Shambles

[John Cena]

Sturt coach has quit, olympic to fold as players have gone to fulham, whats going on with our game in adelaide

[adelaidepie]

If this is true it is really sad.

I know for a while on here we have been talking about how the divisions needs to be reorganised. Now it appears that the FFSA has started the long road to putting this into place and now teams are folding, loosing all their players or just genuniely struggling.

I am not sure whether this has come about by all of the changes being a little too late from the FFSA or clubs being able to take players from one club to another to easily and or whether guidelines have been put into place too late to save teams and lastly whether it is all just too hard to run women's teams away from the men's teams!

I am not trying to blame but disect where this has gone wrong. When I first strated getting involved with women's football there where 5 or 6 strong premier league teams with 4 teams of equal strengths behind. Some had strong reservse teams as well while some not so strong. Since this time the reserves league was made state league, then back to reserves then to div 2 then back to reserves.

At times teams where kept in the top league while other teams knocking on the door wheren't promoted. I suppose if we all had a crystal ball way back when, there should have been some rules about new clubs, where they started how they were starting. How promotion and relegation should have been put in place and teams should know at the begining of the season if they finished top or bottom this is what is going to happen. This didn't always appear to be the case, hence even now we have no idea about premier league or state league competition.

This has surely lost clubs players over the time and also again I say this with no disrespect to any team but clubs start demand / ask to be put into high grades with minimal support, EG extra teams behind them and then slowly die because they can't substain the teams or numbers. Add to this clubs taking players across from one club to another or a new team which desimates the old team to only be reborn as a new club!

I would say now is the time the clubs need to stand together with the FFSA sort out why it is dying, what needs to be done to fix it and start with a 5 year plan for the future.

This may mean promoting teams up the ranks who have a strong team but not the required second or third team. Hopefully they will be able to build on being promoted and then attract players to their club and get the ball rolling!

Lastly, the comment about not being with the boys! I know that some clubs the boys take the women's competition as micky mouse or use the women's teams as a way of getting money in for the boys, this if happens its wrong and the women's teams deserve respect as any team does. The clubs need to work together and if this could / does happen may help to reduce the $ for paying for extra pitches and uniforms!

All in all this is sad times and I wish any club / team the best of luck getting everything sorted. If the FFSA has any agenda to talk about what is happening this needs to be advertised and get coaches and committee people in to openly talk about the good, bad and everything inbetween because sadly it looks like if this doesn't happen the competition could struggle for a time until the clubs can regroup and step up to those heady days of old.

Adelaidepie Julian

[scipio africanus]

The league can't afford to lose any teams, let alone entire clubs.

the warnings signs have been present for a number of years.

[southern]

This is absolutely disgraceful.
Sturt used to be a strong club, and they have good and dedicated people there who really care about women's soccer. The truth is that FFSA are unable/unwilling to really care for the sport. They seem to care only about the money and the state teams, but when will they realise that the whole game is going down? The way I see it, you can't always blame the clubs and the players. People lose interest because the structure is pathetic.

[pvfc]

How much truth is there in these rumours? Is it really that bad or just s##t stirring?
Has the Sturt coach definitely quit? How many players do they (Sturt) have left?
How many players have actually left Olympic to move to Fulham? I've only heard of a couple moving there.... Or is that all the players Olympic have left? (surely not?!)
i really hope it's not all as bad as is being suggested.

[John Cena]

How much truth is there in these rumours? Is it really that bad or just s##t stirring?
Has the Sturt coach definitely quit? How many players do they (Sturt) have left?
How many players have actually left Olympic to move to Fulham? I've only heard of a couple moving there.... Or is that all the players Olympic have left? (surely not?!)
i really hope it's not all as bad as is being suggested.

coach has definately quit.......

[L4OTH]

4 girls showed up for Olympics first training of the year

[themagnet]

4 girls showed up for Olympics first training of the year

is this the same club won the Cup, and came 2nd in the league? What the hell happened!!

[rain maker]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

[haywood djablowme]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

Loyalty in the Womans game... huh went out the window along time ago when FFSA/SAWSA started to only look after the top 2-4 clubs! Metro, Metro, Metro & City ohhh chuck in Fulham & olympic

I believe you wont see a team from Parafield Gardens playing in this level

[BlackBrian_7]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

[scipio africanus]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

Loyalty in the Womans game... huh went out the window along time ago when FFSA/SAWSA started to only look after the top 2-4 clubs! Metro, Metro, Metro & City ohhh chuck in Fulham & olympic

I believe you wont see a team from Parafield Gardens playing in this level

care to elaborate on how this alledged FFSA favouritism manifests itself with the four clubs mentioned and what constraints are imposed on Parafield Gardens from playing at what I assume is a Premier League level?

I look forward to an informed reply .....

[SAD GAL]

Need I say anything else??? told you so.

[BLACK SWAN]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

Loyalty in the Womans game... huh went out the window along time ago when FFSA/SAWSA started to only look after the top 2-4 clubs! Metro, Metro, Metro & City ohhh chuck in Fulham & olympic

I believe you wont see a team from Parafield Gardens playing in this level

care to elaborate on how this alledged FFSA favouritism manifests itself with the four clubs mentioned and what constraints are imposed on Parafield Gardens from playing at what I assume is a Premier League level?

I look forward to an informed reply .....

Yes i too look forward to your informed reply...

[haywood djablowme]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

Loyalty in the Womans game... huh went out the window along time ago when FFSA/SAWSA started to only look after the top 2-4 clubs! Metro, Metro, Metro & City ohhh chuck in Fulham & olympic

I believe you wont see a team from Parafield Gardens playing in this level

care to elaborate on how this alledged FFSA favouritism manifests itself with the four clubs mentioned and what constraints are imposed on Parafield Gardens from playing at what I assume is a Premier League level?

I assume you both play or associated with one of these clubs mentioned.

The hoops ffsa require you to jump thru to be able to place asenior team on the park, a 1 club team can not fulfill the requirements set by the ffsa, along the lines of multiple juiour teams starting from u/13's up, must kick off at 3pm etc etc! A club, if unable to fulfill these requirements can not enter a team in the state league or above! Hence why we can not sustain this environment when we dont have the inferstructure to meet what is required.

Bunch of girls at parafield have worked very hard to play at that level but are soon brought down by rules &regulations set by ffsa that the top clubs can meet ( cause they already have the required set up) but us smaller clubs can not. Alot like what happened to gawler!

I know most will disagree but all clubs need to be given the chance, not just support the big clubs and set the guidelines out of reach!

Plus we are a SAASL club & ffsa don't like them :wink

So if all is so good how many clubs have applied to join the elite competition in 2012?? Or are alot like us & can not meet the guidelines set out & are not willing to speak out

I look forward to an informed reply .....

[beaches]

So are Fulham. wink wink.

[muts]

Adelaide University offered money to a lot of the players, thus making it appear to be a much more appealing playing environment. The things players will do for a little bit of cash, it's sad really. What ever happened to loyalty?

Loyalty in the Womans game... huh went out the window along time ago when FFSA/SAWSA started to only look after the top 2-4 clubs! Metro, Metro, Metro & City ohhh chuck in Fulham & olympic

I believe you wont see a team from Parafield Gardens playing in this level

was it 2008 or 9 that FFSA ran to give Sturt their cup before the minor rounds were finished?
I think you may be new to the game or just confused.

[scipio africanus]

care to elaborate on how this alledged FFSA favouritism manifests itself with the four clubs mentioned and what constraints are imposed on Parafield Gardens from playing at what I assume is a Premier League level?

I assume you both play or associated with one of these clubs mentioned.

The hoops ffsa require you to jump thru to be able to place asenior team on the park, a 1 club team can not fulfill the requirements set by the ffsa, along the lines of multiple juiour teams starting from u/13's up, must kick off at 3pm etc etc! A club, if unable to fulfill these requirements can not enter a team in the state league or above! Hence why we can not sustain this environment when we dont have the inferstructure to meet what is required.

Bunch of girls at parafield have worked very hard to play at that level but are soon brought down by rules &regulations set by ffsa that the top clubs can meet ( cause they already have the required set up) but us smaller clubs can not. Alot like what happened to gawler!

I know most will disagree but all clubs need to be given the chance, not just support the big clubs and set the guidelines out of reach!

Plus we are a SAASL club & ffsa don't like them :wink

So if all is so good how many clubs have applied to join the elite competition in 2012?? Or are alot like us & can not meet the guidelines set out & are not willing to speak out

I look forward to an informed reply .....

how does FFSA applying a set of guidelines equate to 'looking after 2-4 top clubs'?? Clubs are encouraged to apply to joining the the State/Prem league, but logic dictates that they should have a structure in place suitable to meet the demands of those leagues.

you haven't given one example of how favouritism was shown by the FFSA to a select few of 'top clubs'.

as far as I know, those 'top clubs' want an expanded, vibrant competition. Its it no one's interests to have a 6 team competition monopolised by a few.

if you knew more about the women's game, you would know that those 'top clubs' you refer too, have had their fair share of 'issues' with football in this State, and the FFSA cannot be accused of favouritism to a select few.

[The General]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

[scipio africanus]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

whether the FFSA's guidelines for clubs participating in State/Prem League are correct or not is another debate.

Haywood's accusation that the 'top 4' clubs are 'looked after' by the FFSA is unfounded and I'm yet to read one example backing up this claim.

[southern]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

Excellent point.
And yes, there has to be a big shift, no doubt. Every year things are worse for clubs and this can only mean one thing - that the structure is just not there. Not saying that FFSA are directly responsible - like they didn't go there and told the players to go to Uni and Fulham...but they are the ones who manage the sport so they are obviously accountable for the state of things. The people who have brought the game this far must be thanked and replaced. How many years can you fail before you learn? They changed league format, cup format, created so many "elite" squads, brought in a "Technical Director" (lol), got a W League team, appointed a Head of Women's Football...but still don't understand that the clubs are the most important thing! Clubs keep being shafted year in year out and blamed for everything. FFSA, HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO REALIZE THAT WHATEVER YOU ARE DOING AIN'T WORKING?
No clubs=no league=no soccer. Look at Campbelltown, Sturt and Olympic. Who's gonna be the next? When every player will have joined Uni, are they going to play on their own?
It would be nice sometimes to hear some explanations from FFSA, considering the fees that clubs pay...for what?

[Fitz]

Olympic have lost 5 players, who more than likely would have been in the first team fold to FFSA Development squads alone this year. Its an excellent concept in theory by FFSA, but clubs need to get on their feet and to be well established before they start taking players.

As was said before, no clubs (SOLID, well founded, well run clubs) = no football.

However, many people are mising the other point in that many young women simply dont want to play. Many players are getting to the age of 21/22 and choosing to do other things. Fair game to them, but many of the girls are half-assed about the game, and that leaves some who are very serious about it left hanging to dry. Players need to be more serious about the game, not just the administration.

[scipio africanus]

Olympic have lost 5 players, who more than likely would have been in the first team fold to FFSA Development squads alone this year. Its an excellent concept in theory by FFSA, but clubs need to get on their feet and to be well established before they start taking players.

As was said before, no clubs (SOLID, well founded, well run clubs) = no football.

However, many people are mising the other point in that many young women simply dont want to play. Many players are getting to the age of 21/22 and choosing to do other things. Fair game to them, but many of the girls are half-assed about the game, and that leaves some who are very serious about it left hanging to dry. Players need to be more serious about the game, not just the administration.

losing 5 first team players leaves a massive hole for any team Fitz.

so where does Olympic now stand???

[John Cena]

very sad to see how fast it has gone downhill. heads need to roll.,...

[Fitz]

Olympic have lost 5 players, who more than likely would have been in the first team fold to FFSA Development squads alone this year. Its an excellent concept in theory by FFSA, but clubs need to get on their feet and to be well established before they start taking players.

As was said before, no clubs (SOLID, well founded, well run clubs) = no football.

However, many people are mising the other point in that many young women simply dont want to play. Many players are getting to the age of 21/22 and choosing to do other things. Fair game to them, but many of the girls are half-assed about the game, and that leaves some who are very serious about it left hanging to dry. Players need to be more serious about the game, not just the administration.

losing 5 first team players leaves a massive hole for any team Fitz.

so where does Olympic now stand???

Just received the call, and to put it bluntly, Olympic is no more. Paul and others worked their proverbials off (especially Paul). We lost 5 girls to development squads, some to Uni (due to a combination of player payments for some, and for others, the promise of making the W-League squad), and others to Fulham. We had some who really, really wanted to play, but there just arent enough committed players (various factors attributing to this).

Its very, very dissapointing as both Paul and myself have spent a lot of money to improve our coaching abilities by attaining new qualifications through the new National Curriculum licensing structures, by asking questions, going to presentations and by researching.

I didnt want to post about the troubles of the club, as we really thought that through the new committee forming, and with myself and Paul's caoching abilities, the club would continue this year and begin to flourish once girls realised the potential for the club, and more importantly, for themselves as players. We believed 100% in our abilities to improve the girls as players and to create a formidable club with a strong junior set up, but people had just given up hope. Now its official and there is no club, people deserve to know what is happening as it has implications for the competition and the state of the womens game here.

See you all at games this year, Im sure Il'l come and see some of our girls for their new clubs this coming season. Good luck to all.

[scipio africanus]

Olympic have lost 5 players, who more than likely would have been in the first team fold to FFSA Development squads alone this year. Its an excellent concept in theory by FFSA, but clubs need to get on their feet and to be well established before they start taking players.

As was said before, no clubs (SOLID, well founded, well run clubs) = no football.

However, many people are mising the other point in that many young women simply dont want to play. Many players are getting to the age of 21/22 and choosing to do other things. Fair game to them, but many of the girls are half-assed about the game, and that leaves some who are very serious about it left hanging to dry. Players need to be more serious about the game, not just the administration.

losing 5 first team players leaves a massive hole for any team Fitz.

so where does Olympic now stand???

Just received the call, and to put it bluntly, Olympic is no more. Paul and others worked their proverbials off (especially Paul). We lost 5 girls to development squads, some to Uni (due to a combination of player payments for some, and for others, the promise of making the W-League squad), and others to Fulham. We had some who really, really wanted to play, but there just arent enough committed players (various factors attributing to this).

Its very, very dissapointing as both Paul and myself have spent a lot of money to improve our coaching abilities by attaining new qualifications through the new National Curriculum licensing structures, by asking questions, going to presentations and by researching.

I didnt want to post about the troubles of the club, as we really thought that through the new committee forming, and with myself and Paul's caoching abilities, the club would continue this year and begin to flourish once girls realised the potential for the club, and more importantly, for themselves as players. We believed 100% in our abilities to improve the girls as players and to create a formidable club with a strong junior set up, but people had just given up hope. Now its official and there is no club, people deserve to know what is happening as it has implications for the competition and the state of the womens game here.

See you all at games this year, Im sure Il'l come and see some of our girls for their new clubs this coming season. Good luck to all.

Mate, this is sad news for Olympic and women's football ... Its amazing that for a team who were raging favourites for the title last season, finished runners up and won the cup, are now no more in the space of months.

With great uncertainty surrounding some of the few remaining clubs, if this isn't a crisis of women's football, I don't know what is.

[Fitz]

Yeah mate, very shocked, as when I applied for coaching gigs at Olympic for this forthcoming year I sat and spoke at length with Paul regarding how the club was going to be run and was impressed with Paul's vision. I went to games at the end of last season, and to the cup final, when the girls performed brilliantly to win it. However too much damage has been done in previous years, and the players had given up.

It hurts a bit as Paul and the committee had done a lot of work to improve the situation, and we believe having been given the chance by the players, we would have restored Olympic to the very top of the womens game locally, and started to produce excellent players worthy of representing the nation, not just in the W-League.

[themagnet]

Any news on what's gonna happen to the juniors Fitz? Is that side of the club going to be maintained, with the hope of rebuilding, or do those girls need to find new clubs too?

[Fitz]

no junior sides Magnet.

[haywood djablowme]

I am not sure if this is a similar scenario as to what Haywood was talking about, but my daughter was part of a newly formed women's club at the beginning of 2000, and the team won their way up through the divisions each year, and got to div 1 ( there was still the Res + Prems divisions above us at that time) After our first season, we generated enough interest to field 2 senior teams, and we were growing.
However, when we got to division one, we were informed that we wouldnt be going any higher unless we had junior teams. Because of that ruling,we lost a few of our players because they were ap-poached by other clubs, with the incentive of playing higher. I tried to tell them that if we stuck together and won division 1, we might have a geniune case.
That was not to be, and without those players,we still finished 3rd, and only lost 2-1 to a Prem side in the cup round ,so i feel the team would have been competitive.
Like the point I think Haywood was trying to make, and rather then SAWSA come up with some ideas/ways to help, they put all these enormous hurdles in front of us, like our Coach had to upgrade his license, had to change kick off times which werent suitable for us, had to have junior teams ( coach was working on that ) it all fell apart from there.
What's the worst thing that wouldve happened if they let the team play Prems, could it have made the competition any worse then it is now ?
How long has the competition been going,25 - 30 years, have only maybe 4 viable Premier league clubs ? Maybe there needs to be a shift of titanic proportions in some people's focus.

whether the FFSA's guidelines for clubs participating in State/Prem League are correct or not is another debate.

Haywood's accusation that the 'top 4' clubs are 'looked after' by the FFSA is unfounded and I'm yet to read one example backing up this claim.

Sorry I didn't provide examples skippo, but yet I will also point out I gave you a response yet you failed to answer my questions? I will take from your response you do play or involved with the mentioned clubs or your closely involved with the association!

Look between the lines, Olympic, campbelltown gone! Talk of other state league teams going, who knows who else has not express intrest in playing again, girls looking elsewhere as game has gone down hill the list could go on and we have all read it on here before so to me the attraction for girls to continue playing has diminished. Keeping this all in mind the powers to be make clubs, wishing to play elite football, pull players out of the community from somewhere to fulfill some unrealistic criteria that only the well established clubs 'top 4' can fulfill year after year!

I was the coach of the gardens girls for the last 3 years and it's very disappointing that it has to be this way but for some reason the league thinks the competition is heading in the right direction