Will Capital Football Run A Men's Summer 20s in 2011?

As we are aware, our Mens Premier League Football season in the ACT is too short.

The season is too short to sustain the development of younger players, or enable teams to develop and improve their position over a competition that holds a small number of teams and schedules them to play each other only twice in a season (Fed Cup and pre season do not count).

Not every Mens PL Clubs is enthused by the prospect of a longer regular season, but the majority seem to be in favour. The argument put by CF is that the Fed Cup covers the gap. That's misleading - the Fed Cup is seen as a pre-season playing opportunity and importantly, does not count toward the Premiership.

The Womens PL competition has fewer teams but does schedule teams to play each other three times in their regular season. It works.

Our regular season is now drawing to a close. The time goes quickly.

Football, like so many other big participation sports (and Football is the biggest) demand more of players across a longer section of the calender year. This is particularly the case, if we are to talk in terms of the development of young talented players. No more so than the Under 17 to Under 20 age group.

If you follow the NPL interviews with Ron Smith,  Alfred Galustian, Jan Versliejen  to name just three the NPL has interviewed on talented player development in the last three years; one point is made by them all - the Australian regular football season is too short to provide the sort of sustained competitive development opportunities that enable young players to be as good as they can be. We marvel at the technical proficiency of the visiting Asian teams youth teams and gasp at the amount of training and games they play. The get there by addressing the game in what amounts to a whole of year basis. Ron Smith in his report to the CF Board on high performance / development of young players, made teh requirement for off season activity plain enough. So why are we faultering?

Simple first remedy for us here in the ACT - lengthen the domestic premiership competition and then provide an additional playing opportunity for Clubs to develop their emerging players in the off season

In 2009 Capital Football did something fantastic - it started the Mens Summer 20s! It was an outstanding first effort. Clearly some one had done thinking and got it right. WHy did we go backwards after sucj a good beginning? Far too many questions!

In 2010, Capital Football forgot about the Summer 20s, left the planning and consultation too late to be effective across all the PL CLubs and as a result only three PL Clubs participated (one of whom provided two teams). It was a useful experience but a shadow of the previous year.  It was damn shame and a good initiative was killed off before it took hold. Some PL CLubs had issues with CF over the Summer 20s, but that's another story and there has been plenty of time since to get them straightended out. Has anyone at CF bothered to enquire? Thos damn questions again!

At the time of writing, the PL CLubs are yet to receive any news of a Summer 20's competition for men in 2011. To this point there has been no consultation or communication with the PL Clubs. What are the Regional Reps and Mens Standing Committee doing about this issue? is this something the CF Board could get interested in? It should be, because it is a strategic planning issue, not a simple operational matter. Do the responsible Capital Football staff have sufficient instructions to engage with the PL Clubs on this matter? Will Mens Football for our best Under 17 to 20 players stop in the ACT at the end of this regular season? Looks like it at the moment. Too many questions where there should mostly be answers already in place.

Perhaps Capital Football have something else planned - but if they do, the PL Clubs have not heard about it yet and the time to have been discussing it in a steady, contemplative fashion is now behind us - Summer 20s or no Summer 20s or anything else for that matter.

This can be fixed, but we need some careful consultation with the PL Clubs. No PL Clubs should pass up an opportunity to play in the Summer 20s - if its good enough for CFC, the most successful Club in the last ten years and best current roster in the ACT, to have supported this concept from the outset, why would other PL hesitate? Perhaps they need some assistance, I don't kow for sure. So get them together and talk - Now!

Perhaps this could be seen as a development opportunity for the CF Technical Director to charge of going forward. That would make sense.

But if its off, its off, and if we can't do it well, don't try and say so now.

If CF has an alternate proposal then put it to the Clubs now and not later and in time to deal with it and participate. Some Clubs are already thinking of solving this off season matter and not relying on CF. Not sure that's a good position for CF.

Capital Football made an excellent start in 2009 - let's hope we can improve on that for 2011!

With that in mind, the NPL has sent the following questions to Capital Football. Let you know when we get a answer:

What plans are afoot for the Summer 20s in 2011:



- Who in Capital Football operational staff responsibility for a Summer 20’s competition in 2011?


- Has a 2011 Summer 20s competition been discussed at the CF Board level and if so what was the outcome?


- Has planning begun at CF (if so when?)


- Has a decision been made on the conduct of a Summer 20s competition in 2011?


- What is the current CF planning timeline from whenever planning started (or will start) to advice to Clubs (advice it will not happen or advice of the draw and supporting details)?


- What is the minimum number of teams required to conduct the Summer 20s?


- What is the proposed format (aims and objectives of a Summer 20s etc)?


- Competition rules (where different from mens PL currently in use)?

- Have the PL clubs been formally contacted about entering a team?


- Playing location / time?


- Canteen responsibilities?


- Player registration costs and basis of calculation of these costs to Clubs?


- Is the Mens Standing Committee involved in the planning of this competition and if so what is their role and who is involved?


- When will Capital Football advise Club of the Summer 20s (go ahead or no competition) and how will the Clubs be advised?


- Will Capital Football hold a meeting of interested Clubs to discuss the Summer 20s competition in 2011?


- What financial assistance will CF give to Clubs to participate in the Summer 20s.

The Pathway For Talented Junior and Youth Players in the ACT Gets A Bit Harder

Sourced from http://www.ccmariners.com.au/

My colleague at the Nearpost National (Eamonn Flanagan) pointed out a breaking "player development" story in Football at the Station this evening. You can read all about it on the Nearpost Blog. Its a sensational Football story for all junior and youth players on the Central Coast of NSW. It has significant strategic implications for talented ACT junior and youth players.

The Central Coast Mariners FC have established a Football Academy.

This is noteworthy because the Mariners have made a few trips to the ACT as part of their pre-season and there has been  some hope that this connection might mean more than a few exhibition matches and visits to the nation's capitol. The Mariners Academy solution makes good sense, is a decision that works for Football among their constituency and is not unlike the Academies established by the big EPL Clubs and other big Clubs in other Premier Leagues around the world.

The important detail to note for us in the ACT is that this is a joint venture between the Central Coast Mariners and Central Coast Football. It does not include the Capital Football! That's no criticism of the Mariners - what they have done makes good A League business sense. But what a shame for the ACT.

Question - Have we missed another opportunity?

Here are some details (taken form the CCM press release) you will find very informative and leaves you in no doubt as to which Football constituency is being "developed" and "serviced" by this Academy:

  

"Central Coast Mariners together with Central Coast Football (CCF) have today penned an historic agreement that will help bolster the Yellow and Navy’s Hyundai A-League playing stocks for generations to come.
In an Australian football first, the Heads of Agreement signed this morning ensure that from October 1 this year, CCF’s representative Youth League programs will be integrated into and form a key component of the Mariners ambitious Academy initiatives.
Under the Central Coast Mariners brand the program will be the sole elite football Academy in the region, providing high-level training and playing opportunities to both male and female footballers.
Indeed, in its initial stages the Academy will consist of U-11 to U-18 male teams, and U-12 to senior female sides competing at the highest level permitted by Football New South Wales...."

"...Under the terms of the agreement, CCF will provide the budding Mariners with access to Pluim Park, Lisarow for all representative games. Additionally, access to Jubilee Oval, Long Jetty and Leagues Club Park, Gosford for all of the Academy’s training and playing requirements will be supplied.
In return, the agreement is underpinned by the Mariners guarantee that 80 per cent of all players in the representative programs will be Central Coast residents, ensuring that a transparent development pathway from the junior to the elite level of football in the region is created...."

There is no A League franchise in prospect for the ACT. That's been known for quite a while.

The next best and perhaps most achievable option is an A League Youth League team based in the ACT. But there seems to be little movement on the youth league front. As many observe, that leaves the Under 17 to Under 20 age groups without a viable and coherent Football development pathway. In these circumstances, entry to an A League Youth team, any A league Youth team, is more remote both by distance and opportunity that is was yesterday.

The announcement of the establishment of the Mariners Academy, with the collaboration / participation of the Central Coast Football (CCF), which guarantee's "..that 80 per cent of all players in the representative programs will be Central Coast residents..", makes it so much harder for talented young players from the ACT region. There is no mention of any percentage reserved for ACT players, but perhaps someone can work on that possibility.

The game is moving on and the further it gets along the development road, the more likely we seem to be a risk of being left stranded on this matter - options close.

The President of Capital Football made it very clear in her interview with the NPL, that the development issues for the talented Mens U17 to U20 development opportunities, is a top priority. I have no reason to doubt it. This is not a simple CF operational issue. It will require the consideration and creative thinking of the Capital Football Board. We cannot spend much more time admiring the problem. The game is moving on.

Here is the the Central Coast Mariners FC Academy Vision:

"The primary aim of the Central Coast Mariners FC Academy is to provide a clear and structured pathway towards our National Youth League and Westfield Women’s League programs. Whether or not the ‘dream’ is fulfilled, every player needs to look back fondly on life at the Academy, and feel that the experience was a positive one."

The Mariners are recruiting Coaching staff. The specifications for the positions make interesting reading

Ned Zelic Makes Sense - In The Wake of the Australian Under 17 Mens Performance at the World Cup 2011

Sourced from the SBS World Game http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ned-zelic/blog/1063627/We-must-educate-our-kids

Ned Zelic is regarded as one of Australia's most gifted players, he represented the Socceroos 34 times over a decorated career that spanned Europe, Asia and the United Kingdom. The NPL interviewed Ned a couple of years ago, have a listen to it and when you read what follows, you will know that this is a heartfelt contribution, seasoned with hard Football experience at the most senior and elite levels of the game.

Ned Zelic had something important to say on his SBS World Game Blog. It has meaning for us here in the ACT, particularly as we talk of how to give our best Under 17 - 20 mens players a pathway beyond the Capital Football Premier League.

Zelic points out that the disappointing performance of the Australian Under 17 Mens team is not solved immediately by sacking the Coach, everyone involved takes responsibility for the outcomes. This outcome is deserving of a great deal more thought and Zelic starts the ball rolling, drawing it all the way down to junior football.

Zelic draws our attention to a number of points that you will hear many ordinary coaches talk about as they implement the FFA National Football Curriculum - every week in community football! Ned makes an important distinction between what I would call "training" and "coaching" among those that guide junior players and teams. Then there is that further distinction between "winning" and "development" in junior / youth Football.

Please read this article - it will give you food for thought.



We must educate our kids06 Jul 2011
00:00-Ned Zelic


I left McKellar stadium in Canberra deeply concerned. I had just watched the Joeys get past Malaysia and Laos in the first phase of Asian qualifying, but they were far from convincing.
Now that we’ve been bounced out of the FIFA U17 World Cup with a 4-0 defeat to Uzbekistan, the question is: ‘who’s fault is it really?’ The coach Jan Versleijen? He carries responsibility, but it would be too easy to lay the blame squarely on him.

Parent and Coach Behaviour In Junior Football - Always a Problem

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday, 17 May 2011 at 7:00PM.

The season has bearly commenced and a full compliment of "Football fools" are out of hibernation and prowling the sidelines of junior / youth Football.

Young referees are the easy target for these cowardly, ignorant and obnoxious "bullies". They proclaim their stupidity without restraint or consideration for the damage and hurt they do to these young referees. Its no wonder that we loose so many of these referees and then see many games at all levels of the game without a referee.

These same people do more to ruin a good morning or afternoon's Football than a cyclone. Clubs seldom to grips with them, its not easy, but if you asked officials, they could probably draw up a pretty good list of names. But these bullies need to be stopped in their tracks and given the opportunity to moderate their behaviour or be banned from Football.

The really troubling aspect of acceptable behaviour on the sidelines in junior football is that it comes from either the Coach or a Parent. Rarely do you see a casual football spectator turn up at a junior game, for the express purpose of venting their misreable unfulfiled football ambitions on an unsuspecting group of young players. This is usually the preserve of a team coach or a parent.

Their is nothing more disgusting in Football than the spectacle of a parent ranting at the Referee, or assuming the role of coach and bellowing inane and often, devestatingly offensive and hurtful remarks to their child or other young players. And these fools don;t stop after the game has ended - you can bet that their is a forensic game debreif in the car going home. Who would want a parent like that?

In this program, we take a look at this nost distasteful aspect of junior football. Anything you can do at your Club to encourage parents and coaches who get out of control on match day, is something worth doing for the children. No one should have to endure some of the rubbish that passes for adult support of Football from the sideline at the game. And make sure you go upt o the young referee and say well done.

 

Download Podcast here:

Japanese High School Nara Todaiji Gakuen To Play In The ACT

Sourced from Captial Football website

This is short notice news, but its likely to be very good news for junior / youth players and coaches in the ACT.

Nara Todaiji Gakuen arrives in Canberra today to start their five match development tour in Canberra. If they are anything like Nara Ishiju who visited last year, they will be sensational to watch. Well, half as good will get me to the games for sure!

It's tough in their part of the world at the moment, so this tour is pretty special. Get to the games and give the young players your support. Kindnesses remembered help build the future. Nothing does that better than football!

This is their school:

Canberra City and Canberra FC (PL18 and PL16) are the two lucky clubs that will get a chance to play Nara Todaiji Gakuen.

Tōdaiji Gakuen (東大寺学園 Tōdaiji Gakuen) is a private school, combined middle and high school in the city of Nara, Japan. It was founded in 1926 as an offshoot of the famous Tōdai-ji temple, and began as an evening middle school (夜間中学) for working students. Daytime education began in 1963, when the current name was adopted, and evening education was dropped in 1977. Today, most of the students go on to the national universities, especially Kyoto University and University of Tokyo, or medical courses. (sourced from wikipedia)



The fixtures are as follows:


Wednesday 23rd March v Canberra City PL18 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 8pm)

Friday 25th March v Canberra FC PL18 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 8pm)

Saturday 26th March v Canberra City PL16 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 6pm)

Monday 28th March v Canberra FC PL16 (Deakin Stadium, kick off 7pm)

Wednesday 30th March v Canberra FC PL18 (Deakin Stadium, kick off 7pm)

NARA TODAIJI GAKUEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – TOURING PARTY

Takahiro Yoshibayashi (gk), Tomo Yamagata (gk), Taisei Hirooka, Kazuya Onishi, Daichi Kato, Yoshizuki Fumoto, Toyoki Okuda, Yuki Katakami, Taisuke Matsuda, Takahiro Shigeoka, Mizuki Ri, Taisuke Matano, Takuya Hirata, Takuma Fujioka, Yusuke Nishimuta, Naoto Kawai, Shunya Asai, Taiyo Yoshida, Haruki Matsuoka, Masato Tanaka, Tetsuki Bun

COACH: Keiji Sawada

Boomerangs FS Victorious!

Boomerangs FS - king of the mountain. Great stuff!

The Boomerangs FS contested several Grand Finals of the NSW Supa League Futsal Championships. Season 2010 / 2011 has been a fantastic journey for all the Boomerangs teams and parents.

The Grand Finals were contested yesterday and the Boomerangs FS were victorious in the following grades:

1. Under 14 Boys
2. Under 14 Girls
3. Under 16 Boys
4. Youth Mens

I cannot emphasise just how significant the scope of the Boomerangs FS competitive efforts have been this season. All nine teams into the finals, won the Club Championship, had more of their teams in fianls than any other single club, were victorious in four Grand Finals and now are most likely to be eleveated to the top futsal competitive level in NSW (and there is none better in Australia). Wow!

Please, tell me one football or futsal achievement in recent years that comes close to the scope of this competitive effort by any ACT Club or representative program.

The Boomerangs FS was and is all about giving our young Futsal players a chance to be challenged at a higher level of Futsal. The Boomerangs FS underpinning philosophy was spot on, right from the start, the players responded and the rest speaks for itself.

The Boomerangs FS have demonstrated beyond any doubt that our young players, boys and girls, young men and women can compete effectively in the highly comeptitive competition run in metropolitan NSW.

The most remarkable thing about the success of the Boomernags FS is that it is the energy and determination of two local people (Senatore and Collins), together with parents and players who rose to the challenge, to whom all praise must go. This was not a Captial Football inspired or underwritten venture and the CF Futsal Standing COmmittee is nowhere to sighted. So it can be done!

The atmosphere and collaboration between families and players as they campaigned the season is like nothing I have seen in Futsal in the ACT, except perhaps sometimes in the Nationals. A terrific atmosphere. Its that good.

Next season, it is most likely that Boomerangs FS will be elevated to the NSW Premier League. The competitive bar will be lifted again.

Boomerangs FS is the place to be for the best Futsal on offer in the ACT. Get in contact with them for the next season. Its never too early.

Images provided by Boomerangs FS parents - many thanks.