Cobweb Rides Again wrote:All these players jumping clubs, is and has happened for ever and a day under our current structure!
This new structure, as I see it will initially see a flurry of activity but will reduce the player drain to a trickle over the years.
To Matty2323, I have seen the passion you have for your players and teams you are involved in.
Your club is currently reinventing itself from the inside out, with new blood, ideas, genuine passion and a determination to lift itself.
Just as you instil belief in your junior players, and the belief of yourself as a player, you must also have the belief that your club will climb its way to the top.
That climb will not happen over night, but with the right planning, foresight and fortitude you will make it........but then what,
it will get easier?...., because all these talented juniors will flock to your club?......I don't think so,....because you would have got there with your own home grown crop of players who have been given the opportunity to play and express themselves with your club.
I've been around a number of clubs now and seen some of these really talented juniors right through the grades (U6 to U17's), and as you know not every one can or will
"go on with it".
'Lets not throw the baby out with the bathwater, just yet.........lets just refresh the bathwater and see how baby likes it.'
Firstly, thanks. Those who speak to me know i want a change at junior level, especially at Playford. I don't think the current structure is perfect, but i do believe that kids should be playing against opposition suitable to their skill level (divisions - and that means promotion and relegation).
Having said that, i like the idea of zones and if you want to really adopt "community feel", then i love the idea of club boundaries. I know many clubs have put in programs over the past 5 years, some 5 years ago, some this year and id like to see those plans come to fruition. I see Raiders and Metro as a benchmark, they put a plan in place for sustainability and the future. I see Playford in the infant steps of this process, with some people at the club putting in huge amounts of time and effort.
My major concern is the first 2 years if this program is implemented. Lets say each SL club loses 10-15 of its players. Realistically 5-7 of those may go on to represent the club at senior level in the next 3-4 years. Thats a HUGE hit for Playford. As a club who struggle to attract first team footballers, let alone match the wages of other clubs, what happens to the club?
Senior players leave to seek new competition as they see no future at the club. (you only have to look at the start of this season, we lost more then 10 players as a senior team). This means we have to push kids up to fill the ranks. Now kids who are struggling in their own age group and being forced to play out of their depth. They can no longer concentrate on developing technically because they're struggling to compete physically with boys older then them.
Clubs with financial stability will be able to withstand the initial "shake up" of this kind a set up, but those without it will struggle. You get volunteers fighting up hill battles, they leave because 60 hours a week as a volunteer is too much. Normally volunteers are parents of those kids who have "talent". They normally leave when their kid does. What happens to the club then?
When i refer to Raiders as it always has its "community", i talk about the Croatian club. Home games were packed, but 90% of the people there were sitting inside playing cards. The ladies working behind the bar, all croatian ladies who have grown up at the club. Not every club has this. Just because some clubs can pull themselves up from the dirt, dosen't mean every club can. Look at Gawler, i know some people out there who put in alot of effort, but they say its just impossible cause they cant get things off the ground.
and then lets say we give it a go and after 5 years and what ive predicted comes to fruition... what then? We've lost 4-5 clubs, many SL clubs are no longer competitive and cant fill junior teams... think the current PL clubs will care? doubt it.