Would you increase fees to FFSA if...

[Stretch]

Would you be willing to pay a higher fee to the FFSA per child if it was ringfenced and guaranteed to be spent in a specified area. If so, what and how much?

I read on one of the other topics about the Comets-Playford game and how the Playford coach was happy that his team had played the right brand of football even though they had lost (he also indicated that the Comets team had played the same way). I wish there were more like them as there are still too many teams that are booting the ball long and relying on athleticism to win games.

I would like to see FFSA coaches visiting clubs unannounced on match days and watching some of the games. After the match they should discuss what they have seen with the coach (good or bad) and also send a report to the club. If the team, for example, has clearly not made any effort to play out from the back or has left 4 defenders on the edge of the penalty box for the entire match then the club are given a warning. After a period of time the FFSA coach would go back a second time. If there has been no visible improvement in the teams approach to the game then they receive a 2nd warning and told they will be docked points if it has not changed by the third visit. The docking of points is not only a penalty for the team, but also handicaps the club as prospective parents will be aware of the reason for the deduction and not want to take the child there (one would hope).

I appreciate this would take a significant increase in the number of coaches employed by the FFSA, but assuming they would also be available to mentor clubs by attending training sessions or coaching the coaches it would be money well spent. Haven't seen the skilleroos this year, but thought they were a joy to watch last season. The execution won't be as good, but every team should be trying to emulate that style.

I'm not sure exactly how many kids are registered with the FFSA, but must be close to 10000 if not above. It wouldn't take a significant increase to fund an extra 4 or 5 coaches, which could change the direction of our game.

I should add that I think our brand of football is improving, but some clubs or certainly teams within clubs could do with a nudge.

Avoiding the obvious of paying for more referees, what would you like to see and how much would you be willing to pay?

[themessenger]

Would you be willing to pay a higher fee to the FFSA per child if it was ringfenced and guaranteed to be spent in a specified area. If so, what and how much?

I read on one of the other topics about the Comets-Playford game and how the Playford coach was happy that his team had played the right brand of football even though they had lost (he also indicated that the Comets team had played the same way). I wish there were more like them as there are still too many teams that are booting the ball long and relying on athleticism to win games.

I would like to see FFSA coaches visiting clubs unannounced on match days and watching some of the games. After the match they should discuss what they have seen with the coach (good or bad) and also send a report to the club. If the team, for example, has clearly not made any effort to play out from the back or has left 4 defenders on the edge of the penalty box for the entire match then the club are given a warning. After a period of time the FFSA coach would go back a second time. If there has been no visible improvement in the teams approach to the game then they receive a 2nd warning and told they will be docked points if it has not changed by the third visit. The docking of points is not only a penalty for the team, but also handicaps the club as prospective parents will be aware of the reason for the deduction and not want to take the child there (one would hope).

I appreciate this would take a significant increase in the number of coaches employed by the FFSA, but assuming they would also be available to mentor clubs by attending training sessions or coaching the coaches it would be money well spent. Haven't seen the skilleroos this year, but thought they were a joy to watch last season. The execution won't be as good, but every team should be trying to emulate that style.

I'm not sure exactly how many kids are registered with the FFSA, but must be close to 10000 if not above. It wouldn't take a significant increase to fund an extra 4 or 5 coaches, which could change the direction of our game.

I should add that I think our brand of football is improving, but some clubs or certainly teams within clubs could do with a nudge.

Avoiding the obvious of paying for more referees, what would you like to see and how much would you be willing to pay?

Giving warnings, second warnings and docking points? Sounds draconian.

Are you forgetting these coaches are volunteers?

If there is any spare money lying around, it would be better spent on giving junior coaches a small remuneration for all the hours they volunteers to kids football and encouraging them to upskill their coaching qualifications rather than penalising their team.

I think the number of registered junior players is less than 5,000.

[terminator]

All well and gd if the team is all full of gd ball players.

And what if the team isn't and has a few weaker links - can the coach not tweak the game plan as at 12s and above you are playing for points and cups.

What if an FFSA rep comes as you suggest and the coach that week has decided to modify the game plan to suit the occasion.

Think you are over analysing it - let the FFSA try and run the competition as it can't even do that let alone pay out xtra money to them to do this.

They should try and concentrate on getting refs to games and running a comp that is a laughing stock - the amateur league runs a better comp than these jokers.

The game will never go forward while there are 2 "main" leagues that don't talk to each other and consistently trying to take players away.

[Stretch]

Thanks for the feedback, although that wasn't really the point of the topic. What would you be willing to pay for to improve our game? Give us your ideas rather than be continuously negative.

I've coached for years, I'm on the committee and help out running the line, putting up the nets etc etc so yes I understand most coaches are volunteers, but not sure of the relevance. My idea was to help them or at least the ones that want to be helped. The coaches that just want to win the points should probably make the transition to the senior game as I don't think they should be coaching junior football. With the exception of the cup, which could be an opportunity for teams to go all out for a win, I see no reason for teams to change their system to try and get a result rather than further the development of players.

If you are genuinely concerned that a coach cannot display any sign of improvement over a period of time (lets say 2 months) then would you want him coaching your child? Are there actually parents out there that are happy for their son to just boot the ball out of the park every time it comes near the 18yd box rather than play it out or watch as the ball sails over their son in midfield as the ball is booted long once again for the pacey striker to chase? Surely you cannot condone that.....

[Nice One Cyril]

Thanks for the feedback, although that wasn't really the point of the topic. What would you be willing to pay for to improve our game? Give us your ideas rather than be continuously negative.

I've coached for years, I'm on the committee and help out running the line, putting up the nets etc etc so yes I understand most coaches are volunteers, but not sure of the relevance. My idea was to help them or at least the ones that want to be helped. The coaches that just want to win the points should probably make the transition to the senior game as I don't think they should be coaching junior football. With the exception of the cup, which could be an opportunity for teams to go all out for a win, I see no reason for teams to change their system to try and get a result rather than further the development of players.

If you are genuinely concerned that a coach cannot display any sign of improvement over a period of time (lets say 2 months) then would you want him coaching your child? Are there actually parents out there that are happy for their son to just boot the ball out of the park every time it comes near the 18yd box rather than play it out or watch as the ball sails over their son in midfield as the ball is booted long once again for the pacey striker to chase? Surely you cannot condone that.....

Now there's a coach with the right idea.

[de niro]

Make coaching courses free, put them on regularly (weeknights, Saturdays, Sundays) and enforce compliance with a rule that all coaches must be accredited. Hard to argue against getting your creds if it's free. Once eveyone's on the same level education wise then 'splits' in approach should be minimal.

Also, ditch the points below U16.