Getting Better Decisions During A Game - The Use of Technology In Football

Sourced from http://www.abc.net.au/rn/backgroundbriefing/

Here is an interesting piece of information - the average duration of a Manager (coach) at a Premier League / Champions League Club in Europe is said to be between 9 - 14 months! A game lost due to a poor decision, for want of access to good information, can have massive consequences for Managers of top flight Football teams.

The future of Clubs, sponsors, players and certainly Managers (coaches) can turn on a decision in a game, a decision that is not advantaged by the luxury of endless replays that the football public enjoys after the game. By the time the dust has settled on the game lost to a bad decision, there is often little attention given to the fact that the referee's decision was proven to be wrong. It doesn't change the result of the game nor the fate of those adversely affected by the decision.

That said, these decisions are seldom the consequence of a Referee or Referee's Assistant carelessness. When they drop a clanger, it's because they just can't see (in real time, not slow time) all of the incident. Only people in good position around the ground get to see exactly what happened. Perhaps our referees need a bit of assitance? Two ways to do that - use technology (and here we are usually talking about cameras and immediate review of incidents by an official not on the ground), or, more referee's assistants on the ground at those points on the ground where the usual decison making disaster scenarios occur.

Here are three examples I saw last weekend:

• GK caught the ball, fell backwards just enough to cross the goal line and take the ball, ever so quickly into and out of the goal area. Referee and assitants could not see the GK cross the line, so no goal. Only a coupl of players saw what really happened.
• Attacking team player dribbles to the byline, while challenged the ball goes out, player continues and cuts the ball back to a team mate, who slams it into the net. Now a few players and spectators sw that one, but the Referee and assitants just were not in the sweet spot to see the ball go out.
• Attacking player goes to the byline, bloaked by defender, so trys to knock the ball onto the defender to get a corner. He missed and the ball went out without touching the defender, though it did have on odd spin on it. Referee had some players between himself and the ball and concluded that it had hit a defender. Now I was at the behind the byline a short distance away and stopped to watch this action. It should have been a goal kick, but I could see why it was hard for the Ref, while the nearest Ref's assistant was back near halfway (blind side of the field). Bad luck I guess, But what followed was a corner kick that was headed into the net. The game turned on that one. Bad luck.

Alas, FIFA (Mr Blatter to be precise) is opposed to the use of technology in the big leagues and competitions. Neither Blatter or Platini (UEFA) will  allow the technologies  to be trialled. Bit of a shame really, for it would have stopped Herny's diabolical handball dead in it's tracks. The support for the introduction of technology among the PL Clubs in Europe is enormous, but they await Mr Blatter's pleasure.

We have a fair bit of experience with the use of technology in support of Referee's decision making in Australia - Rugby League, Rugby Union and Cricket. Its part of the these games at the top level. Sometimes it goes wrong even with the use of technology (cameras) and referral to an additional referee. Nothing is perfect, but its good to get a few more important decisions right.

I think you will find this discussion very interesting - it captures the mood and the massive risks that are inherit at the top end of game when some poor bugger with a whistle gets it wrong because he or she just did not see enough of the incident to make a better decision.

What do you think?

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What's Happening In the Big Picture In Football Informs How We Orgainse The Local Game.

Sourced from http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/revolution-at-risk-as-ffa-reaches-too-far-20100911-1563j.html

Craig Foster interviewed Breandan Schuab (PFA) toward the end of 2010. An excellent article below and proof positive that so many issues in Football are shared at every level of the game.

Craig Foster began his Blog article with these words:

"For me the A-League's trouble's have been brewing for some years. Schwab is correct in pointing back to the Crawford report. However, it should also be noted that Crawford recommended the commitment to quality playing surfaces - which has proved costly."

Brendan Schuab, Cheif Executive and General Counsel for the Professional Footballers Association

Craig Foster, former Soccerroo, SBS World Game Football Analyst, Author

Revolution at risk as FFA reaches too far
Craig Foster
September 12, 2010


Dwindling A-League crowds and static FFA dividends have clubs like the Newcastle Jets struggling to survive.

IMPORTANT questions have been raised, or exposed, about Football Federation Australia that mirror long-term concerns in the football community.

These relate to governance, strategy, decision-making, organisational culture, the relationship of the board to events, the exit or dismissal of key executives during the past year, the World Cup bid and its impact on the game locally, and the health and future, in cases such as the Newcastle Jets and of the A-League.

Seeking clarity on the state of the game, I asked Brendan Schwab, chief executive of Professional Footballers Australia, to shed some light on the key areas where the game is vulnerable. He chose to focus on two: the failure to properly implement the Crawford report, and the A-League structure and model.

''Two documents - extensively researched with government and players' money - gave FFA chairman Frank Lowy his blueprint in 2003 - the Crawford and NSL Task Force reports.

''The late Johnny Warren shaped both reports. The emotional power of football ran right through them. They were about building a football nation, knowing that the legacy will be for the children of today's football devotees. Neither report has been implemented, and in that lies the seeds of the game's discontent.

''Crawford's recommendations demanded that FFA be run by an independent yet accountable board. The A-League would be separate, run under licence from FFA by its own independent board accountable to the clubs. The two bodies would co-operate to collectively exploit the game's key commercial assets from the professional game.
''All state and territory federations would be overhauled along the same principles to build the game from the grassroots up.

''The failure of some states, most notably New South Wales, to embrace the Crawford reforms has had a profound impact. Football's community remains alienated and fragmented, especially after being branded as 'old soccer'.''

Schwab on the A-League:


''Falling A-League crowds and financial problems have many worried about the viability of a league that is the cornerstone of the game's development.


''Quality is not the issue. The playing standard has been acknowledged by many former greats as being at its highest point since the inception of the league. Nor are player payments too high. Socceroos and A-League player payments account for less than 30 per cent of the game's revenues, like cricket, ARL, AFL and rugby.


''It is also wrong to assume crowds had to dip. According to [brand analysts] Repucom, 51 per cent of football's massively growing fan base is 'avid'. Football is also a sport of the future, with the youngest fan base of Australia's major sports.

''Football is simply failing to fulfil its primary obligation - to convert football fans into participants, crowds and television audiences.

''The NSL Task Force revealed that about 2.5 million fans would support an eight to 10 team A-League. Regular TV audiences of one million on free-to-air TV were possible. Average crowds of 10,000 to 15,000 were realistic.

''It wouldn't be easy, though. The league had to be properly capitalised and positioned. The strategic location of the teams was essential. New clubs, quality players, community partnerships, effective marketing and football's unique atmosphere would then deliver the commercial revenues through fan support.

''However, rugby's one team per city model prevailed under the protection of a five-year moratorium.

''The game's heartland - western Sydney, with twice as many registered footballers than rugby league - was rejected. Whilst the value of the league's rights required two Melbourne teams (a game every week), only one was installed.


''Despite the predicted crowds and atmosphere being a strategic imperative, key clubs were allowed to commit to big stadia. Gate receipts haven't covered expenses.

''The opportunity to deliver grassroots programs such as small-sided games through the brands of the A-League clubs is being missed.

''Yet, the annual dividend has not increased since 2007, and FFA has added about $1 million to the cost base of the clubs, which were already under financial pressure. The FFA club dividend has fallen to less than 50 per cent of the salary cap, the lowest of any major sport in Australia (the AFL pays 77 per cent, the NRL 71 per cent).

''The same capital-driven approach of the old NSL, in driving expansion into North Queensland and the Gold Coast, sees both clubs possibly lasting no more than two seasons due to a lack of fan support. FFA's bill: $12 million, enough to capitalise western Sydney and increase club dividends.

''These problems have been compounded by FFA's decision to itself run the 2022 World Cup bid. Already a stretched organisation, its four mandates - the bid, the league, fielding our national teams and developing the game - have seen governance and performance suffer.

''More money is not the answer without sound strategy. A successful World Cup will only solve the game's problems if the obligation of hosting football's greatest event brings about world-class standards of governance and decision-making.''

I couldn't have said it better myself. [Craig Foster]

CEO Vikings Futsal Talks Futsal in 2011 - Part 1

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across teh Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 22 February 2011 at 7:00PM.

This program is Part 1 of an interview with CEO Vikings Fustal, Alasdair Miller. This candid discussion is around many aspects of Futsal in 2011 and going forward, from the Vikings Futsal perspective.

We need to get one thing straight before the interview -Vikings Futsal is all about Futsal. No distractions. Futsal as a sport in its own right.

Vikings Futsal is not part of the FFA's Futsal arrangements, nor do they pretend to speak for all in Futsal. But there can be no doubt of one thing, Vikings Futsal is a very substantial presence in Australia, New Zealand and has grown some remakable links to our region and elswhere in the world of Futsal. The Vikings Futsal business model is well worth  a close look. They know how to make Futsal work.

Download Podcast here:

Want to Influence the Game? Then Influence the Coaches!

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) through the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 22 December 2010 at 7:00PM.

In tonight's program we focus on Coach education and coaching. Coach education is the greatest single influence (for good and sometimes not so good) in our game. Good coaching, good coaches and mentoring those that want to coach is absolutely essential to the development and growth of the game

We look in two places – here in the ACT , with a candid peak at one PL club that took the whole FFA development thing into serious competition. By contrast, we listen to a fascinating discussion between several US Women’s Professional Soccer League Coaches, courtesy of Amanda Vandervort of Soccer Science, as they talk about the women’s game in the USA and how they got into coaching. We need a lot more women football coaches in our game.

Here in the ACT, Capital Football has by comparison to past years, maybe decades, massively increased the number our of people in our football community undertaking courses of instruction in the current coaching methods required to support the FFA’s national football curriculum and national football development plan. If you want to influence the game, influence the coaches. We must continue to do all we can do to educate, support and mentor our Football coaches, from the local Under 9, the Under 15 Div 3, all the way through to our Premier League teams.

Coaches need access to training resources at every level of the game and in this respect the FFA must do more – the FFA’s S2S coaching support system, or perhaps the Football NSW’s Global Football System, are just two resources that can be made available down to club level coaches at remarkable little cost to the game, but for enormous return to the game. The FFA should bankroll this support to every coach in the nation. A small cost for a big return and the most direct way to influence coaches outside of coaching courses. But it looks like clubs will have to take the initiative.

Pat McCann has been at the forefront of Coach Education in the ACT region and his work has made a real difference. High performance programs come and go and sometimes it sticks and sometimes not, and not always the best use of a Technical Directors scarce time and effort. Influencing coaches, that;s the thing if we want sustained and continuing change and development in the game.

Interestingly, Pat is the current Head Coach of Woden Valley FC Men's Premier League teams. In this capacity, Pat has brought all the new thinking into this club which was desperately in need of change. The messages he gives the young players mirrors the FFA new directions and it works. Similarly, Ed Hollis the Head Coach of the Woden Valley Women's Premier League does exactly the same thing for the female players. One Premier League club, one consistent and coherent approach directly in line with the direction the FFA is taking player development. Makes sense. Given the young age of many players in the club (male and female), the focus is on development almost as much as it is “winning”. How can it be otherwise. The players benefit, not by a big pay day, as this club like most others in the Premier League don't have a lot of money, but through development of their football talent in a Club setting. Doesn't get any better.

The Women’s Professional Football (soccer) game in the USA is incredible, but probably just as fragile as it is here in Australia. Our system of development for women players is different to the USA, where it is underpinned by the fantastic Women's College Soccer programs. Some of our young female players are currently on College Sports scholarships to play in the US College Soccer Leagues. We have nothing like that in Australia. In this interview, we listen to the following WPS coaches talk about their game in way that makes perfect sense to anyone following the game in Australia. The coaches participating are:

• Emma Hayes, Chicago Red Stars Head Coach
• Pauliina Miettinen, Sky Blue FC Head Coach
• Lisa Cole, Boston Breakers Assistant Coach
• Denise Reddy, Chicago Red Stars Assistant Coach
• Nicci Wright, Washington Freedom Goalkeeper Coach
• Anne Parnila, Sky Blue FC Assistant Coach

Alas, something put the electronic zap on my interview with Pat McCann at Capital football’s offices and the sound quality is not as it should be, so you may need to persevere, but I assure you the content is worth it. I'll see what I can do do improve the recording. This interview will not be broadcast till the sound quality is improved.

The Soccer Science interview was done on Skype. But its all good to go.

So kick back, glass of Christmas cheer to hand, headphones on and listen.

Download the Pat McCann interview here:

The Amanda Vandervort interview with the US WPS coaches is here:

CEO Capital Football Talks About Some Issues in 2010 - Part 1

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (93.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday 7 December 2010 at 7:00PM.

A bloody cartoon Kangaroo! As if there isn't enough of the buggers running around the Nation's Capital City and a few more in Parliament House too for that matter. Stupid and bugger all to do with Football.

 This program is Part 1 of an extended end of year interview with the CEO Capital Football, Heather Reid.
In this part we talk about Australia's unsuccessful World Cup bid, he $26 million that the ACT Government so generously gave the AFL for a team in Greater Western Sydney and the inability to secure an A league franchise or an A League Yout team in the ACT. The impact of these matters in part and in summary have damaged Football development in the ACT region. This gets very political and we have not been good at managing the "politics" around football and the ACT Government's recognition / acknowledgement of Football's supremacy in our region. The role of the FFA in these matters and their support of Football in the ACT has neen shameful.
Its all in front of the Capital Football Board in 2011.

We talk about Canberra United and that incredible game last Saturday and the Summer 20s (a subject we return to in Part 2 of the interview).

Sit back, cup of tea in hand, put the headphones on and listen.

Download the Podcast here:

Could This Be The Chance For Capital Football To Get A Pathway Established For Talented Young ACT Male Players In National Competition?

Capital Football led the charge for an ACT Women's Team in the W League. Fantastic work and outstanding for Women's Football in our region - as long as we keep the ACT representation high and talented young ACT players get a start.

Now the men's side of things is in tatters. The "pathway"  stops at our Premier League competition. Can you recall Capital Football raising a senior men's ACT representative team to play a  fixture against a visting team of good standard (A league Youth team, visiting overseas or interstate team) in the ACT last season. Promoting the fixture, encouraging A league reps / scouts to attend and generally  making a big deal of the whole thing. Nothing comes immediately to mind! Clubs have organised better opportunties as part of their preseason and off season programs, no thanks to Capital Football and no support. Pretty misreable record in 2010 come to think of it on this matter.

The prospect of an A League team for Canberra drifts further and further into the future. No A League Youth team in prospect. The whole endeavour has run aground and the FFA has shown little interest in the ACT.

The only two Premier League Clubs that are sufficiently resourced to seek entry to the NSW Premier League are the two that have done it before (and been thrown out) - Belconnen United and Canberra FC. Good, strong clubs both. Neither seem inclined to give it a go again and anyway, if they do make the step up again and provide a defacto football pathway for our best players, why should they do it without some assistance from Capital Football? But that's just speculation on my part as both will campaign in the 2011 Capital Football Premier League.

Our best young players are stuck firmly in the ACT and that does them no good at all if they want to go further in the game.

And then I read this on the SBS World Game website. Do I detect a glimmer of a chance for us? Is Capital Football fully engaged and all hands awake and alert?

Read this one...

Football Federation Australia Member Federation Charter

The FFA has released the Football Federation Australia Member Federation Charter!


Go to http://www.a-league.com.au/site/_content/document/00001941-source.pdf for the full text of the Charter.

So why is this document important to us here in the ACT region and what it is about?

Most of our discussion locally around football can be generally grouped into the three general headings - Referees, development of talented players and development of the game (in the ACT).

This Charter sets out the who is responsible for what, and, who does what, between the governing body in Australia for Football (FFA) and the member Federations (in our case Capital Football). The Charter, in its various parts, covers off on all three areas of discussion. I guess you could say that it hammers a peg in the ground on the "who does what and who is responsible for it" front in Football. When anyone at Capital Football or the FFA talks on any of three heading mentioned previously, just keep in the back of your mind, who has agreed to do what and hold them all to account.

I have taken the following pertinent extracts to illustrate and inform. Let's take a close look at Schedule 1 of this Charter, the very important subject of Football Development:

Background
1.3 Each Member Federation has responsibility within its region for the:


(a) conduct, development, strategic direction and promotion of football; and
(b) implementation of FFA strategies, policies, programs and regulations for the playing, development and promotion of football in Australia.

2.2 This Charter is intended to cover all areas in which FFA and the Member Federations interact with each other and the detailed provisions of the Charter are set out in these Schedules:


(a) Schedule 1 – Football Development;
(b) Schedule 2 – Interaction with A-League Clubs;
(c) Schedule 3 – Women’s Football;
(d) Schedule 4 – Commercial Activities;
(e) Schedule 5 – Events;
(f) Schedule 6 – Marketing;
(g) Schedule 7 – Government;
(h) Schedule 8 - Media and Communications.

Schedule 1 – Football Development

1 FOOTBALL DEVELOPMENT


1.1 In November 2007 FFA released the National Football Development Plan.


1.2 The purpose of this Charter in relation to football development is to facilitate the implementation of the National Football Development Plan at state member level.


1.3 The purpose of football development is to:


(a) improve the overall technical standard of the Australian player base;
(b) design and oversee the delivery of the best participation experience in Australian sport;
(c)  identify, attract and retain more and better athletes particularly in the 12-16 age group;
(d)  convert football participants to life-long fans of the Australian game;
(e)  attract and retain more volunteers to the sport of football;
(f)  increase the number of accredited coaches and referees; and
(g)  ensure that facilities keep pace with demand.


1.4  Football development falls into two categories:


(a)  Game Development; and
(b)  Talented Player Development.

please read on

What Happens When Your Child Is Assaulted And Injured In A School Football Game In The ACT??

What Happens When Your Child Is Assaulted And Injured In A School Football Game In The ACT??

A parent and several young players who play for a Premier League Club in the ACT told a frightening Football story at training last week. It’s a very worrying story on Junior Football for every parent with a child playing Football in the ACT, particularly when they play in schools sports Football tournaments / fixtures. This one seems a long way from resolved.

Apparently there was a School's Football tournament last week in the ACT. The players represent their school and in ordinary way of Football you would think it would be a fun thing to do.

Until something goes very, very wrong!

A young player was "king hit" by another player and sent off. The alleged offender is said to be an ACTAS squad player. Both players were registered with the FFA and participate in Capital Football competitions / fixtures. The Referee's report has been provided to the father of the victim, confirms the send off for "violent conduct" and would appear to warrant substantial disciplinary action.

But by whom? Not a question you usually ask in football.

If this were a weekend Capital Football round game, the League Manager would have already taken action. It’s a “no brainer”!