Well said Arthur. The volume of "C" and "B" licences will improve over the years. It has been a top down approach for the past couple of years.

I just hope for yours and your sons sake that the youth development and aus coaches have come forward from where they are now.Otherwise you will be making posts like mine.

Ive just enjoyed the birth of my first boy at age 29. I am gonna make sure that he is brought up living, breathing football, most notably Melb Victory, the Socceroos and Liverpool. I had to endure Aussie Rules for a lot of my youth. with soccer taking a back seat. Can't wait for the first generation of kids that are brought up supporting their local A League team.

What we are lacking is simply "qualified coaches" and by qualified I mean AFC C Licence as a minimum.

Most with this coaching qualification are running their own academies.

While the vast majority of our juniors are coached by well meaning volunteers who do not have the tools to get the best out of the number of juniors currently polaying.

Why is this so?

Currently the AFC C Licence costs over $4000.

The Course is run once a year.

Has only 24 odd places for the whole country.

Is only run in Sydney.


We need at least 24 AFC C Licence coaches comming out of each State every year to get the best out of the number of juniors playing.

keep in mind the AFC C Licence focusses on Technique.

And this goes back to your comments Benjamin
It is about the money.


Edited by Arthur: 9/1/2010 01:33:47 PM

It's nothing to do with being a large country with a small population - it's to do with being so far from where the big money is.

Yes we are a large country with a small population.
but tell me what other sport do we say we can't compete in because we are a large country with a small population.
Sounds like old soccer bullshit to me.

This is a problem Ben.

As pointed out previously (not by me) - there's not enough money in developing kids, especially when you can let the state league clubs do it for you, then nip in and take anything you fancy for virtually nothing. Thus, the majority of A-League franchises will take the cheapest option and only do as they are mandated to.

Yes Ben it should go further, the 8, 9, 10 , 11, 12 , 13 yr olds etc should be developed. That way Australia will be well prepared for the FUTURE.
Thats what were interested in, the FUTURE, DO I HAVE TO SAY FFS OR GOD DAMN, OR WAKE THE FUCK UP AUSTRALIA. What does it take!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x :x

I'm fully embraced - hence "we need to be the best we can be".

Believe me, nothing would make me happier than seeing every A-League franchise owning and running a fully accredited youth academy and their own training facilities, with every coaching set up being staffed by the best coaches around.

I've said several times on this forum that I believe an integral part of the bid process for franchises when the competition was started up should have been a commitment to youth development, and that it still disappoints me that the majority of A-League clubs involvement in youth only goes so far as the mandated HYL system.

Theres little point in thinking that we can be better than them. Thats the point that you need to embrace. We can be better but we need to embrace.

What part of my highlighted bit escaped you?

x2

This something that intrigued me also. At work we have net meetings with colleagues in far flung places. I cannot imgaine they cost too much to set-up. So why can't state/zonal/regional coaches be able to interacte more regularly through a similar system?

This is probably a rhetorical question, and the only reason something like this hasn't been tried (at least in my neck of the woods)is probably not thinking outside the box often enough.

Hang in there mate and don't let them upset you.

I've been through what you have ahead of you at the moment and I know perfectly well how serious you are about this issue.

You're doing a good job bringing all this up and we need more optimism and positivity when we're discussing the future. Good on you.

Also Ben if we dont strive to achieve then what is the point. Lets all move to Europe because its bigger and the competition is better and the money, the money is greater, 3 reasons we need to leave Australia.

We need to be better than what we are currently, that is the point BENJAMIN, so stop procastinating and get with the program.

Just because you have over 5,000 posts doesnt make you the almighty moderator, and dont let glorywonderland fight your battles either.

Benjamin your realism leaves a lot to be desired. All we really want to do is improve, cant you fathom that???? ](*,) ](*,) ](*,) ](*,)

I understand..but we have to try and do something about it..and thank god the FFA understand this..we shouldnt be thinking WE CAN BE BETTER THAN THEM...but trying to say WE CAN MATCH THEM is nothing wrong isnt it???

Also the FFA goals, is us to become a Top 20 nation and pushing 4 a Top 10 position by 2020 so we have to push ourselfs dont we?

I did respond via pm, but buggered if I know if it worked?:)

Really Riv? What is it that capital football are doing in the ACT? What is the direction?
Some people tell me that at CF headquarters the right hand doesnt know what the left hand is doing!!!!! You can pm me if you like.

It is a start
But nepotism can destroy everything
I also can not understand why more use is not being made of the technology mediums ie coach internet training, video of youth games for analyzing purposes, in a country that is so big.

Things are progressing at a good rate although I disagree with the stance on trying to have all coaches aquire a level of coaching qualification. I agree that coaches with little or no playing experience should be doing courses to improve their knowledge, but experienced players and coaches are being treated like idiots having to do basic courses that offer nothing.

As a parent and junior coach, things are moving in the right direction, at least in the ACT.

The Victorian Champions League is the best way players can develop. i have alot since joining. playing against the best players in the state is very good.

tbh i think we are gradually getting things in place.
the NYL shows this.
also, here in NSW, a junior can join a rep team (such as a NSWPL team, but obviously play in their junior team), abd gradually work up the year groups to play in the NSWPL if they arnt picked up by another club or scout.
obviously im no parent and havnt really looked into this issue proper, but i just get the feeling that the emphasis on the importance of developing youths and young kids is growing

And how do we go about raising the standard of our youth system to compete with those in Europe?

The reality is that the talent pool in Europe is bigger than it is here, the competition is better, and the money is greater - three reasons that we will always struggle to compete with them.

We need to be the best that we can be - but there's little point in thinking that we can be better than them. That's not meant to sound fatalistic, or defensive or negative, just realistic.

As a parent of a prospective professional player I have views that only parents in my position can have , the rest of you only have OPINIONS.

Grass roots must be the future of football in this country, Yes, No!!!!! I tend to lean to the yes. I know FFA are doing their best, at least the best that they can in the current circumstances. The problem is, we need to do more, to keep players here under the current youth development umbrella.