Amateur League Where Are We Heading?

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

The Saturday and Sunday Premier Divisions are going from strength to strength. More and more quality players being attracted to these clubs.

Clubs are being successful in obtaining Government Grants and improving facilities.

Clubs also getting increased exposure in the local print.

However we are hearing more and more clubs are close to extinction in the lower divisions and increasingly so due to a lack of volunteers. Is this a passing trend or is it likely to increase in the future?

Is there anything that can be done or should be done?

[Steve#4]

Unfortunately it will only get worse, every one wants to play but only a few want to help run clubs. Most clubs would fail if their current committees stood down. It used to be seen as a privlidge to be a part of the committee but now you will take anyone that is willing to lend a hand. Tale of the times unfortunately.

[robinfriday10]

join stronger clubs forming C and C2 teams......

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

Agreed that is what it is going to happen but both Saturday and Sundays could end up with two divisions each for promotion and relegation in the very near future.

[lionman]

Unfortunately it will only get worse, every one wants to play but only a few want to help run clubs. Most clubs would fail if their current committees stood down. It u sed to be seen as a privlidge to be a part of the committee but now you will take anyone that is willing to lend a hand. Tale of the times unfortunately.

Sometimes not the case can b quiet the opposite

[Caretaker Coach]

It is a sad situation, where the apathy virus is slowly creeping in like a cancer. In the past few years, ( speaking from my own experiences ) seems less and less are players showing the initiative to get involved with helping out with off field duties and responsibilities. More then once I have played my C team game, run the line for the B's, then run the line for A's ( no one else offered ) started to take the nets down after the A's game, everybody else headed into the bar.........not real good for a club in a top division.

I am sure some of you have similar stories, and needless to say I am not at that club anymore, and I love the game too much to give it away.

Coaches could help by encouraging players to get involved, instead of having the "he's a 1st team player he dont take nets down or run the line " mentality, and then , those same players complain about not having water in their drink bottles and asking someone to put more air in the balls, and usually dont help pack up after training - while some of them may be superstars, it does not make them exempt from those off field duties, and that is where the apathy virus starts - either cure it, or get rid of it, will cause irrepairable damage.
It is bad enough when you have a full committee to deal with that type of attitude, but when you only have 2 or 3 people running the club, it is really annoying and you get fed up really quickly.

How many players do you have at your club that have actually show some initiative and come up and ask "what can I do to help? "

[Lucas Leiva]

It is a sad situation, where the apathy virus is slowly creeping in like a cancer. In the past few years, ( speaking from my own experiences ) seems less and less are players showing the initiative to get involved with helping out with off field duties and responsibilities. More then once I have played my C team game, run the line for the B's, then run the line for A's ( no one else offered ) started to take the nets down after the A's game, everybody else headed into the bar.........not real good for a club in a top division.

I am sure some of you have similar stories, and needless to say I am not at that club anymore, and I love the game too much to give it away.

Coaches could help by encouraging players to get involved, instead of having the "he's a 1st team player he dont take nets down or run the line " mentality, and then , those same players complain about not having water in their drink bottles and asking someone to put more air in the balls, and usually dont help pack up after training - while some of them may be superstars, it does not make them exempt from those off field duties, and that is where the apathy virus starts - either cure it, or get rid of it, will cause irrepairable damage.
It is bad enough when you have a full committee to deal with that type of attitude, but when you only have 2 or 3 people running the club, it is really annoying and you get fed up really quickly.

How many players do you have at your club that have actually show some initiative and come up and ask "what can I do to help? "

Well said. I guess some players have always played at clubs where things are done for them and have never really experienced the true "community" factor of being involved at a SAASL club.

In the last few years we've had players from As through to Cs on the committee and that's benefited in getting that voice out amongst other players to play their part. Without the smallest amount of help from all, there'd be no club for everyone to enjoy.

[Željko Jurin]

Do you think it's a $$$$ thing ??

Sounds like more and more $$$$ are being thrown around at amateur clubs, and some players think that because they are getting paid now, they must be good, and hence don't have to do anything off the pitch to help the club out ?

[Ga Pala]

Spot on Zelko. The money in the league is a joke. Why clubs would pay so much to win the Amateur league is bewildering.

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

Ga Pala these clubs that are paying decent money will tell you that they are not living beyond their means and can afford to do so.

If that is the case, good luck to them, they have strong clubs.

The problem will come when other clubs trying to compete start spending $$$ they cant afford.

I dont think $$$ is an issue as much for Saturday sides as it is for Sunday sides.

The question I have for the big Sunday clubs is, in a perfect world, would you move to the Feds?

[Jay Walking]

More and more players are joining the SAASL though and new teams appear every year. Its hard in the lower divisions no doubt but its easier at the same time.

Having the ground and facilities is the first step, having a good coach, a committed group of players and a group of helper/supporters is the next step.

In regards to playing in the Federation, no interest what's so ever. We couldn't afford to.

[OldRedback]

Why would the big Amateur clubs go to Feds when they would be penalised financially for drawing lower crowds and playing at a lower standard?

[doddsy]

I think the amateur attitude is changeing! It used to be what u could do to help your club , nows it seems to be what can a club give you . Its not every one just few but you would not want it to be contagious.

[Robbo]

I think the amateur attitude is changeing! It used to be what u could do to help your club , nows it seems to be what can a club give you . Its not every one just few but you would not want it to be contagious.

Club will always struggle with volunteers, its nothing new.. it is a concern though

I have been involved in amateur soccer for 20 years now and the biggest change is clearly how much money gets thrown around at players.

10 years ago players were content playing for a few beers after a game, I think PHE used to give their players a $30 or $40 beer voucher (or something) these days the Parafield Gardens and Elizabeth Downs types throw thousands of dollars at individual players. These guys must have football budgets of $60,000 plus !!!! Its just ridiculous, but a sign of the times

[Cobweb Rides Again]

Robbo,

May I suggest you snap out of that 'Reality Distortion Field'.

If you keep saying it, you will only start believing it!

[robinfriday10]

phe paid $30 a win and $20 a draw in 1992 over the bar only.....mind you a beer was only $2 so the equivalent of $60-$75 in todays money..all relevant....

if clubs bring in large sponsorship what are they supposed to do with the money?? pay the bills, add to assets and improve playing list..

[The Wise Monkey]

Why would the big Amateur clubs go to Feds when they would be penalised financially for drawing lower crowds and playing at a lower standard?

I think you have an over inflated opinion of the Amateurs. All these superstars that I see in the top amateur teams are there for the most part because they struggled to get a game at their Fed clubs,Downs Salisbury recruit the exception. Bottom 3 of the State league maybe but thats where it ends. Good point on the crowd and finance.

[Paleon Patros Germanos]

Why would the big Amateur clubs go to Feds when they would be penalised financially for drawing lower crowds and playing at a lower standard?

I did use the words, in a perfect world. So say you could play home games on a Sunday and fees + ground specs were relaxed, would clubs then make the move?

[barney]

The thing I love about the Amateur League is you put up with the sub standard football in order to see some quality hacking, serious brawls, endless threats especially to referees and more often than not a full on brawl & pitch invasion.

[Stuckey]

It seems to me that the only clubs that will survive are the large ones with a great support base/culture. But thats so sad that those club get so large. Look at Old Iggies they have about 8 teams now it seems. Good on them but its sad that they have literally hundreds of players who want to play and other clubs struggle to get enough for an A's and B's squad.

Why doesn't the SAASL or FFSA make it easier for people to set up their own club?
For example me and mates live around Glenunga area and want to play football. We go to join up with Iggies but see the club is huge with loads of side so we take it on our own to start up a small club of our own. We start in Sat or Sun in the lowest div and the SAASL supply us with a ground which we hire each week and maybe supply us shirts and equipment it would be like paying fees to your club say $200 per season per person but that goes straight to the SAASL. 15 players X $200 = $3000 probably enough to get that all sorted (if you want the SAASL to supply the club with a referee or a accredited coach that wil cost you more). Maybe after a season or two we get more players, we vote for a committee and get volunteers so we decide we can go it alone and we don't need the SAASL to get as a ground, shirts and equipment. I realise it isn't as simple as that but i think with help from the governing body it could be a step in the right direction and a nice little earner for the SAASL.

I think people need to realise that these aren't football clubs they are community clubs. So often they are a place of community support where like me a guy can move to a new area, join a club and make friends relatively easily. Now there are three igredients to make that happen, Volunteer support, local business sponsorship and local government support. Without these a club will always be fighting a probably losing battle.

[Wraith]

Why doesn't the SAASL or FFSA make it easier for people to set up their own club?
For example me and mates live around Glenunga area and want to play football. We go to join up with Iggies but see the club is huge with loads of side so we take it on our own to start up a small club of our own. We start in Sat or Sun in the lowest div and the SAASL supply us with a ground which we hire each week and maybe supply us shirts and equipment it would be like paying fees to your club say $200 per season per person but that goes straight to the SAASL. 15 players X $200 = $3000 probably enough to get that all sorted (if you want the SAASL to supply the club with a referee or a accredited coach that wil cost you more). Maybe after a season or two we get more players, we vote for a committee and get volunteers so we decide we can go it alone and we don't need the SAASL to get as a ground, shirts and equipment. I realise it isn't as simple as that but i think with help from the governing body it could be a step in the right direction and a nice little earner for the SAASL.

Er, like the SAASL or FFSA don't have enough to do, they'd need to supply you with a ground, shirts, equipment.

If you were serious about starting you're own club, you should be prepeared to put in the hard yards and do it yourselves instead of asking the governing body to do it, if not, then there's plenty of other existing clubs to join.

[BlackBrian_7]

Er, like the SAASL or FFSA don't have enough to do, they'd need to supply you with a ground, shirts, equipment.

If you were serious about starting you're own club, you should be prepeared to put in the hard yards and do it yourselves instead of asking the governing body to do it, if not, then there's plenty of other existing clubs to join.

This is where I think a lot of the transience comes from in the amateur league, clubs are allowed to be formed with only a whisper of organisation and commitment. When individuals lose interest the clubs die.

It will probably be the nature of the lower leagues to be fairly unstable which is another incentive for your club to get into the top leagues.

[KING NUGGETT]

Its a very simple solution, with 160 odd Clubs set that to be a limit of Clubs for 5 years. No New Clubs to enter our Association till a Clubs folds. Then direct all the players to current Clubs in our Association who are lacking in player numbers & support. I went to the Gardens 17yrs ago to play football, I ended up doing 10 years on the committee if I didn't go there I wouldn't have done that.

Adelaide Vikings are a perfect example of the challenges our Association & Clubs face, 2 years ago they were playing in Division 1, Now there is talk about them folding in Division 2 due to lack of playing numbers & support. Then our Association accepts a New Clubs nomination for 2012 instead of directing those players to The Vikings, It really doesnt make any sence at all & it almost seems that the SAASL are working against them?

WTF do we need more Clubs when you have existing Clubs struggling for player numbers & support? It doesn't make sence to me. Players who want to play should be directed to existing Clubs, Not New Clubs!

[KING NUGGETT]

Why doesn't the SAASL or FFSA make it easier for people to set up their own club?
For example me and mates live around Glenunga area and want to play football. We go to join up with Iggies but see the club is huge with loads of side so we take it on our own to start up a small club of our own.

Stuckey instead of starting up your own Club why don't you & your mates go play for Adelaide Vikings they are a good Club with Great History Excelent Grounds & they play in Div.2 ???

[ExtraTime]

Clubs have started and folded throughout the history of the SAASL . Whether its due to money issues, volunteer issues or lack of players. And we don't need to generalize to say only the wealthy will survive . I'm sure there are quite a few clubs that have been involved in the SAASL for over 20 years that are still playing in the divisions below the top.

Who is to say that a new club starting now doesn't become successful in the next 10-15 years. Yes plenty will fold by the wayside but there will be those that survive .

[Rodent]

Our History
In early 1965, eight factory-based teams gathered to kick-off their first season of organized soccer. This was the birth of the "Sunday Industrial League". It changed its name to become the South Australian Amateur Soccer League the following year.
New clubs came to join the founding eight clubs, and the fledgling League soon grew to become a major force in South Australian soccer. Many firsts were to follow as the League followed a policy of growth and new initiatives.

The Future
From its inception in 1965, steady growth has been the pattern of the League's development.
The SAASL is well prepared for the challenge of the dramatic increase in player and club members and is well able to extend its Current excellent level of service in order to accommodate them. Already the League has clubs and administers competition in outer Suburban and country districts from Greenock in the North, Murray Bridge in the East and Victor Harbour in the South

Future Aims
The aims of the League are clear.
They are:
• To provide, for amateur players, a competition run to the highest standard, without limitation as to age, race, religion or location throughout the State of South Australia.
• To improve the publicity of, and public perception of, amateur soccer, so as to foster the continued prosperity of the sport throughout South Australia.
• To encourage and assist new clubs wishing to participate in organized amateur soccer competition.
• To provide for the benefit of amateur soccer in South Australia, a strong, united voice within the hierarchy of soccer administration in this country.
• To do all these things whilst having regard for the amateur nature of its membership, and therefore keeping club costs at the lowest possible level

[KING NUGGETT]

No Sh*t Sherlock,

My point is that if people want to play Football like Stuckey & his mates, just because Iggis have no room for them they don't have to start there own Club!!!

WHY NOT PRINT OUT THE AUSTRALIAN CONSTITUTION AS WELL ???

FK'N BRAIN SURGEON ...

[ExtraTime]

http://www.aph.gov.au/senate/general/co ... onstit.pdf

Here is the constitution for you King Nuggettt

[KING NUGGETT]

FK' BRAIN SURGEON'S!!!

[Aldo Serena]

MSSC Blue Eagles (formerly MSSC Newton City) has been around for 33 years and we have only spent two or three of those years in Division One and spent one season in Division Four. We have been a Div 2/Div 3 club for the majority of our existence. We have not been hugely successful in terms of titles, etc but we have been able to keep a decent squad of players over the years, and have been a two-team club for all of those years.

bloodypassit's comments below are quite right, you don't need to be wealthy or have constant success to keep a strong club together.

My only issue with new clubs starting up is that you often find their facilities are usually sub-standard. In this day and age, I don't think there is any excuse to not provide a changeroom and a shower. I know this is the Amateur League, but there must be some minimum standards before clubs a let in. I have always thought the SAASL could assist with grants/loans to clubs (in conjunction with councils where applicable) to help upgrade facilities to at least a minimum standard.