Some observations of the Womens League

[billy the kid]

1) Adelaide City's club rooms/facilities appear to be non-existent (as of 15/2/09)
2) Cumby looking for a Key position player in February 09 - what da!
3) Fulham have 3 GK's whilst Cumby have none?
4) Metro have recruited VERY heavily
5) Sturt's looking for a Prems coach in Feb 09??

2009 will be an interesting interesting year.

Is Metro on the rise and Cumby and Fulham on the nose?

[cg1]

A couple of corrections on Billy's post.

Cumby are after an experienced player or two not a "key" player as such. We have an outstanding Prem squad however they are quite young so a senior more experienced player would be a good addition to the squad.

We have an outstanding goalkeeper in Prems and have 2 excellent GK's coming through in U17 however we would prefer a dedicated keeper for the Div 2 and backup for the Prems.
Our Div 2 GK become unavailable only at the start of Feb because of work commitments.

[bennylava]

5) Sturt's looking for a Prems coach in Feb 09??

false
i believe sturt have a coaching team this year, consisting of postman nat, ian, blacky and swaff.

[neits/burgo/shadow]

3) Fulham have 3 GK's whilst Cumby have none?

Last time I checked, we only have 2.

[billy the kid]

IMO the sport is in a downward spiral

Needs to lift all round if its to get back to where it was a few years ago. Good people who are runing clubs are starting to run out of steam and when tehy go, a few clubs will struggle.

As I said...IMO!

[batumgoesthedynamite]

definately in a downward spiral, the meeting last night highlighted an overgrowing sense of unhappiness and disillusionment from usually enthuiastic club members.

to many clubs looking for players from juniors all the way to seniors. to many clubs period.

not enough volunteers, coaches etc

the game is being spread to thin to quickly.

[John Cena]

1) Adelaide City's club rooms/facilities appear to be non-existent (as of 15/2/09)
2) Cumby looking for a Key position player in February 09 - what da!
3) Fulham have 3 GK's whilst Cumby have none?
4) Metro have recruited VERY heavily
5) Sturt's looking for a Prems coach in Feb 09??

2009 will be an interesting interesting year.

Is Metro on the rise and Cumby and Fulham on the nose?

FFSA will see the huge drop of registrations this season to the fact of no reserves div this season, in saying that, can someone explain to me why a championship winning prem division coach would go coach u15s at a struggling club,?/, money???? and for relegation this year in the prems i would think will be out of campbeltown or para hills

[slazenger]

1) Adelaide City's club rooms/facilities appear to be non-existent (as of 15/2/09)
2) Cumby looking for a Key position player in February 09 - what da!
3) Fulham have 3 GK's whilst Cumby have none?
4) Metro have recruited VERY heavily
5) Sturt's looking for a Prems coach in Feb 09??

2009 will be an interesting interesting year.

Is Metro on the rise and Cumby and Fulham on the nose?

FFSA will see the huge drop of registrations this season to the fact of no reserves div this season, in saying that, can someone explain to me why a championship winning prem division coach would go coach u15s at a struggling club,?/, money???? and for relegation this year in the prems i would think will be out of campbeltown or para hills

Maybe she wanted to quit while she was ahead

[ballmaster]

Rumors are that some clubs can pay a lot of money by private sponsors to attract coaches/players other clubs cannot pay. Same applies for certain players to attract to certain clubs. Nothing uncommon unfortunately not every club has the dollars to spent.

[Easy Tiger]

Hey Metro must be rich as to attract all those players that moved there

I wonder if all players get paid or only some. I heard "some" clubs were paying some players and offering money to recruit.

Why isn't anyone paying me!

[Easy Tiger]

Rumors are that some clubs can pay a lot of money by private sponsors to attract coaches/players other clubs cannot pay. Same applies for certain players to attract to certain clubs. Nothing uncommon unfortunately not every club has the dollars to spent.

So that's why TJ went to coach at a club that doesn't even have a prem side...for all that money!! But seriously why did she go to Adelaide Uni to coach juniors?? Wouldn't she be better off doing state or something?

[povman_2009]

Rumors are that some clubs can pay a lot of money by private sponsors to attract coaches/players other clubs cannot pay. Same applies for certain players to attract to certain clubs. Nothing uncommon unfortunately not every club has the dollars to spent.

So that's why TJ went to coach at a club that doesn't even have a prem side...for all that money!! But seriously why did she go to Adelaide Uni to coach juniors?? Wouldn't she be better off doing state or something?

Maybe she wanted to...

[Unretired]

I believe that she went to that club because she use to play there and she wanted a new challenge.

I say good luck to her... At least a some 15 year olds are going to get an excellent coach.

[billy the kid]

I thought it was just my perception but a few ppl are reiterating my thoughts.

The league is tired and uninspiring and there's a big risk it will just go down down down.

The changes in admin and structure neeed to happen a few years ago when we suggested a change needed to occur.

Too late now.

[shorty]

Trace is one of the best (i heard) detectives in Adelaide - somehow i dont think she needs the money!!

Good luck to her i think its awesome she has gone to a club like Uni - she is prob trying to get Uni back in the prems division..

[billy the kid]

The good people get thrashed whilst the no hopers sit around and bask in their own glory. Think about it!
This attitude will spell the end of the glory days of womens soccer.

There is no vibrancy about the place anymore. Its like the group of girls who were part of state, sasi, prems have grown up, moved on, commenced a career and left the sport. Old adminsitrators who pulled their clubs along for years are always the last person standing. Their lives have been put on hold because of their club involvement. Does anyone else have the passion to take over? Who will run Olympic like George or Stefan at City? Or Marie at Metro??? Many others I know but just ponder.

Changes to structures (too little too late) and the same old same old heads around who cannot inspire anyone have contributed to the "poor state" of the game. I am very concerned at where things are going!

[povman_2009]

What have you done to help Billy ?

[billy the kid]

Done plenty at all levels of the sport. Been the lone hand many times and the way some parents carried on...you'd think we at clubs got paid to do the job. Here is a typical recount for many of the club officials.

Quick to complain however when it comes to putting up nets, running the line (very small impost on people) they run a mile. If we all did that, who'd run the show? Where would there daughter's play.

After a long day...I'd head to the ground. Get training started. But not before:

1) get calls from some players who are not coming
2) Answer questions from players and parents
3) get the players (who'd bother to turn up). Apparently coaches and managers don’t have a life.
4) keep myself motivated after copping abuse from parents and players
5) deal with committee members from the boy’s/men’s club who want us to train at the pitch at the back of the club where lighting and safety was poor
6) Feel like the sport is a joke…the under 8 boys have more rights
7) Work late after training to deal with “fires” coaches from other teams. SAWSA
Keep players motivated when only 5 or less come to training
Game day….Who’s turning up? The calls are coming through.
9) Who’s got the strips? Who’s washed the strips but is not playing today. Are we wearing the home or away strips.
10) Put nets up mark the pitch, meet with players. Who’s running the line. Not the mum’s (they shrug their shoulders). Dad’s give the body language of ….I’m here to watch my girl…ask someone else…or better still

11) You get paid coach/team manager…you run the line, put up nets, mark the pitch, set up the change room, wash strips, run the canteen, etc

12) Then at year’s end….at the presentation night…the club president comes up to you and says “glad you had a good time…next year can you and the coach/manager run the bar and serve the food.? “

This lasts for about 8 months of the year.

Yeah well. I’ve done my bit. Am I whingeing? Nope. Do I want the game to prosper? You betcha!

Club officials are the unpaid heroes here. not the federation or sasi.

[povman_2009]

Been there done all that for the last 5 years, and so have many others, so I agree with you, apathy rules. It just seemed you were dumping on the comp, keep up the good work and don't let the bastards grind you down.

[pvfc]

Been there done all that for the last 5 years, and so have many others, so I agree with you, apathy rules. It just seemed you were dumping on the comp, keep up the good work and don't let the sherry grind you down.

Same here for the past 5 or 6 years.... At least we are seeing an increasing number of 'juniors' parents taking active roles in our club these days though, so it's not only the same few people doing the work year after year any longer.

There are still quality players out there, it's just that they (and all the players who are just there for the fun & social side of it) are now being spread too thinly as clubs try to expand the number of teams they have faster than the number of new players enter the sport.

[billy the kid]

The profile of the sport is non-existent.

When the Ladies Reds were playing....coverage was absolutely disgraceful.

Local league coverage is useless

The parents who have and are helping out are far and few between. My concern is that we don't have any good administrators coming thru to take over and push the game along. Most ppl involved do so because they have daughters involved.

A few years ago a suggestion was made that on a Sunday a centralised spot should be used in which 3-4 games are played. That way ppl will be more inclined to go somewhere where there is a buzz and there are facilities. Instead on any given Sunday its a case of players...2 black birds a seagull a couple of girlfriends/boyfriends a mum and dad. Usually the canteen facilities are shut coz the junior boys look after it and once the boys are done....its closed.

A single venue to showcase the Womens game is what’s needed. Stay as separate entities the game will DIE! The idea went no where because a few years back things looked ok. A few years on…its dire straits

[povman_2009]

The profile of the sport is non-existent.

When the Ladies Reds were playing....coverage was absolutely disgraceful.

Local league coverage is useless

The parents who have and are helping out are far and few between. My concern is that we don't have any good administrators coming thru to take over and push the game along. Most ppl involved do so because they have daughters involved.

A few years ago a suggestion was made that on a Sunday a centralised spot should be used in which 3-4 games are played. That way ppl will be more inclined to go somewhere where there is a buzz and there are facilities. Instead on any given Sunday its a case of players...2 black birds a seagull a couple of girlfriends/boyfriends a mum and dad. Usually the canteen facilities are shut coz the junior boys look after it and once the boys are done....its closed.

A single venue to showcase the Womens game is what’s needed. Stay as separate entities the game will DIE! The idea went no where because a few years back things looked ok. A few years on…its dire straits

I love the idea of a central single venue that would be perfect ... a place to call home...

[shorty]

yeah but billy while u say the coverage was disgraceful - remember the united boys were in the ACE, World Football, Youth boys were doing really well...

we cant expect to stamp our authority in the first season.

the coverage of womens football and the "lady reds" or whatever they are called!!!! it will get better - time is needed.

also when our results get better the coverage in papers/tv etc will start coming....

[prefly]

Billy you are dead on the money with the centralised venue. It's a fantastic idea. Where is a suitable area around Adelaide, maybe two venues one south, one north

[prefly]

No!, just one venue, wouldnt be central if there were two.

[billy the kid]

Thanks for the positive replies peoples.

Not meant as a whinge session/topic however, teher's something not quite right with the soccer scene and I am concerned.

Yeah...2 venues North and south is great.

It makes sense. Womens clubs are struggling with many aspects of running a club. Centralsie the venue/s and provide excellent facilities that way spectators will come. I am sure there are some great sthn and nthn suburbs clubs that have facilities and would want to sub-let them out. I for one woudl be happy to see other teams playing and would encourage people to stay and would provide an excellent atmoshpere. Centralise admin centralise catering centralise playing fields makes sense. Otherwise the clubs will fold.

SAWSA PARK IS NOT AN OPTION!

[Commando]

SAWSA park is a joke

i think its a good idea also

[Dr.D]

I believe FFSA are currently working on a project to develop a centralised facility, that would incorporate admin, coaching and development etc, as well as offer 2 or 3 pitches for use by state teams, and also for hire etc

This was raised at last years SAWSA Delegates meeting where FFSA CEO attended. I understood from that meeting that they were in talks with the State Government and other bodies about locating a suitable exisiting venue to build onto, or locate some land to develop.

But obviously this is going to take time, but it does seem to suggest that the federation is in fact in agreeance with people on this forum and the need for a quality central facility!

[Leppskiii]

i can see the positives of a central venue but i often look forward to the northern games where i dont have to travel as much as i do every other day of the week

[pvfc]

The idea has some merit - just needs some commitment from FFSA to organise venues, resources etc.
I assume people are suggesting a central venue for perhaps only Prems games? You could then also consider including div1 and div2 - this would mean a total of 12 or 13 games in a day. This would require a location with preferably 4 good quality full size senior pitches.
The other way to look at it would be to try and schedule one game fom each division (including juniors) at a central venue each week. Including junior age groups and their 'grades' this would also give about 12 games each sunday and give all girls /womens teams the opportunity to play at any "central venue' at least once a year.
To start incluing any more than this would probably mean that there wouldn't be anywhere big enough!

The only other issue would be that clubs may need to receive some portion of revenue from the centralised function - or they just lose their opportunity to raise revenue at their home games which many rely on to 'stay afloat' financially.