A Bit More on the COE Football and Futsal Priorities

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 8 November 2011 at 7:00PM.

This program has two interviews:

 The Canberra United Coach. A short and impromptu interview with Jitka Klimkova, Coach of Canberra United. The interview was done outside Football House, following a press conference just prior to the match against Sydney FC, which CU subsequently won. The wind and other environmental interference left the sound quality a bit messy. But it its worth a listen.  A full interview with the Jitka will be recorded and broadcast next Tuesday.

Capital Football Technical Director. Roy Thomas has made it absolutely clear as to the priority that must be accorded to participation in the Capital Football Centre of Excellence football programs. I think his position is entirely consistent with best practice and common sense, in relation to the management of elite athletes in any sport. Its a good thing he has made it clear and is prepared to enforce his underpinning philosophy. Its a critical planning and policy statement that must guide strategic and operational planning at Capital Football.  However, Futsal too is a Captial Football and FFA responsibility, and a sport in its own right. Our best players are attracted to both and in the younger age groups, its contribution too the development of football players is equally as unarguable as the requirement to insist upon commitment to the COE football programs. Many of our best players at the these age groups want to do both - they want to play for the ACT in the Futsal Nationals. The co-ordination of these players could have been more effective and had it been so may have reduced some of the angst felt by the parents of players and some players. Roy is aware of this situation and will no doubt tidy matters up for 2012 going forward. I suspect  that most issues that could be resolved in some fashion, have been resolved, which is not to say that we have the optimal outcome. Teams are selected (except Mens and Womens Open), Coaches appointed  and training times allocated, so the serious process of team preparation is now underway. It was pleasing to see that we had not abandoned the practice of having "Cobras" and Colts" teams - so important to capacity building and so beneficial to many over the years. The annoying aspect in all this is that we have been doing this for a long time ( ie the Futsal Nationals), we have some substantial expertise to hand (in and out of Football House), so how did some co-ordination matters, for every young player in the COE not get sorted out months in advance? Surely we are tracking every player in the programs, in detail and are able to co-ordinate across COE and Futsal (Premier League and particularly Boomernags FS and Futsal Nationals selection / training times) and any other indiviual commitment that may impact on that player? The detailed management of all aspects of any elite athletes participation is elementary to the effective management of the athlete and important o parents and coaches going forward.  In doing so, program clashes and demands (between Football COE and Futsal) become apparent and allow for planning and co-ordination  in advance  and a little less of "on the run".  Surely we do it? Anyway, what's done is done - for now!. I just hope it has not impacted adversely on our competitiveness at the Nationals. The Futsal Nationals is a golden opportunity for our talented players to gain a substantial national competitive experience and improve skills which are directly transferable to Football outcomes. The young players are only this age once. The FFA Futsal Nationals are conducted in the ACT (well at least for the next two years), so this is very convenient for parents and players alike. There are a couple of State Federations that are keen to take this National competition away form the ACT. It will take some serious work to retain it. We have already lost the FFA National Youth Championships (football).

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