CEO Capital Football Responds to Criticisms By the Nearpost Local

As you may be aware, the Nearpost Local (NPL) has broached several topics around Football and Futsal in recent times. This has attracted criticism by Capital Football. To refresh you, the NPL has commented on the following matters:

• Advice by CF that the Canteen Services at Hawker during the Fed Cup would be retained by CF and income retained by CF, rather than allocated to Clubs on roster to generate review. (clubs a re now rostered at Hawker)
• The advice to Premier League Mens Clubs at a recent meeting that no sponsorship was in place for the 2011 season. (sponsorship has now been organised)
• Inadequacy / lack of availability of suitable playing surfaces in support of Football (and Futsal) (see explanation below)
• The decision not to register all SL mens teams to play in season 2011. (believe situation unchanged and excess teams on "waiting list")

The NPL invited the CEO to make a contribution to this Blog on the matters which we found ourselves in disagreement. The CEO accepted this invitation and responded by email. Below is the CEO's contribution and as ever, we are happy to welcome the CEO's engagement with the NPL.

For your blog Peter if you wish to publish.
Three things from Capital Football to clarify some of the statements in your recent blog -
1. CF runs the federation cup for men and women and the games are not to be regarded as club games in the same way that premiership games are played. When we are directly responsible for games at Hawker Football Centre, we reserve the right to run the canteen as this is our home venue. We fully understand the financial burden of clubs and will provide opportunities for clubs to run the canteen where possible for them to raise money.
2. We had a sponsor for the men’s premier league (Schweppes/Gatorade) and lost it because clubs didn't support it. We met with a prospective sponsor on Wednesday, as we have met with others over the past few weeks, with an expectation that sponsorship for both the Federation Cup competitions as well as the MPL will be forthcoming this year – so stay tuned for the announcements.
3. We take as much direct action as we believe feasible in a govt town where existing and new land for recreation space is scarce. The lack of space and suitable facilities doesn’t simply apply to our football code but also to other sports like cricket, swimming, water skiing, cycling, equestrian among others. We have it on sound knowledge that the new Molongolo area, for example, will have between 8 and 12 football fields and we continue to work with Woden Valley clubs and the govt on the redevelopment of land at Mawson for a new football facility. We are also working with the govt to bring back on line some grounds that went off line years ago due to the drought. We don't want to turn teams away and will do our best to accommodate all entries wherever practical, however, there may be viable operational reasons that prevent us from catering for every single team that wants to play.
I fully support the hard work and best intentions of all those people who are "capital football" – particularly at this time of year when registrations are being lodged, teams formed and expectations for the coming season are riding high.
Heather
CEO Capital Football

Interview With CEO Capital Football - Part 2

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), through the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 14 December 2010 at 7:00PM.

In this program we have Part 2 of our lenghty end of year interview with CEO Capital Football,Heather Reid. We cover the FFA's review of Football compition across the States and Territories, new NAtional Youth Championship schedule, The NTC Challenge (which has now been held - in the interview we were speaking of it just before it was to be held), The HPP Review, Summer 20's, The new Technical Directors position, the things the CEO saw as significant this season and the CEO asks this humble NPL Football trgic what I thought was important - locally.

We will speak to Ron Smith in the very near future about his review into the Capital Football High Performance Program regime. Should make very interesting listening. Go back to our earlier interviews with Ron, just before he began the review and get ready for something a bit special.

Canberra United continue to press their claims for a Premiership. The win aginst Newcastle was very important. The way forward is as clear as clear could be - beat Sydney FC and Brisbane Roar. We are ready to do it this year.

Download Podcast here:

A Program Covering Reflections on Coaching the 1-4-3-3, A Parents View of the Australian U13 Girls Experience, Capital Football Disputes and Discipline Review and Some Thoughts on Helping Your Child Achieve Thier Potential in Football

This program was broadcast on Tuesday 31 August 2010, on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network.


This program is jam packed with good informative listening:

• Eddie Senatore talks about his observations of the Australian Under 13 Girls tour of Vietnam (you may recall his daughter (Siena) was a member of this team. Very interesing and encouraging. Eddie reflects on coaching the 1-4-3-3, the relationship between futsal and football, futsal's complementary aspects for the national football curriculum and coaching the 1-4-3-3. Original, thoughtful and practical.
• Heather Reid, CEO Capital Football speaks on the review of the Disputes and Disciplinary procedures which is under way. Definately worth a listen.
• An extract from an interview between sports psychologist Dr Cohn and US (All American) player and coach Al Miller on the subject of assisting your child to reach their potential in football. An excellent piece of work!

Download the Podcast here:

Some Important Information From CEO Capital Football

The following is available in full on the Capital Football website.

End of Season and Grand Final Events:

August
Saturday 28
Men’s Divisional final rounds and some semis commence
Sunday 29
Men’s Premier League final rounds
Women’s State League and 035s final rounds

September
Saturday 4
ActewAGL Junior League final rounds
Men’s Divisional semis and preliminary finals continue
Sunday 5
Men’s Masters semi finals fixtures
Gatorade Men’s Premier Leagues Preliminary Finals
Women's State League semi finals fixtures at Kaleen
Saturday 11
Men’s Divisional Grand Finals at various venues
Sunday 12
Women’s State League grand finals at University of Canberra
The Tradies Women’s Premier League Semi Finals at Kaleen
Men’s Masters Grand Finals at ANU Willows
Gatorade Men's Premier Leagues preliminary finals
Wednesday 15
Grand Final Breakfast for Gatorade MPL and The Tradies WPL teams at The Marathon Room, AIS Belconnen
Saturday 18
ActewAGL Junior League Gala Presentation at Hawker Football Centre 10.00am to 12.00pm
Saturday 18
Gatorade Men’s Premier League grand finals at McKellar Stadium
Sunday 19
The Tradies Women’s Premier League grand finals at Hawker FC

Kick off times and venues for the finals will be in Results Vault on the website when finalised.

October

Friday 8
Capital Football Annual Presentation of Awards @ The Hellenic Club, Phillip, 6.30 for 6.45pm

CEO Capital Football Talks Futsal, The Problems of Not Enough Grounds for Football and the Demands on Talented Players for the NYC / ACTAS / Australian School Sports

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

The CEO Captial Football talks about the major impediment to the development of Football as a whole of the year sport - insufficient exclusively controlled quality playing surfaces. Then it's an update on Futsal for the 2010 / 2011 season (including selection for the Nationals) and the Futsal landscape is certainly going to change in the ACT. We close with a very interesting perspective on the conflciting demands on our talented players and of course, the appalling cost that is incurred by parents with talented players. The National Youth Champonship tournaments for U15G, U17G, U14B and U15B is already a concern - the number of games to be played is too small in number for the cost and time away, and significantly, the Technical Asssessment compenent that featured so prominently and sucessfully in the U13G and U13B earlier this year (and also the NTC Challenge), was scrapped (for lack of interests??????) by the FFA for the U15G and U17G held recently. If its reinstated, what does that say about Womens' Football - that the FFA thinks its second rate? Is that it? Shame on them if it is. There is no excuse good enough!

We close with a short description by Clive Mackillop, ACT State Coach of Referees, on the difference between "Serious Foul Play" and "Violent Conduct".

Next week the NPL will do a "Futsal Special", including an interview with Capital Football Futsal League Manager, David Lee. Don't miss it!

Download the Podcast here:

CEO Capital Talks About the HPP Review, Men's State League Review, Summer 20s and Women's Football and Canberra United

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), Tuesday 27 July 2010 at 7:00PM through the Australian Community Radio Network.

In this program we have a "fireside chat" with Heather Ried, CEO Capital Football. There is always a lot going on in Football and Futsal and Capital Football has a lot of "footballs in the air"!

The subjects covered are the Review of the High Performance Program and who is going to undertake this sensitive assignment, the Review of the Men's State League Competition, forthcoming Summer 20s, and Women's Football in the ACT and Canberra United.

But that's only one half of the interview!

In the second installment, which will be made available through the Nearposl Local as a Podcast, Heather will speak on other very important matters - the broadening of the Captial Football Futsal Premier League to include youth mens and womens, together with an very innovative approach to the selection of junior age ACT Futsal teams to compete at the Nationals in 2011. There is a review in progress covering the Discipline and Disputes regulations and finally, a very interesting discussion on the key resource issue currently limiting the development of football in the ACT region - the availability of suitable grounds - all the year. No grounds, no growth and less development and a game that is expanding!

Download Pocast here:

CEO Capital Football Provides An Important Update On the High Performance Program, Men's State League Review, Womens Football, the Summer 20s, Review of Discplinary and Disputes Regulations and more

The program next week is given to an extended "fireside chat" with Heather Reid, CEO Capital Football.

There are a lot of footballs in the air at Capital Football and probably not enough people to cover an enormous workload.

CEO Capital Football makes some very sound observations about the recent NYC for the U15 and U17 Girls championships. I ask myself: Why didn't the FFA include the "technical assessment component" in the Under 15 Girls and Under 17 Girls National Youth Championships held recently at Coffs Harbour?  What feedback did teams, players and mportantly, Coaches get at the NYC? What are we really saying about Women's Football - is it second place to Mens Football? Looks like it to me. The comment was made to me by a football official that the techncial assessment group were at the World Cup. Well goodie for them. Is that all we have got? It was an expensive outing for parents of players, for significantly less games than were played in the U13 Girls and U13 Boys NJC earlier this year. Parents (and players) across several States are very unhappy and so they should be. This is one story that is not going away! 

There is a lot to talk about and this is a very informative and candid interview. Not to  be missed. Listen in at 7:00PM on Tuesday on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) or take the Podcast of this blogspot.

You will be pleased to know that those "damned vuvuzelas" will not be welcome at our Canberra United games in the upcoming W League. Outstanding.

CEO Capital Football Talks Women's Football and ACTAS

We have the extended interview (less other program material that will go to air on 16 March 2010), with CEO Capital Football, Heather Reid concerning the new CF Women's Competition Rules which enable ACTAS Women's Squad players to return to play for Clubs in the CF Women's Premier League.

This is an important interview for Women's Football in the ACT. The collaboration between the ACTAS Women's Coach (and Canberra United) Ray Juna, and the CEO and Techncial Staff of Capital Football is an exemplar for what can be done for the development of our players. Complicated and perhaps delicate football adminstrative matters handled at the appropriate level by those qalified to do it. Outstanding!

Here are some statistics in respect of the growth of the game in the last year provided in the interview by the CEO (and that's before we get to the World Cup):

• Girls - increase by 13.9%
• Women's - increase by 10%
• Boys - small decrease
• Men's - increase by 10%

Download the Podcast here:

CEO Capital Football Talks About Women's Football and the Return of ACTAS Women Players to the Women's Premier League

The following program is broadcast on 16 March 2010

In a stroke of pure genius and a substantial measure of good judgement, Capital Football and ACTS Women's Coach (and Canbera United), Ray Juna have collaborated to see the managed return of ACTAS squad players back to the Women's Premier League.

See earlier post concerning the new Women's competition rules covering this initiative.

This is how it should work - the best of our players, those with aspirations to go as far as they can in football, being developed both within elite football training programs and through Clubs as appropriate. The Coach maximising every opportunity to give these young players additional playing opportunities at the appropriate level(s) of resistance. Clubs appreciating, recognising and accepting that they too have a responsibility in the development of players at all levels. The value of the return of these young women players is already evident in the Federation Cup games. Just terrific.

The inclusion of new competition rules for Women's Football has enabled the inclusion of ACTAS players and kept a balance across Clubs. A good Football intiative supported by good Football administration and quality Coach management. Its simply a first class example of a "player centred approach" that has the bonus of working for the game in community football.

The ACTAS players will not always be available to Club Coaches, as they fulfill other obligations, and this will mean the Clubs will need to be careful how they prepare other players to "step up", but what a bonus!

Now, what about the Men's ACTAS program?

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