his approach to life in general.
But it's not just famous professional coaches who have a distinctive coaching style. We all have one – whether we realise it or not – and your coaching style will have a big impact on how successful you're going to be.
There is no one best style; the one you choose will be determined by your experience, the age of your players and the particular situation you find yourself in during training sessions.

Soccer coaching styles

The four main youth soccer coaching styles are:

1. Tell

This style of coaching could best be described as "old school".
The "tell" coach makes all the decisions and doesn't allow his players any involvement in decision making. His players are told what to do and how to do it.

2. Sell

A "sell" coach decides what his players need to do in much the same way as a "tell" coach.
However, unlike a "tell" coach, he will explain his decisions, attempt to persuade his players that it is in their best interests to do what he says and he'll also encourage questions.

3. Share

This coaching style is more of a "this is the problem, what shall we do about it?" style than the previous two, although the coach will still make the final decision based on the feedback from his players.

4. Allow

This is the most open style of coaching.
An "allow" coach talks about how the team plays and asks his players what they think they could do better.
He is open to suggestions and usually allows his players to make their own decisions regarding what to do at training sessions.[3]

Which is the right style?

There is no one best way to coach – each style of coaching has advantages and disadvantages.
Some coaches are comfortable with the "telling" style of coaching, for example, as it allows them to plan, set the pace and control their coaching sessions.
"Telling" may also be the only way to manage a large group or if it is important that your players act immediately without thinking, i.e. in an emergency.
However, "telling" is not a motivating style of coaching. In fact, it could easily demotivate young soccer players who like to take an active part in their learning.
At the other end of the spectrum, adopting an "allow" style of coaching can build a team that has strong, intelligent players but it could also result in disorganised and chaotic coaching sessions.

How do I decide which style is best for me?

Your choice of style will depend to a certain extent on your experience and ability to coach. It will also be influenced by the age of your players and their maturity.
Less experienced coaches might feel more comfortable telling their players what to do or trying to sell their opinions but they are ignoring the fact that coaches don't have all the answers.
More experienced coaches are more likely to be able to make a success of the "sharing" or "allow" styles but it would be a mistake to adopt either of these styles with very young players who lack the emotional maturity to analyse their own ability.

With U4s to U6s, for example, "telling" – providing you don't do it in a military fashion – is probably an appropriate style whereas older, more mature players – say from U12s upwards – are likely to respond well to sharing or allowing.

Whichever style you adopt – and there's nothing wrong with adopting a range of styles during the course of a single coaching session – the important thing is to reflect on the way you coach your players and if you are coaching them in a style that meets their needs.


References
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wooden
[2] J Wooden, They Call Me Coach, quoted in the Boston Globe, June 5 2010.
[3] P Crisfield et al, The Successful Coach: Guidelines for Coaching Practice, The National Coaching Foundation, 1996, pp.43/44

The Blatt Is Back - Sepp Blatter allies dismiss Fifa corruption charges as 'English lies'

Sourced from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/jun/01/sepp-blatter-fifa-president-reforms?intcmp=239

There was always another for this story and there may well be a few more the way things are going.

This one could easily have been titled "The Blat is Back"! Bit unsteady, hair ruffled, arse out of his pants and one shoe missing - but the Blat is Back! The age of the "family" is to hand. Worst possible outcome for Football.

The Blat continues with his delusionary commentary, comforted that he is re-elected unopposed as FIFA President. And unopposed is the key word. Where is the moral authority in that position?

After declaring that there was "Crisis. What is a crisis", The Blat has turned his attention to identifying the real source of his discomfort and with the assistance of some of the family, it seems its the English FA. Then this rapier like piece of analysis - water, weather, storms, pyramids and ships all combined to give him a serious pain in the posterior. Poor old bugger! Now its time for a good old "get square", Blatter style and straight from the the "Family". Even Henry Kissinger gets a mention - strewth! Groan again and again.

Anyone heard anything from the FFA? Suppose they sent a congratulations card - hope it was on recyled paper!

"I am the captain weathering the storm ... Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water. We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation"
Sepp Blatter, Fifa president

The English FA Predisent had this to say (and he got it absolutely right):

On the election

"The election has turned into a one-horse race. Only with a contested election will the winner have ... a proper, credible mandate"
David Bernstein, FA chairman, England


There are lessons in all this for our local football orgniastions - Capital Football and the FFA. Fail to communicate effectively with the Clubs, be less consultative or collaborative than is necessary to run a diverse constituencey and we risk making our own little "family", a famil that does not include or listen to all that inhabit Football. The primacy of healthy Football communities and the "wisdom of crowds" around decision making is at the heart of a community football orgainsation. The FIFA debacle holds lots of lesson for us. For example:
 
- Capital Football Board is presently undertaking the development of a "strategic plan" which will lay down the way ahead for the development of Football in our region for several years. Has your club been invited to attend or provided input to this process, do the Regional reps particpate in this process in a substantive way (if not why not?), will there be a public forum(s) conducted by the CF Board (not the CEO) to aid the process and test ideas and subsequently take views on a draft? Seen any timetable and schedule of activites on the CF website that might give you a clue? Is their a hotline / point of contact you can ring  ring, write to or email with submissions or points of view you would like considered in the Strategic Review process. Know who is facilitating the process? And so on.
- "Communication"- shine a light on the strategic planning process and do the hard work to get people and clubs engaged! If all the CF Board has is itself for advice, we will most likely get less than could have, had we looked more widely in our football community. Worst case - we kid ourselves that all is well and what we have done in the past is the answer for the future - you really are in trouble when you get to this position.
 
Have a read of this article - its a beauty.
 
Sepp Blatter allies dismiss Fifa corruption charges as 'English lies'FA's effort to delay vote sparks vitriolic attacks – but re-elected president promises reforms
 David Conn in Zurich guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 1 June 2011 21.18 BST
 
 
Sepp Blatter, re-elected president of Fifa, admitted its image had been damaged and proposed a strengthened ethics committee.
After a series of corruption scandals which have beset football's governing body in recent months, Fifa's re-elected president, Sepp Blatter, promised to implement reforms, while arguing repeatedly that the "family" must address its governance problems from within.
Blatter admitted that great damage has been done to the organisation's image during four tumultuous days in Zurich. But that did not stop him from being overwhelmingly re-elected for a fourth term, his challenger, the Qatari Mohamed bin Hammam, having been suspended for alleged bribery.
Blatter's principal proposal is to have a strengthened ethics committee which will govern conduct internally, its members elected by the national football associations whose conduct it will police.
Later, Fifa's president announced a "grand committee of corporate governance and compliance" and a "committee of solutions".
At his victory press conference, Blatter announced that a key member of the new internal structure to clean up the governance of Fifa will be the former US secretary of state, Henry Kissinger. His precise role is as yet unclear.
He also pledged that the World Cup host country will be decided by the associations, 208 in total, not just the 24-man executive committee, a widening of influence portrayed as lessening the risk of corruption in the bidding process.
Following his unopposed victory in the ballot of the 205 national associations present at Fifa's 61st annual congress, in Zurich's Hallenstadion arena, Blatter told the delegates: "Reforms will be made, radical decisions. We must do something because I do not want ever again the institution of Fifa to face a situation which is undignified. Football belongs to everyone and we are the ones in charge. We will have four years."

A recurring theme in all Blatter's statements is that football's world governing body must remain immune from government influence, and keep control of the Fifa football "family".

In Switzerland, Fifa, and other sports governing bodies, enjoy historic exemptions from tax and immunity from anti-corruption treaties. This protected status is currently subject to an investigation by the Swiss government, expected to take three years.
The English Football Association's place in the family might now be characterised as errant, grumpy uncle, after its chairman, David Bernstein, failed with his call for the uncontested election to be postponed.

Bernstein had explained his reasons against the backdrop of scandals which have led to 10 of Fifa's 24-man executive committee being accused, suspended or investigated for alleged corruption.

"We are subject to universal criticism from governments, sponsors, media and the wider public," Bernstein said. "A coronation without an opponent provides a flawed mandate. I ask for a postponement for an additional candidate or candidates to stand in an open and fair process."
The FA's secretary-general, Alex Horne, said later he had been taken aback at the vitriolic attacks on England and the English media by delegates supportive of Blatter, before the vote which overwhelmingly approved the election to go ahead.
A series of speakers, the presidents of football associations in Haiti, Congo, Benin, Fiji and Cyprus, lined up immediately afterwards to support Blatter and, in increasing degrees, suggest the corruption affairs were an invention of the English media.

"What a beautiful English word, allegations," said Costakis Koutsokoumnis, president of Cyprus's FA.
Those criticisms were followed by a broader assault on England itself by the Argentinian Julio Grondona, a senior Fifa vice-president and long-term Blatter ally. "We always have attacks from England," Grondona said, "mostly with lies, and the support of a journalism which is more busy lying than telling the truth. Please leave the Fifa family alone!"

Despite accepting repeatedly the need to reform Fifa's governance and procedures from within, Blatter nevertheless also suggested that the scandals besetting Fifa emerged due to English jealousy, after England was not awarded the 2018 World Cup.

"Where does all this evil come from?" he asked. "It has to do with the popularity of our competition, the World Cup, and everything around the vote. That kicked off a wave of accusations, allegations, criticism."
This widely expressed view – that the wave of scandals was an invention of the English media – came as a shock after days in which the Fifa president had pledged "zero tolerance" against corruption.
The first revelations of impropriety at Fifa's top table came before December's World Cup vote, when two members of the executive committee, Amos Adamu of Nigeria and Reynald Temarii of Tahiti, were suspended. They asked an undercover Sunday Times reporter for cash in return for World Cup votes – and were suspended by Fifa itself, which found the story true and their behaviour improper.
Subsequent allegations against four others – Nicolás Leoz of Paraguay, Jack Warner of Trinidad and Tobago, Worawi Makudi of Thailand and Ricardo Teixeira of Brazil – were levelled by the former FA chairman, Lord Triesman, not by the media. Fifa claimed this week that an FA report into those allegations, by James Dingemans QC, completely cleared all four men of any issues worthy of consideration by its ethics committee.

The most recent and damaging scandal, the alleged payment of $40,000 (£25,000) bribes by Bin Hammam and Warner to 25 Caribbean member associations in return for votes for Bin Hammam, was exposed by Fifa itself, not the media. Chuck Blazer, an executive committee member, turned whistleblower against the two men, and gathered the evidence against them.

At the end of a day of attacks on the English, Geoff Thompson, a former FA chairman for eight years who is stepping down from Fifa's executive committee after serving since 2007, was handed a pennant as a memento. Not even referring to the remarks about the English, Thompson thanked Fifa's delegates for their "friendship, support and loyalty".
In his victory speech, Blatter, who has been president for 13 years and now for another four, told the delegates: "I am deeply touched, honoured, I thank you. Something marvellous has happened today in this unity."
And the chief administrators of football, the world's most popular team sport, rose to give the head of their "family" a standing ovation.

What they said



"With the English [2018] bid I said: 'Let us be brief. If you give back the Falkland Islands, which belong to us, you will get my vote.' They then became sad and left ... We always have attacks from England which are mostly lies. This upsets and disturbs the Fifa family"
Julio Grondona, Fifa senior vice-president, Argentina
"The problem of some comments in the paper came from some people who may have lost in the World Cup elections. They associated us with crimes we have not committed, they insult, they attack our freedom. It's enough"
Angel María Villar Llona, Fifa executive committee member, Spain
"What a beautiful English word: allegations. Somebody stands up, says a few things in the press, then these things take ... a seed in our minds, without most of the time, a single shred of truth"
Costakis Koutsokoumnis, FA president, Cyprus
"I am the captain weathering the storm ... Not only is the pyramid shaking but our ship has drawn some water. We must do something because I do not want ever again that we face this undignified situation"
Sepp Blatter, Fifa president

"I'm ill at ease that this comes from a country like England with its football standing ... We must massively express our support to President Blatter. Please applaud"
Moucharafou Anjorin, FA president, Benin
On the election
"The election has turned into a one-horse race. Only with a contested election will the winner have ... a proper, credible mandate"
David Bernstein, FA chairman, England

FIFA President Sepp Blatter to football world: 'Crisis? What is a Crisis?'

Sourced from http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/may/30/fifa-president-sepp-blatter-crisis

FIFA is well and truly on the nose, just as the IOC was several years ago. The Football Federation of Australia wasted an enormous amount of Football funds pursuing an unwinnable quest - the right to hold the World Cup. A deep well of petro dollars courtesy of Qatar dwarfed our efforts - it must be true because FIFA's secretary general, Jérôme Valcke said so. The consultant / facilitator/ fixer or whatever he is called, who was employed by FFA to smooth the way ahead made it abundantly clear that unless the FFA did as others do we would not be successful and he was right. We played the game by the rules, well our rules and very commendable it was, but it only raise one question - Why did we get involved and waste a lot on money that was desperately needed to develop the game here in Australia. Talk about stupid!


Just how rotten is FIFA? Mr Blatter insists that we should not worry, its all under control and if it is wrong it will be fixed inside the "FIFA family". Sounds like something out of an episode of the Godfathers. Like leaving the rabbits in charge of the lettuce. Just unbelievable!


Mr Blatter has side stepped accusations against himself to enable him to sit for re-election as President of FIFA, which is itself a bit of a farce, as he is the only candidate, while his major competition is about to  be examined by the "family". Groan.


Does our FFA have anything that approximates a voice in this matter?


Its just disgusting and puts a lot of pressure on our game all the way down to local region.

Here is the Guardian article, which I think sums up the situation to this day - tomorrow is another day:

Fifa president Sepp Blatter to football world: 'Crisis? What is a crisis?'

Blatter insists only 'Fifa family' can stop him winning re-election on day of high drama in the wake of corruption allegations
 Matt Scott in Zurich The Guardian, Tuesday 31 May 2011
Fifa's president, Sepp Blatter, has faced down a barrage of criticism over corruption within football's governing body and vowed that only "the Fifa family" could prevent him being re-elected unopposed on Wednesday .
After a day of high drama in which Qatar threatened legal action against Fifa's secretary general, Jérôme Valcke, for implying it had bought the right to host the 2022 World Cup, Blatter defiantly insisted there was nothing for Fifa to investigate.
"Crisis? What is a crisis?" asked Blatter, the day after a presidential election candidate and a Fifa vice-president became the third and fourth of Fifa's 24 most senior politicians to have been suspended from football over corruption allegations in the past six months.
Blatter's stubbornness has been reinforced by the knowledge that he will be elected unopposed for another term on Wednesday. The same congress of national federations will now be his judge, he claimed. "They will decide if I am a valid or a non-valid candidate, or if I am a valid or non-valid president."
There were some references to reforms Blatter intends to take up. One is for Fifa's ethics committee to be strengthened. Blatter, alone on the press conference podium at Fifa headquarters, spoke of "all the devils who are in this game". It is not a criticism that is likely to shake the support of his member organisations. But the lack of support among football fans for his 13-year stewardship of the world game was clear as "Blatter out" became the second most popular international trend on Twitter .
Fans were responding to a day of extraordinary revelations at Fifa's $100m (£61m) Zurich headquarters. An email leaked by the suspended Fifa vice-president, Jack Warner, had earlier apparently raised the most damaging allegations of corruption surrounding Qatar's 2022 World Cup bid.
In it, Valcke, Blatter's closest aide as secretary general of Fifa, stated that Qatar had "bought the World Cup". Qatar quickly denied the allegations. Hours later, Valcke issued his own clarification. "When I refer to the 2022 World Cup in that email, what I wanted to say is that the winning bid used their financial strength to lobby for support," he said. "I have at no time made, or was intending to make, any reference to any purchase of votes or similar unethical behaviour."
Blatter, who as president has a statutory responsibility for the line management of Fifa's secretary general, refused to express any view about Valcke's explanation. "I don't answer that question and I ask for your understanding," he said. "You have received the Fifa general secretary statement. I am the president; I am only here to talk about the president."
Fifa's reputation suffered a further blow with the emergence of photographic evidence of neat bundles of cash allegedly paid to the Bahamas Football Association by the Qatari former Fifa presidential candidate and president of the Asian Football Confederation, Mohamed Bin Hammam, in an effort to garner support for his election campaign. In an almost satirical touch, the money had been delivered in a brown envelope.
Fred Lunn, the vice-president of the Bahamas FA said in an affidavit presented to Fifa's ethics committee that his association's president instructed him to return the $40,000 (£24,000).
Chuck Blazer, the American Fifa official who is the chief accuser of the two senior figures to have been suspended this week, stated when asked if he thought Fifa was corrupt: "I think individuals are."
Like Warner, however, Bin Hammam continues to attack the process that has led to his "temporary exclusion" from all football activity. Bin Hammam has stated his intention to appeal against the decision by the Fifa-appointed ethics committee to force him out of football as investigators carry out inquiries into the alleged activities of Warner and Bin Hammam.
Blatter's refusal to brook criticism of his oversight of Fifa was put in relief by comments from Coca-Cola, a major sponsor. "The current allegations being raised are distressing and bad for the sport," it said, adding weight to concerns raised by Adidas last week. "We have every expectation that Fifa will resolve this situation in an expedient and thorough manner."
Though those words may seem lightweight, they are a significant departure from the usual steadfast support Fifa sponsors demonstrate for it. Usually, they separate their partnership with the World Cup from any controversy at Fifa House.
Now, in a potentially strong coalition of interest forming against Fifa, world governments are joining the sponsors. In addition to the UK parliamentary inquiry into football governance, Australia – whose 2022 World Cup bid failed against Qatar's – has also begun to express concern. Middle East newspapers even likened Fifa's situation to the Arab spring that has unseated a number of governments there.
"If governments try to intervene in our organisation then something is wrong," Blatter conceded. Then he added: "I think Fifa is strong enough to deal with the problems inside Fifa. I am sure that the day after tomorrow at the congress we will prove we can solve the problems – if there are any – inside the congress."
Blatter made one apparently extraordinary admission. Under his presidency Fifa's annual revenues have grown to $1.3bn as it feasts on sponsors' and broadcasters' appetite for the World Cup. That presidency began in 1998, making his remark revelatory. "I have to say we had no problems until 1998; this was a modest Fifa – now we are a comfortable Fifa," he said.
Although ultimately he angrily left the press conference amid journalists' heckles, nothing appears set to discomfit Blatter.