FOR many years I have heard that in Australia, football (soccer if one must) is a “Sleeping Giant” in terms of sport in the country.
My question is: When will this giant wake up? What needs to be done to get the “world game” to establish itself as the leading sport in the state/country? Is it at all possible?
As the highest participation sport at junior and possibly youth level in the country, I ask why is the game not generating a following akin to the NRL and the AFL?
Young players often follow the NRL and AFL because they watch and follow players from those codes so. Most young players do not watch football, be it the Brisbane Roar FC or international football, so they cannot emulate players, and therefore their heroes are not from football.
The cost of watching football on television is prohibitive, and not having free-to-air games is a fundamental issue that must be addressed.
The fees in top local leagues make it hard for young players to join. Why are the fees so much more expensive than those in the AFL/NRL? I have my views on this, but I will write about those in future articles.
Talented players are quitting the game due to financial constraints. This is clearly regressive to the game’s development.
The FA (Football Australia) is often accused of a lack of marketing. The Women’s World Cup should have benefited the code. Instead, the money that the tournament generated was directed mainly to other sports.
It appears that the administration of the game is more inclined towards short-term planning rather than marketing the game and forward planning.
Government funding is clearly biased towards NRL/AFL. If funding was based on participation rates, then football is well and truly being let down.
The lack of funding has a major effect on infrastructure such as grounds maintenance; lighting; change rooms; (male and female) and so much is left for club members to fund.
The fees to play already places parents under financial strain.
The top tier of football in the country is the A-League, but attendances and the lack of television funding is placing strains upon clubs to run what is supposedly a “professional” league.
As a passionate supporter of the game, with many years’ experience in terms of playing, coaching and management; I urge local, state and national governing bodies to help clubs fulfill the huge potential of football.
I do not want to keep wondering about when the “sleeping giant” will wake up, or spend any more time suspecting that there are obstacles being put in place by other codes to keep the “sleeping giant” asleep.
