Having been involved in Queensland football for over 25 years, most of it in a full-time capacity, I have the experience to comment on the state of the game. As the saying goes football is all about opinions, and opinions are like anuses, everyone has one!
Clubs, coaches, and players should all strive to be the absolute best that they can be. This does not mean that everyone of these stakeholders are going to be competing in the A-League, and/or the National Premier Leagues.
It is my view that for players to improve they must be challenged at training and in games. For this to happen the best must compete against the best. This is clearly not occurring, and the evidence is there for all to see. Big score lines do nothing for the team that wins, and certainly discourages the players in the team that loses.
There are too many teams competing in the National Premier Leagues (NPL) and the Football Queensland Premier Leagues (FQPL). Proof of this is the fact that there are FQPL 1-2-3 not including the regions and the “FQPL Metro Clubs” This is just too many teams for the talent available. Certainly not all are “Premier League” level, and certainly there ought to be only ONE Premier League, the rest of the divisions should be named accordingly I.e. Division 2-3-4-etc, etc.
It is a requirement of Football Queensland (FQ) that clubs who are “Licensed” to compete in the NPL/FQPL must adhere to certain compliances, such as fielding teams in all age groups. The clubs go ahead with trials and then make every effort to grade players for each team. I can tell you that if Technical Directors and coaches applied a “Minimum Standard” for choice they would not be able to fill their squads. Let me use the Junior Competition (Known as “The Academy” competition) as an example. I will just use the boys U-13;14;15;16;18 squads to make the point:
- NPL/FQPL (36) Clubs @ 5 teams of 16 players per team: 80 players
- NPL/FQPL Clubs are in these age groups: 36 clubs @ 64 players each: 2304 players.
- The Fee for players/parents is $2000 per player that is a staggering $4,608,000.
- I live by the saying, “NO PROBLEMS–ONLY SOLUTIONS” So what is the solution?
- Our governing body needs to review the competition levels to ensure that NOT every level is considered “Elite”, and this will reduce the fees for players/Parents who do not compete in the so-called “Elite” competitions. (Let us be frank, NOT ALL the current competitions can be classed as “Elite”) This alone will trim costs. It should not all be left to clubs to keep struggling to find ways to fund their operation. Let us not forget that clubs are a community service and not for profit. It is parents that keep getting slugged.
- We are now appointing compliance Officers (Ambassadors) whose job it is to oversee Technical Directors. These Ambassadors should be assigned as Technical Directors at clubs, this will cut out the intermediary. The cost of the “Ambassadors” could be shared between FQ and the clubs. (A huge savings all around).
- As I understand it, clubs have signed on for a five-year period and they have all been put on notice to ensure compliance if they are to be provided licenses for the next term. Why is there a need for the everlasting annual auditing process? There should be one audit at the completion of the current term and clubs who do not comply simply do not get a license. (Another saving not only in terms of money but in time).
- The NPL could be made up of 14 clubs. There ought to be just one FQPL competition also with 14 teams. This would result in the absolute best coaches and the absolute best players eventually being at the best clubs.
The
he In Football we have promotion and relegation where clubs can strive to reach the pinnacle based on their efforts/results in their competition. It is understood that the serious clubs will strive for excellence and most important of all, clubs will soon learn to live within their financial capabilities and operate like a business. NOT every club/player can be in the top division and clubs/players must learn to accept their standing in the pyramid. The NPL must be of the highest standard to ensure that the best coaches and the best players are involved. There simply are not enough accredited coaches. - Clubs are now getting into a bidding war to get accredited coaches, and frankly there are coaches who are just coming off a coaching course and are being appointed to positions based on compliance not suitability. The compliance audit delves into “Retention” rates of players and coaches. In essence if a club is aiming at accredited coaches their retention rates are lowered because they must let other coaches go. When it comes to players the retention rate means little.
course?
It’s time for those responsible for the growth of the game to show leadership.
