Firstly, a big congrats to both Japan and Saudi Arabia for the great upsets they managed to pull off against Germany and Argentina respectively, they were great come from behind wins against two heavyweights of the football world.

Even in the qualifiers, you could tell how technically superior both Japan and Saudi Arabia were to the Socceroos, their passing and possession of the ball was far better than that of Australia. Especially with the Japanese, they must be doing something right when it comes to junior development, because whenever you watch Japan, they pass the ball well, they mostly keep the ball on the ground, and keep possession. Also, many Japanese players are playing in the top leagues of Europe, which means Japanese footballers are highly regarded. Now compare that to Australia, where we can barely string two decent passes together without carelessly giving it away, and now we have very few if any, players playing in the top leagues of Europe. I'm not blaming the Australian players for this, but the system that had failed them and football in Australia.

What is the FFA doing to fix this up?, because although Australia has improved at football (five successive World Cup qualifications), so have the other Asian nations, and they are leaving us behind.

Awakening a ‘sleeping giant’: Federal government holds key to Socceroos’ future

Thanks for that article, that was a good read, I hope the FFA pull their finger out, and do something about junior development.

This is also a good read
https://www.theroar.com.au/2022/11/24/highway-robbery-schwarzer-grills-sports-minister-fa-boss-on-price-of-football-after-socceroos-disaster/

Schwarzer just skirts around the edges as his always done.

The high fees are a direct result of the NPL System as designed by Football Australia and with slight changes by Member federations.

Its honestly all on them. They created it, they set the requirements, they set the accredatation requirements for the Clubs and Coaches.

In Victoria the first $300 of the $2,200 incl GST registration fee goes to Football Victoria

$200 per player registration fee from U14 to U18 total of 76 players and a $7,200 Licence fee for these teams

Shit, to register as a junior in community competitions with FV is $110 and a $245-$389 team registration fee. So I don't know where Schwarzer gets the $150 to $250 registration fee idea from? Its 2022 not 1990 Mark, everything has gone up, and everything is more complex.

Clearly we need govt. support the lack of funding and large investment has affected us when it comes to developing top class talent, removing the AIS was not a great idea considering not all aleague clubs have great youth setups and even if they did they lack of opportunities unless you play for the lower budget team.

The FFA NC was a good document to improve the development of players, but it wasn't implemented properly along with the resistant to change it also needed to be evolved over time which hasn't been done.

It doesnt help that the mentality of clubs here is about business and less about the football, how many clubs are focused on developing players instead of chasing success in the short term?

Throw in the fact that we dont play football year round and not having the required facilities and adequate coaching hasn't helped too, we also dont play enough internationally so the players and teams can get exposed to a higher level.

The thing is the talent is not a problem its the environment the system which is not strong enough. 

We have alot to learn.

NPL costs I agree are OTT for families and agree they are to blame, I'm pretty annoyed that JJ has come across pretty ordinary in that article, he should be the one telling the minister that the current that he is endorsing is broken due to their themselves and his fellow Feds.
They are are milking it, I recall anotehr interview just recently JJ reported FA has never been in such a good position finacially with all that to come re tournaments in the near future.
Well with all this $$ why not action with the Feds and help out grass roots costs/coaching support and then also clean up Feds/NPL as well.
All the better whilst we have a open minding minister asking well what do you need ? where ? etc and this JJ just doesn't kick in.

MS quoted this :
“I’m all for that you shouldn’t have to pay any fees,” he wrote. “I think it should be all subsidised, finding ways of doing that. Maybe I’m completely delusional in that regard; I understand there’s registration fees, but they shouldn’t be more than $150 or $200 a year, I can’t imagine any more.

He's just putting it out there more than anything else that is should be alot more affordable and being the highest participating sport more so at grass roots.

Here's a copy of my rego in 2018, last season was on $400, I can afford it but as mentioned, until late that my 2 sons are Snrs now I covered then obviously and 1 mainly in NPL.
I've racked up some $$$$ the last 10/15yrs - idgaf its our passion but those on minumum wage ? ffs how do they do it.
They don't, as mentioned they go to other sports.
Over 45                                                     $ 107.00
Over 45                                                     $ 119.17
FNSW 2018 Player Over 18 Amateur                             $ 83.83
FFA Senior NRF 2018                                          $ 25.00




                                                          **********
                 INVOICE TOTAL (incl GST of AU$ 30.45)    AU$ 335.00

How do we fix that apart from government funding (no objection if that happens)

there must be an enormous money in football vics coffers from rego fees

The FA takes $14 in registration fees for NPL in Victoria. That's $14.

Schwartzer needs to be better informed.

And let's not mention NPL clubs using junior fees to pay senior wages.

+1
Thanks for that, great article.

FV takes in $15Mill in Revenues, Wages and associated liabilites account for $8Million, top heavy with executive salaries.

I had 2 boys and a girl playing NPL $6,150 annually of fees for several years.
Question for me was it worth it?
On balance yes but on the scales 65/35.

Knowing what the costs are to run an NPL program not many Clubs in Victoria are using fees to pay seniors.
The bigger Clubs actually actively seek sponsorship to add to the programs. If it is happening then it would be at smaller Clubs.
Also knowing the wage bills of several Clubs the NPL fees in total wouldn't cover a quarter of the wages bill.

We can complain about anything we want in football in Australia but until we remove these financial obstacles Australia will be developing fewer players. The big difference in the Japanese and Australian system is number of players being developed. If you have ever met a Japanese or Korean person if they play football, they play it well and this comes down to the accessibly and affordability of coaching.

 Your average Japanese kid who plays whether it being recreational or competitive the difference in technical skills is marginal. It gives scope for late bloomers or those who find different pathways into the game. Australia's narrowed scope doesn't allow for this. You join SAP at a significant cost, and you are told you're in an elite environment. After you complete this you grow up and start to change by this stage most kids have dropped off, you'll most likely do the same with only a few going on.  The vast number of kids who haven't been involved in SAP will have left a long time ago. 

I would suggest instead of pouring money into these SAP programs we should be seeking ways to broaden our scope and offering additional sessions, free sessions and more flexible competitions that focus on involvement and opportunity. The Scandinavian model attempts to do this, because it realises it doesn't have 20 million playing football and knows that it must try to develop everyone in the game if it wants its national team to be better.

Here in Australia, we have developed football the way our private and public schools have been built where our overall National standard doesn't rise but those who are going to the richest schools see bigger academic outcomes while those in more deprived environments are limited. 

Just to compare costs in the 9 years my son has played football in Germany at the local leagues he paid €14 a year to play at SV 1895 Neuhof when he was 5.We got the presentation kit discounted and  game clothes were provided each game.
Prices moved up over the following years to like €25 per year.
Last year at SG Orlen we paid a yearly membership of less than €50.Kids got some clothing for free and others we purchased at a sport kit supplier the club had an account with and we got 30% off.
This year at Eintracht Frankfurt (U14)we paid a membership fee of €50 and all clothing both game and presentation are free.
Noah could have also agreed for free gloves but he doesn’t like Nike gloves so we pay for them ourselves and he is free to use his preferred brand.
The local clubs make money in transfer fees,Parents selling food items during tournaments and games,also sponsorship and am not sure if the DFB or State associations distribute funds.
Transfer fees vary  on age and what level club they move too.
A local club can get thousands of Euro’s to transfer a kid to a Bundesliga team Academy.
So it’s pretty affordable for anyone.

Worth reading this article:
https://www.sbs.com.au/sport/article/asia-youth-development-japan-lead-the-way/3yawy7my1

yer I hear you mate, I have a no3 daughter as well, sadly she's pulled out.
Worth it ? hey nothing ventured nothing gained, my old man couldn't support me just being a Uber in todays world whilst a budding teen being asked to play for Rep Clubs otherside of the city and obviously money wasn't a question back then.
So being able to step up NPL levels on balance yes like yourself.
Your 65/35 is pretty close to the odds I agree with.
It should and could be so much better that is for sure, too short sighted, its needs a huge re set.

The link above and Volkira's post is for all to see and we know, its just ridiculous here but we're unique right and everything above these levels is ok :doze::crying::ermm:::Whistling:

Financial barriers are a problem, noone can dispute that. But the most significant problem in Australia developing players is that its all about who you know.

Plus the level of coaching is a joke, makes the fees look even more ridiculous when you think about it, coaches are no better then a parent.

I'm sure alot of us could write chapters what you go through dealing with NPL Clubs, one of my axe's to grind but I just to forget about it and move on.
The who you know was alive and well in my teen days, my ol man had some fallings out a few times giving them a peice of his mind.