Football Queensland technical staff are responsible for the identification of talent throughout the state.
Identifying the most talented players from a total of around 90,000 players in clubs located as far north as Cairns and as far south as the Gold Coast is no walk in the park.
The purpose of the FQ Academy is to prepare identified players for state and national teams’ selection.
Out of the 90,000 players, approximately 150 boys and girls are identified.
Of these 150 players, 10 may actually progress to national selection in their respective age groups.
According to the FQ website, there are 150 talent identification coaches and staff, all of whom will observe players throughout the year at “advanced” junior competitions and regional carnivals across Queensland.
In my opinion, players residing in the south-east corner of the state have a huge advantage over players residing in the regions.
As an ex FQ regional director of coaching, I have witnessed many a talented player who has slipped through the talent identification net for financial reasons, and family circumstances.
I have seen parents uproot their families to move their children to Brisbane to play in clubs as they felt that their youngsters would not get the same exposure in Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Gladstone and Wide Bay.
In July, 41 teams will compete in the Football Queensland Junior Cup on the Sunshine Coast.
FQ technical staff will be in attendance on the lookout for talent.
As one would expect, the majority of the teams are Brisbane based.
The regions are represented in the competition through “rep” teams.
Regional parents are burdened with added travel expenses and accommodation as they travel from all ends of Queensland to the Sunshine Coast.
The biggest problem for talented players selected is the added cost of representing at every level of their pathway to the sational and state squads.
It’s one thing selecting the best players, it’s another to ensure that the very best players are selected on merit – not the ability to meet the cost of representing their state or country.
Can FQ and FA consider a fee not dissimilar to an insurance policy whereby every registered player is charged a small fee which is then directed at addressing the costs for those selected into state and national squads?
With two million players in the game nationally, would an additional $2 per registration per annum
cover the cost for those selected in state and national squads?
Only then can selectors be comfortable in their selections unhindered by players selected who cannot afford to play.
