Isn't this the bloke that shot down the AAFC and its wish for a second division, stating the standard wasn't good enough or something like that?

But now he wants the same NPL clubs to have academies the same standard as the closed shop professional clubs?

Sorry but the guy has no clue when it comes to user pays and the Australian environment.
Not one study has been done or produced.
NPL clubs in Melbourne still waiting for an assessment since April.
He stated clearly that to achieve the required Academy Standard a budget of $350K (If you own your own facilities) to $600K.
In a user pays system! well work it out for yourself.

He's right.

One CoE in Canberra serving all of Australia wasn't enough.

9 CoEs at A League clubs and 6-8 state based in support has to be better.

Simple maths really 15 >> 1

That doesn't sound that inspiring Mr Abrams...

Hard to argue with that logic.

Ned Zelic was talking about this the other day on a podcast, and his experience going into the AIS aged 16.

In his situation, it was a matter of just going down the road because he had learned his football at Croatia Deakin (in fact, another alumni of Croatia Deakin, Josip Simunic, would have been at the AIS at the same time as Ned).

One of the points he raised is that he wasn't sure how beneficial it was sending 16 year olds to live away from their families, so if each capital city can have the same infrastructure (and in the case of Sydney and Melbourne, two bites at it), then that has to be better than just having the one and forcing young kids to move to that one spot.

Another very important point Ned made is that by 16, your technique must already be at a very high level, if it's not, then it doesn't matter what programs exist beyond that age - so elite programs need to exist between the age of 12 and 15, but on top of that, these kids need to be playing the game in every waking moment, these days, too many are relying on elite programs (at immense cost), thinking that's all there is to it.

He talked of some of the academies he saw in Germany.  There are as many as 50 such that no child is ever more than 20 minutes away from an academy (his words).

These academies, much like the famous Ajax one, are churning through 100s of kids per year, it's like an endless conveyor belt, looking for the one or two gems in a pile of rubble.

Would be better spent funding a second division and bringing in loans and transfers to encourage clubs to develop players and to allow a-league clubs to loan out youngsters to get game time......maybe have a required number of under 23 players for each team  in the dvision.

“Our A-League academies are only starting so it’s impossible to already have a professional quality level. "
errr...yeah....
Ideally we would have what the Germans have, we don't. So instead of canning the COE just repurpose it? Use it as an National Technical Training Centre like Calirfontaine, or for the 12-15 age bracket or kids that can't afford to hand over the big bucks to the private academies?  coaches can upskill? Where national football strategy is devices and international experts can be brought in to give one off intensive sessions, lecture our technical directors etc etc 
It isn't an either/or argument. If I was smart enough to put in a giff I'd have the one of the little mexican girl with the Taco's saying 'why not both?'
Until we know the A-League academies can take over and are doing a better job why throw away resource because it isn't like Germany, seriously we will never have what Germany have

One thing that probably should have happened is moving it to be based in Sydney/Melbourne (or have smaller training centres in each city) where there's a larger talent pool, less pressure for the players to move, more options to play against higher quality local opposition, and existing A-League clubs in the area plus more accessibility for international scouts.

Ok my core belief
Any player who payed his yearly registration fees is entitled to be selected for state teams.
Not just the ones who can pay 2500 dollars. Or have the right last name or who's fathers are movers and shakers .The game needs the best players in the state teams. The county needs it and i will never accept anything less.
Regardless of race colour creed religion sex or socioeconomic status the best should be chosen.

Heard this argument before about the whole of canberra actually

@ krones3

The academies should be free. The best get in, not just those that can afford it.

100% And more transparency in who's paying whom

the facilities in bundoora are modern, purpose built and probably better run and resourced.  they should have cut a deal with CFG to co-locate.

@ Bundoora Brah

But would a talented kid from Melbourne choose to go to CFGs academy in Canberra or Victiorys academy in Melbourne? maybe CFG could have been persuaded to run Canberra also but they need their academy in their home city.

And the participation boom demands more academies so this closure was inevitable, and kids need to go into academies much younger as young as 8 in some cases - that won't happen if there's only one academy in Canberra. It's served its purpose but it's time to kick on.

These are precisely the points Zelic made in a recent podcast.

What happens to the youth players that are unable to afford the $3000 per year to play youth league?
Are the A league academies free of charge for players 12-17 years old ?
I have a friend in Sydney that pays $2600 club rego plus $750 for team bonding camp , so that's $3350 for a 13 yr old to play NPL youth and train only 2 sessions per week !
Complaining to the club gets you the reply to try to find a private academy for another couple of sessions per week .
That's the real world of Aus football $$$$&

@ jonsnow

In Brisbane at the moment you can pay $300-$500/season for registration which normally includes some kit (socks, shirts and training top typically). Or you can go to an NPL Academy for $2-$3,000/season and get better coaching (not always but they do have better systems).

The AIS does not feature in this discussion because it's in Canberra and it's by selection only at 16.

What the A League clubs do will most likely vary, some will follow the NPL model and charge a couple of grand per year which means you'll only get those that can afford it and not necessarily the best, and some will make it free.

Roar intend to make their academy free from age 8 upwards.

Currently at MC no academy player pays a fee. They have the senior youth, U20, U18 and an U15's that train a couple of times a week. It my understanding that U12 and 14's will be brought in next year into full time programs. I hope that they would not have to pay either. I can understand if they do charge a small fee but not the 2/3K that NPL clubs charge. We need the FFA to help out the HAL clubs in order for these fees (if any) to be minimal.

I lol'd

https://m.imgur.com/a/bv6W9

These fee's as much as anything are what is holding our game back

How do you expect to fund the game then? $400 is not a lot it pays for:

- Insurance
- Training field rental
- Game pitch rental
- one Referee per game
- two assistant referees per game
- Administration of the club
- Administration of the governing body for scheduling games etc
- Training kit
- Equipment including goal posts, footballs, netting, corner flags
- Training equipment such as small sided goals, barriers, cones, bibs etc
- there's usually some spare to cover vandalism and theft which is a common problem.
- coaches give their time for free, as do managers and administrators and committee members and volunteers

How is $400 expensive? how is it holding the game back when over a million play it and 700,000 are in a registered club? I met a friend of my wifes who said she hadn't put her kid in to teh soccer because it was too expensive, when I explained registration for her child was $380 including kit she was shocked, she'd put her kid into netball and paid nearly $500 but she'd read on facebook soccer was very expensive. so who is holding the game back, the clubs charging reasonable fees or people like you spreading myths and untruths on line?

You can go to state school for free (nearly) or you can go to Private school for $2k a month, but dont complain the cost of schooling is too high based on private schooling fees - go state instead. If you go to an academy you will pay $2k, if you cant afford it dont go and pay $380 instead. BUT YOU CAN STOP HOLDING OUR GAME BACK WITH YOUR LIES.

Jesus christ Vidmar has not missed Tuggies there

Ease up turbo, i was talking about the 2,3,4k fees.

I know what it is to run a football club and know what it costs. $400 is pretty standard across most state leagues. Regional community leagues are normally around the $250-$300 mark

For what its worth i've done some work on what it costs to run an NPL set up based on actual figures, covering u12,13,14,15,16,18,reserve grade/20 and first grade as well as womens 12,14,16,reserves and firsts and it is near enough to $140k before you've even considered paying a player and have paid coaches very conservatively

yep yep and YEP !
Go on about YL costs in Sydney (I expect similar other States) and then add in SAP fees U9-U12's.......
I understand any Club having to make ends meet, heck you got to pay the bills/running costs/(bloody councils etc) and what needs to be paid to FNSW running 1st's/20/18's, same goes for each State right - its OTT from all angles.

 

https://www.choice.com.au/babies-and-kids/education-and-childcare/education/articles/kids-sports-fees  few years old mow and honestly dont know if anything has changed since then

I'll see you fees and raise you
Fees in Townsville's official pathways academy u12 is 2600 each they have 18 players, each week 2 players are not allowed to sit on the bench.
Howzat?

They'll learn a lot in a group of 18.
How many games a season and who do they play against?

sorry to rant, its just the NPL clubs are not the fee benchmark (I coach in one) if you want cheaper fees go to a good junior club, there are many. But we MUST stop giving the impression to teh general public that soccer fees are high when they are not. If you want to go to a specialist academy in AFL or League it will cost you as well. The enemies of soccer spout this line all teh time ("dont put your kids in soccer it is really expensive, like $2k, come to AFL ") we are our own worst enemy sometimes; fees charged by NPL clubs are not the normal fees and we need to make that clear

Sorry fullback but I didn't make up the figure of $3300 for a 13 yr old to play at npl level this year , that is a fact at this club , I have no reason to bullshit .
Local grass root clubs are between $300 and $400 I agree but at NPL youth level you will find rego starts at $2600 and rises in relation to extra training and camps , this is fact and not looking at the game through rose coloured glasses . I know also I could purchase a hell of a lot of gear for just one kids rego let alone 64 times $3300.
There are now also 30 NPL clubs in the Sydney metro , to say the quality has been diluted is a huge understatement imo.