ITS TIME SAWSA WAS ACCOUNTABLE

[John Cena]

i think its time we look at this organisation and say how many more players are we going to lose interstate before we take our league seriously , the structure is old fashioned no room for flexiblilty and its time we had a new head coach for the state team, we are going to lose players like dey, alagich and co to interstate teams and please stacey nothing against you but well done for talking a risk to further your career, its time sawsa did the same thing before the other states see us a breeding ground and future for there leagues, yes this will upset a few ppl but reality is no underachieving company or organisation has the some ppl in charge that has not progressed forward, its time for some big changes up top

[Trevor]

Silence speaks a thousand words!!

[Tottenham Hotspur]

You can say what ever you want till your red in the face, but are they listening??
To many self serving people for the game to go forward at this stage

[SAD GAL]

Excellent.

Unfortunately its a regime akin to Russia and Pakistan.

All aspects of the women's sport will need an overhaul. No disrespect to those in charge however take the personalities (for sawsa at least) out of the equation, there needs to be a change.

How does the ball get rolling? People need to unite because if clubs go before sawsa seprately, they will howled down. As a group united it cannot be ignored.

For those players we are losing its sad. However more will go.

[Dr.D]

The trouble is actually uniting the clubs. The Delegates who represent the clubs often represent their own views on what is best for the game, rather than the interests/opinions of the club and what is best for the women's soccer community as a whole.

If I had a dollar for everytime I came on here and heard people lamenting over a decision made by SAWSA, when in fact the decision was based on a suggestion made by a majority of delegates, i would be supremely rich!!

[John Cena]

The trouble is actually uniting the clubs. The Delegates who represent the clubs often represent their own views on what is best for the game, rather than the interests/opinions of the club and what is best for the women's soccer community as a whole.

If I had a dollar for everytime I came on here and heard people lamenting over a decision made by SAWSA, when in fact the decision was based on a suggestion made by a majority of delegates, i would be supremely rich!!

well in that case sawsa should go to the clubs not the clubs to sawsa i have been to past delegates meetings were the committie is clock watching to hurry things up....ahhh your right the silence sais a thousand words

[Dr.D]

Coyote, thats what the Delegates meetings are, SAWSA giving the clubs an opportunity to have input, are you suggesting they should have a sit down meeting with each of the clubs in turn and have a discussion???

[BillShankly]

Coyote, thats what the Delegates meetings are, SAWSA giving the clubs an opportunity to have input, are you suggesting they should have a sit down meeting with each of the clubs in turn and have a discussion???

it wouldnt hurt for it to happen once a year i spose. You probably would get a lot more honest answers from it.

[John Cena]

Coyote, thats what the Delegates meetings are, SAWSA giving the clubs an opportunity to have input, are you suggesting they should have a sit down meeting with each of the clubs in turn and have a discussion???

yes they should,before every season or once a month or every couple of months go out to a club training and speak to the coaches and see the methods each club uses,one thing i dont agree with is the the head of sawsa has a involvement with a club they should be a neutral person i will never forget the 2000 bailetti cup final when metro was down against adelaide city and the metro coach started harrasing and questioning every decision the ref made and ofcourse who she was the game changed and metro won

[Dr.D]

Don't SAWSA host a Premier League Coaches meeting at the end of every season?? Think of how many clubs there are, and then think of the number of staff SAWSA have.... I can sense your frustration, and I agree 100% that something needs to be done to move forward, but the unfortunate truth is there are not enough volunteers in the game as a whole, let alone the women's arm, so yes the Board is made up of people with interests at club level. Is this ideal, absolutely not. But I've seen first hand how many nominations we get each year for Board Members. ZERO or one.

I just can't see how its possible for the resources SAWSA have to be stretched to accomodate visits to all clubs when there are so many of them now, clubs will invariably be left out with this approach, and that's not acceptable either.

The Delegates meetings are a forum for all clubs to be represented and heard, to have a vote on all major decisions.

Clubs need to make sure their delegate is representing them and the game properly.

[SAD GAL]

Many people had tried in the past to get onto the Baord. Nominations made (I've seen them) and they were defeated by what can only be described as a close knit group.

These people have either recoiled to their clubs and given up trying to get on the Board to make a difference OR have left the game altogether.

To look at a very very recent period in history, can give a distorted picture.

How to revitalise interest in becoming a Board member? Needs to be new people at the top so that confidence can be restored.

[Dr.D]

Many people had tried in the past to get onto the Baord. Nominations made (I've seen them) and they were defeated by what can only be described as a close knit group.

These people have either recoiled to their clubs and given up trying to get on the Board to make a difference OR have left the game altogether.

To look at a very very recent period in history, can give a distorted picture.

How to revitalise interest in becoming a Board member? Needs to be new people at the top so that confidence can be restored.

Were these nominations in the last 2 years???? Because only two new people in the past 2 years have nominated to sit on the SAWSA Board.

My point is the RIGHT NOW when we need them to achieve what you want to achieve which is CHANGE no one is putting their hand up. If those people had put their hands up at the AGM at the end of last season, they would have been voted onto the Board UNOPPOSSED due to lack of interest.

If you know who these people are, let them know to come along at the end of this year, because I can almost quarantee you the same thing will occur.

[What the?]

Can I ask then.... Why is no one putting their hand up?

Is it because the SAWSA board are so close knit that they wouldnt be heard anyway????
So they have a why bother attitude or is it because no one is interested in Womens Football at present.

Most delegates meetings take 30 mins at most with no one asking anything?? Surely its the clubs reponsibility to put their views forward on what they want.

[Tottenham Hotspur]

I feel its more than who ever it is on the board at any given time. There HAS TO BE big changes for the womens game to go forward and it is in the structure of the league(s) and associated squads etc. Yes the board is part of it but I guess the question is that if the current board are deaf or just stubborn to change things for the better then maybe they should go. Then let it be run by 'others'.

[KrAzY]

What qualifications or pre-requisits must one have to apply for the board?

[Dr.D]

There's a whole application form where you have to state qualifications etc and outline why you would be a suitable candidate etc, you should be able to get a copy from your Club Delegate.

It doesn't matter anyway because someone with no soccer background what-so-ever would walk into a role at the moment, if they were the only ones applying.

[KrAzY]

I figured that there would be but im asking..
specifically do you know or does anyone know what qualifications are required!?

[old_trafford]

I figured that there would be but im asking..
specifically do you know or does anyone know what qualifications are required!?

I dont think any specific qualifications are required for any type of board membership with the exception of having a "Valued Input".

Sometimes being organised is useful, being able to listen to people and "hearing" what they are saying, but most importantly being able to make decisions/recommendations based on common interests for the future of womens football

I think ....??

[KrAzY]

Thanks OT!
i would have assumed the same..
however i figured since no-one ever applies there must have been some hard or high standards one has to meet to be a board member

[Dr.D]

Nope not really. Probably the thing that keeps a lot of people away is the committment of their free time.

[John Cena]

I feel its more than who ever it is on the board at any given time. There HAS TO BE big changes for the womens game to go forward and it is in the structure of the league(s) and associated squads etc. Yes the board is part of it but I guess the question is that if the current board are deaf or just stubborn to change things for the better then maybe they should go. Then let it be run by 'others'.

no flexiblity at all as sawsa, i didnt have free weekend so i sent a email to sawsa asking if they can hold it over the week, my response was it look into it....that was 2 seasons ago......we will not get stronger in this state with the current board, we will be the laughing stock of the states, the breeding grounds that interstate clubs can pick and chose and for players that wana take there game to the next level have to leave the state

[Trevor]

we will not get stronger in this state with the current board, we will be the laughing stock of the states

maybe the back waters of other state

[Missing Post Count]

Maybe

[Tottenham Hotspur]

I feel its more than who ever it is on the board at any given time. There HAS TO BE big changes for the womens game to go forward and it is in the structure of the league(s) and associated squads etc. Yes the board is part of it but I guess the question is that if the current board are deaf or just stubborn to change things for the better then maybe they should go. Then let it be run by 'others'.

no flexiblity at all as sawsa, i didnt have free weekend so i sent a email to sawsa asking if they can hold it over the week, my response was it look into it....that was 2 seasons ago......we will not get stronger in this state with the current board, we will be the laughing stock of the states, the breeding grounds that interstate clubs can pick and chose and for players that wana take there game to the next level have to leave the state

Its a pity that players have to or need to leave this state, but I personally feel that part of the blame comes back to 1. coaches for not pushing players to play beyond their means and to play a lot more attractive style of football ( maybe some are out of their depth) 2. players to take the whole sport alot more seriously (socialize after the game not before, for an example) 3. the refs they have to get serious about their standard in the womens game as they are letting down the players, coaches and themselves by the way they act or ref at times. It would not be tolerated in more higher / professional comps. And isnt that what we are all after, a more higher standard and more professionlism in this state, then maybe the players wont readily leave this state.
Of coarse there are other areas that need to / have to be fixed as well

[adelaidepie]

Hello All,

I have been watching from the outside while being involved with another top level sport but have now stepped into the fold as a caoch. Some of the shocking, silly decisions coming out of SWASA are just mind boggling.

Take these for a a couple of examples.

The SWASA ground last year was used for the semi finals of the cup yet the ground used by Fulham and Metro was far from suitable. A large mound which looked like a pitches mound was then follewed by a divet in the groud area. thsi was totally unsafe.

Why clubs can use any player they like as long as they have not registered for another club and or played in the grade above for cup games and yet when the semi finals come around the players have to have played five games! what the! would man u sign a player and not be allowed to play them if they were not cup tied? You bet they would not allow this to happen, yet SWASA does.

Semi finals being played at SWASA's ground. one game goes into extra time yet official goes home. no one switches the lights on so the game can not be completed this is just ameatur stuff. Any fool could see what was going to happen yet no 'official' could.

So from an outsider looking in and seeing this surely, surely the teams can see this and know this?

Thanks

Adelaidepie Julian

[Ibrox]

To be honest guys, I think EVERYONE associated with women's football in this state knows what all the problems are. It seems whoever you speak to has their own problems and stories about unbelievable things that go on almost daily.

I think the question we should all be discussing is not WHAT is wrong, but rather HOW do we fix it?

And maybe, even more importantly, WHO is going to do it? Because all the whinging in the world isn't going to make one blind bit of difference until someone (or maybe even more!) gets up and does something about it.

[SAD GAL]

Mate
You agree that there are problems. Right?

IT IS therefore problem of the FFSA, SAWSA and its board to deal with it. Last time I saw, there are people at the FFSA that get paid to set direction, deal with issues and ensure the growth of our game.

For mine. There needs to be leadership and accountability for each of those who are employed to manage the affairs of the game. This cannot be argued against. To say "WE have to fix it" is wrong.

No other organisation can morally (or with justification) absolve itself of its responsibility.

The Job & Person spec of office holders at FFSA stipulate their function!

Leave the clubs to do what they are there for. to manage the game at their club. Abide by the rules and regulations and promote this wonderful game. Everything else is YOUR problem!

To be honest guys, I think EVERYONE associated with women's football in this state knows what all the problems are. It seems whoever you speak to has their own problems and stories about unbelievable things that go on almost daily.

I think the question we should all be discussing is not WHAT is wrong, but rather HOW do we fix it?

And maybe, even more importantly, WHO is going to do it? Because all the whinging in the world isn't going to make one blind bit of difference until someone (or maybe even more!) gets up and does something about it.

[Ibrox]

Um, I think the very first thing I said was that there ARE problems in women's football in south australia, so yes I feel it's pretty safe to assume that I agree that there are problems.

I also felt that the entire point of this post was to discuss the fact that while SAWSA, it's board, and the FFSA are supposed to provide leadership and accountability within women's football (I completely agree with you on that point), they AREN'T.

I think that's the main problem that a lot of people have, and forgive me if i'm wrong and i've misread the sentiments of the people on this post and the people to whom I have spoken over the past four years i've been involved in the women's game.

It's no good sitting back and saying, 'well they should be fixing it themselves, that's what they get paid for right?' if they aren't actually doing it!

It then becomes the responsibilty of the other people involved in the game, if they have a problem with the way things are run, to find solutions.

Whether this is as simple as saying to SAWSA and the FFSA, 'we aren't happy with the way things are being run, fix it please' i don't know, i'm just saying that if people percieve that a problem exists, and that nothing is being done to fix it, you need to actually DO something in order to bring about change!

[John Cena]

Um, I think the very first thing I said was that there ARE problems in women's football in south australia, so yes I feel it's pretty safe to assume that I agree that there are problems.

I also felt that the entire point of this post was to discuss the fact that while SAWSA, it's board, and the FFSA are supposed to provide leadership and accountability within women's football (I completely agree with you on that point), they AREN'T.

I think that's the main problem that a lot of people have, and forgive me if i'm wrong and i've misread the sentiments of the people on this post and the people to whom I have spoken over the past four years i've been involved in the women's game.

It's no good sitting back and saying, 'well they should be fixing it themselves, that's what they get paid for right?' if they aren't actually doing it!

It then becomes the responsibilty of the other people involved in the game, if they have a problem with the way things are run, to find solutions.

Whether this is as simple as saying to SAWSA and the FFSA, 'we aren't happy with the way things are being run, fix it please' i don't know, i'm just saying that if people percieve that a problem exists, and that nothing is being done to fix it, you need to actually DO something in order to bring about change!

have you tried to make a point to sawsa and get a outcome........your lucky if you get a answer

[Dr.D]

I think it's important to realise that at the moment, we are not a part of the FFSA, we are merely working WITH them. Therefore FFSA has no obligation to assist SAWSA. SAWSA is just ONE full-time employee and that's Wendy Carter. The Board is made up of Volunteers.

I'm not sure how much some of you expect one person to accomplish without the help of the clubs. It's your game people - get involved, talk is cheap.