NPL and CEO Capital Football Discuss Some Football Issues - Part 2

This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday at 7:00PM.

The Mens and Womens Premier League competitions are underway.

In the Womens PL its Belconnen United, Woden Valley FC  and Western Creek that have jumped out to an early lead. Woden Valley has made a particularly impressive start with wins across all grades in the last two rounds, including undefeated records after five rounds for the PL Reserves and PL18s. They are very closely followed by Belconnen United. The two powerhouses in Womens PL football at this time.

The Mens Premier League has completed two rounds and already there are alarm bells ringing. CFC are dominant, although Canberra City came as close as anyone has in 2011 with a 4-2 scoreline against them. Woden Valley FC has been triumphant in all four grades in the first two rounds, a remarkable achievement so early in the season. Cooma has had a very disappointing start by their high standards. Olympic's very impressive young roster is playing fine football and are a serious problme for every club.

But the alarm bells that are ringing loud and long, signal trouble for two PL clubs. Goulburn Strikers are doing it tough and we covered that story last week. Nevertheless, they are contesting every grade, just as they said they would and got their first win in PL18 over Monaro.

Monaro Panthers are in real trouble and it's difficult to know how they got themselves into this position – their PL18 side is simply not to PL standard – by a considerable margin. What preparation did the club do in the off season to construct their team? I understand that they had to start the game against the Strikers with less than a full team. Advertisements now appear on the Capital Football website for players. This is in sharp contrast to the Monaro PL16 team which is very competitive.

It seems to me that the Panthers are more strife than the Strikers. Will Monaro be able to continue to field a PL18 team for the season, because if it unable to do so, will this bring the Clubs involvement in the PL to a premature end? I sincerely hope not – but it is a requirement of the licence to field teams in all grades.

The Strikers and the Panthers have serious deficiencies in their playing strengths. It is most unlikely that either club will be able to resolve these deficiencies for the remainder of 2011 season. The worst case scenario is that one or both find it impossible to continue to field a team in one of the required PL grades. The next worst case is that the losses become more pronounced, which in turn brings other in-season problems for a struggling club.

Each club poses different problems for Capital Football. If Capital Football intends to do something – best its done now and not later. The question is – how flexible will CF be in these matters – because we certainly don’t want to loose either club to the PL, but the weekly destruction of a team is of no value to the PL at any level.

Just how well informed is the Mens League Advisory Committee, what did they glean from any club debriefs they held at the end of the 2010 season, how much homework did they do in the off season and is this committee sufficiently able to manage the Premier League on a continuing basis?

The CF committee appointed to review and recommend PL licences, concluded its work in 2009, so there is not much point in looking back to their work for answers. Things have moved on, and things have changed as they do, which brings us back to the usefulness of the Mens League Advisory committee. And to whom is this advisory committee really accountable? All the other PL clubs? These early but serious stumbles by two of the new Clubs to the PL, together with other important football related club matters, that demonstrate just how important it now is to have the Mens and Womens Premier Leagues managed as a separate entity.

For now, the Strikers and Monaro seem to require some flexible and practical assistance. Looking for new players of the appropriate standard in the ACT is the least likely solution.

All this fits nicely into the continuing discussion the NPL had with the CEO CF.

We continue with Part 2 of this discussion. Remember it’s a discussion, not question and answer. We continue with what seems to be the Womens PL, ACTAS players availability and so on. But its more than that. This discussion goes in its way to the heart of football problems between clubs and CF – consultation or lack of it, competition rules that may or may not be helpful going forward, the rights of players to determine which PL club they wish to play for, how much should CF involve itself in the regulation of players participation in club football, the differing philosophies of the PL clubs, does the CF structure for communication (Club Pres / Regional reps / Standing Committees and so) really work and what is a reasonable level of consultation, how effective and acocuntable are the advisory committees and to whom, how often do these committees meet and with whom do they confer and report, why are Junior clubs limited to one Div 1 team ar age if they have more than one team at the appropriate standard at a time when we are trying to build capacity among talented players not restrict it, what is CF prepared to do to prevent the wholesale poaching of young teams by clubs, if clubs have responsibilities to ACTAS what responsibility does ACTAS have to Clubs (and in particular PL coaches), what happens to players post ACTAS, the impact of the national curriculum and development plan and the increasing roles that junior and PL clubs must play in this process and so on and so on.

You make up your own mind on these matters.

For myself, I think CF has a lot of hard work to do around the issues of communication and consultation with clubs. They seem to be too reactive and not proactive - the Strikers and Panthers Pl predicaments are cases in point. Then their are the Womens Pl issues and Junior clubs issues. I very much doubt the league standing committees have been as consultative and inclusive, as might have been best for the development of the game, and that’s heavy lead to carry in the saddlebags. It seems to me that the CF organisational structure is now not best placed to handle the increasing needs of a PL competition.

Its against all this that the CEO and the NPL speak. As ever, the NPL is pleased the CEO Heather Reid is prepared to talk of these and other matters.

Download Podcast Here:

NPL and CEO Capital Football Discuss Some Football Issues - Part 1

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), across the Australian Community Radio Network, Tuesday, 26 April 2011 at 7:00PM.

This is not so much an interview as a Football discussion - with the CEO Capital Football. Always a pleasure to talk to Heather Reid.

This program does not follow a "question / answer" approach,. Its a discussion and discussions generally don't go that way, they tend to be on an "issue' and simply follow their own path. That's communication. It doesn't necessarily mean "agreement" either, but it does enable the issue to be pulled apart from all angles. That's pretty much what happens in "Part 1" of this "discussion" and the "Parts" that will follow.

The NPL has been critical of a number of Capital Football  policy and implementation matters in recent times. One of the most persistent complaints by Football Club officials, players and supporters is the proposition that "Capital Football" just doesn't consult effectively with Clubs or the wider football constituency - but particularly with Clubs.

This complaint has substance on several fronts and was clearly acknowledged as a major area of concern /endeavour by the new CF President, Racheal Harrigan, during her address at the recent Annual General Meeting which saw her re-elected to the CF Board. The two new CF Board members also focussed their remarks on the same issue. So too the new Technical Director, who was asked to speak by the CEO at the AGM and who has undertaken to work closely with the Clubs in the ACT region. Indeed, the current CEO, with whom we speak in this program, acknowledges the need to make the "communication" issue a priority.

So there it is - its official - there is a serious communication deficit / problem between Capital Football and Clubs. It would appear, as they say, that there is definately an "elephant in the room"!

So how did it get to the point that it is such a problem? I guess there is a lot going on these days.

Nevertheless, it is a matter which imperils the development and operation of the game in the ACT region.

Too often it seems that Capital Football acts as though it is the "client", rather than the Clubs. The current structure both within the Capital Football headquarters and the wider organisational structure, which Clubs are obliged to operate within, does not seem to be well positioned to meet the challenges that surround us today, and certainly not going forward. As one Club President pointed out at the AGM, he was rasing issues at that meeting which he had raised at the last AGM (a year before) and which had from his Club's perspective, got no response from Capital Football.

The Mens and Womens Premier Leagues seem to be very good examples at the present time. Clubs not part of the Premier League which service junior / state league players, or provide teams to Premier League Clubs, and of course the Junior Clubs which focus on players (18 years and under), also have issues with Capital Football. Its easy to see that not all Clubs are configured in the same fashion, that it too say, they service their player / parent constituencies as the need arises and are not always in every player age group or category. Some Premier League Clubs put next to nothing into Junior development, preferring to feed off the work of other clubs. Another tension in the Club mix!

My point is that Clubs are a varied group of Football organisations and its only a fool for an administrator that thinks you can speak to them all with one voice, or no voice at all, and at a distance.

Then there is the issue of the funds that all these clubs need to raise each season to make things work, through their all too small army of volunteers. Capital Football is dependent on the money these Clubs initiate through registrations and development programs. On that basis alone, you would think it wise to engage and manage Clubs with care at close range, rather than risk doing it at a distance in a top down, do as you are told fashion. More talk is better than less with community volunteer orgainsations. Talking, communicating and assisting this diverse grouping that is our Football community, requires skill, patience, flexibility and persistance.

Its a long way from a Club issue to the Zone rep to the Standing committees to whom? Capital Football staff? The CEO? The Board? It just doesn't seem to be always working for everyone outside Capital Football headquarters. That must change - and quickly.

The issues of concern are beginning to stack up. They are the source of aggravation and resentment to Clubs.

Here's how silly it can get.

Its been suggested to me by one CF person that  the lack of complaint  to Capital Football staff by Clubs is a clear indication that all are happy in Club land. Just amazing, delusionary and wondrously self serving was my thought at the time. What type of organisation could possibly allow itself to entertain that notion I asked myself. Hmmm! Hard to communicate anything in this sort of environment - harder for Clubs.

It was also pointed out to me that criticism of Capital Football was criticism of the "staff". In some cases, on some issues, that may well be true. In an environment where there is a lack of effective communication with the football constituency, its not surprising to that Clubs conclude that the decisions are made by "Capital Football"!  And in these circumstances, CF staff take the brunt of cricitism - sometimes it seems earned, sometimes not. Importantly, Capital Football exists to serve the Clubs and the Football constituency, not the other way around. If staff feel unsettled by this notion - move on. The CEO, not the Clubs have the responsibility of keeping the staff focussed and productive and all lines of communication open in all weather states. On the other side of things, Clubs must be prepared to be active communicators and make the process work for them - not remain silent - even when their best efforts seem to bring little to assist them going forward on issues that matter to them. Anything else just gets in the way.

Clubs float on volunteer efforts, they are people who give their time and money to build, maintain and sustain Clubs and they usually have precious little time to dwell on the unsatisfactory nature of CF decisions - they have a Clubs to run so that people can play the game. In the vast majority of cases these people do not get paid  for their work. If Clubs say nothing it’s usually because they feel their views are seldom sort and less frequently acknowledged. When the peak body makes decisions at short notice or gives important advice at short notice, when consultation in advnace was a reasonable expactation at Club level - the outcome does not favour effective communcation. If it’s a choice between making complaint and pursuing the issue with vigour, or, simply doing the ordinary Club business so that players can play – its no contest – do the Club work. That makes Clubs a bit vulnerable, but it does not pave the way for understanding and collaboration.

Clubs that do pursue issues with vigour, risk being perceived as troublemakers at Capital Football and that makes then go a bit quite, but the issues are not forgotten. Capital Football must work very , very hard to achieve effective and continuous communication with Clubs - not just talk to itself about it, nor allow itself to become insulated by a succession of seemingly bureaucratic layers of organisational structure (zone reps, standing committees). Its would be a massive mistake by Capital Football to conclude that silence from Clubs indicates satisfaction or agreement. Where that does occur, they deny access to a wealth of talented people in the Football community. Clubs already know they do not proposer under these arrangements.

The new President of Capital Football is correct to identify the need to communicate with the Football constituency as a top priority. Every other part of the organisational structure (including Clubs) should follow her example.

Just look at some of the range of issues that sit on the table in ACT Football at the moment. You can't fix this lot without Club particpation, mobilising a lot more of the football community's talented / capable / thoughtful  / experienced people that reside in all these Clubs, than is available on a daily basis at Capital Football. You have to work to get their engagement and then you have to keep it:

The game has been progressing very quickly in recent years, particularly so since the FFA's release of the National Football Curriculum and National Development Plan. To that, add a root and branch reworking of Coach Education and Training, so vital to the successful implementation of the curriculum and development plans and a process that reaches down to the youngest playing level in our game. The Premier League Clubs in the ACT region are leaping ahead in their thinking about what it means to be in a "premier league" as they struggle to find the scarce dollars and volunteers to make it a reality. Their thinking seems to be well ahead of Capital Football. The whole "player development" sphere of operations, centred as it is on the Junior Club base, is galloping ahead and probably without much meaningful input from Capital Football to Junior Clubs. The talented player stream has been reviewed to death here in the ACT and by some very smart Football people and what is left now is "action". So what is the plan - in detail? The deficit (that tragic vacant space") in player development post ACTAS haunts the Mens game, while the Womens game enjoys the W League. Problem identified but no solution for the talented young men - yet. Junior Clubs are the real player / parent powerhouse in Football and a few too many seem unhappy with  a range of decisions and lack of consultation by Capital Football, and probably just as unhappy with the Junior Standing committee as an effective means of representing their concerns. For Clubs with juniors, mens and womens teams, teh same can also be said of the Means and Womens standing committees. We campaign our junior representative teams at the National Junior Championships and its all hard work and, despite our coach's best efforts, find our most talented players relegated further down the State / territory team result lists - its seems tobe getting hrader to be competitive - why and can it be fixed? The recent review of the HPP that produced the players for these teams, pointed out that they were not high performance programs. Other States move moved closer to that reality, but not the ACT. By contrast, ACTAS mens have delivered the results, but then, they do have a truly high performance program. The ACTAS womens program is very different in character to the Mens program, the players are often in it for several years, where they have time to mature and develop as players (fantastic outcome). But it has given rise to difficulties with clubs that has as much to do with poor communication, lack of consultation and unnecessary regulation; as it does with the desire of some Womens Premier League Clubs to be competitive and taken new and additional responsibilities for the development of players going forward. Capital Football's involvement in this last matter is not as productive or helpful to Clubs as it might be.  And so it goes.........

In Part 1 of this discussion with CEO Capital Football, Heather Reid, we begin with a talk about the prospect of an A League team in Canberra and that $26m of ACT Government funds that went to the AFL. Then we start talking about the Womens Premier League and the ACTAS womens players. Its a good discussion and their should be more of it. Don't say I agree with all I hear, but I appreciate the opportunity to discuss that subject. You form your own views and if you feel inclined, let the NPL know how you feel about what you hear. Better still, talk in your club. If I don’t hear from you, I promise I won't assume you agree!

So sit back, cup of tea to hand and listen.  Hope you enjoy.

Download Podcast here:

Chief Executive Officer of the Professional Footballers Australia, Brendan Schuab Talks About Issues Around The Professional Football Player

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) through the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday, 5 April 2011 at 7:00PM.

In this interview we speak to the Professional Footballers Australia) PFA Chief Executive and General Counsel, Brendan Schuab. Its a fascinating interview and the observations are drawn from the perspective of an organistion that represents the interests of Australian professional football players, in Australia and overseas. Its a big brief for the PFA and good thing they are their to do the hevy lifting for players, because too many clubs don't when they should.

The FFA emphasises the need to develop and retain players in Australia, but is that always isn't in the interests of the individual player, parents or Australian football. Its cold comfort for young players and their parents in the ACT, to know that the A league, while producing the best standard of football since its inception, is by and large a financial basket case, without a sustainable financial model going forward. Of course, we in the ACT have no A league team and importantly, no Youth League team, so this makes the journey to professional status a bit harder for young best. The collapse of A league clubs has given rise to some unpleasant treatment of players with regard to ensuring that they are paid the monies owed to them. Good thing there is a Football union.

All the more reason to start doing you homework on the professional football environment, agents and so on, before the day arises when you must make decisions. For those parents that harbour desires for their children through professional football - you really do need to get across the subject.

You need all the help you can get to break into and earn a good living in professional football and when that golden time has passed, make a new life and earn a living in the community of your choice.

There is noshortage of obstacles to cross when you embark on the professional footballer's journey. The PFA is a very important organistation for professional players. Go to their website and you will notice that this orgainsation has the support of our current and former very best professional players.

Its important that parents and young players with ambitions to become a professional player, particularly those in elite programs such as ACTAS, become familiar with the "commercial" realities that encompass Football. The PFA seems to be a terrific resource and a trustworthy source of information.

The PFA (Professional Footballers Australia) exists for professional players:

1. Because we are strategically working to improve the terms and conditions of employment and the career paths and opportunities of all professional players.
2. Because we are a truly objective force working towards the advancement of the professional game in Australia.
3. Because we are the exclusive collective voice of Australia’s professional footballers.
4. Because we provide Australian professional footballers with a strong and united voice in Australia, Asia and, through FIFPro, the world footballers’ union, the football world.
5. Because we negotiate collective bargaining agreements for professional footballers that provide both fundamental and cutting edge rights and protections.
6. Because we help our Members find employment.
7. Because we help our Members negotiate playing contracts with their club.
8. Because we help our Members resolve disputes with clubs and football bodies.
9. Because we help our Members in their dealings with player agents.
10. Because we represent our Members in hearings before football and industrial courts and tribunals.
11. Because we help to promote and market our Members and the game.
12. Because we help Members at times of hardship.
13. Because we support our Members’ education both within and outside the game.
14. Because we help our Members prepare for life after football.
15. Because we support the welfare of our Members, both during their careers and afterwards.
16. Because we support our Members, both at home and around the world.
17. Because we help ensure that being a professional footballer is a great profession, and something to be proud of.
18. Because by joining the PFA you will not only help yourself, you will increase our powers to help all professionals

PFA website http://www.pfa.net.au/index.php?id=1

Download Podcast here:

Liverpool FC Coach Makes Some Very Interesting Observations About Playing the Barca Way

Sourced form http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1365644/Kenny-Dalglish-Its-way-Barcelona-play-makes-Xavi-Messi-look-good.html

A lot of analysis of Barcelona is going on at the moment and for good reason. As the "experts" delve into this football organisation, it quickly becomes evident that it is a very elegant and socially responsible football culture. So much more than just a few extravagantly talented players. There are so many lessons to learn from Barcelona, on and off the field. All of it is directly transferable to our football environment here in the ACT.
Lets start by making the Capital Football development regime a loud echo of Barcelona's academy, then it on to Clubs, many of whom have the ordinary, socially responsible attitudes so apparent in the Barcelona Football organisation.
Barcelona's motto is "Move than A Club".  So it is. Dalglish makes that point in a very Football fashion.

It's the way Barcelona play that makes Xavi and Messi look so good

by Kenny Dalglish, Manager Liverpool FC

13th March 2011

Robin van Persie's controversial sending-off in Barcelona should not disguise the fact that the right team went through to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Barcelona, not Arsenal, deserved to be there. They had 20 shots on goal at the Nou Camp and Arsenal, unusually, had none.

You can never say for certain that a team from one era could beat another from 30 years ago but the time has come when it’s legitimate to compare Barcelona with all the legends from years gone by.

There are certain teams who will always be remembered by their generation as the best ever, to be revered down the ages — the Real Madrid team of the late Fifties and early Sixties with Puskas and Di Stefano; Brazil in 1970 orchestrated by Pele; the AC Milan of the Eighties and Nineties with the three great Dutchmen Gullit, Van Basten and Rijkaard.

Now you can add Barcelona to that list, and deservedly so. Many years from now, younger fans will listen attentively to tales of Xavi and Iniesta, who worked in tandem and never gave the ball away, or the wizard Lionel Messi, who scored 45 goals in a season before the middle of March.

Van Persie was unjustly sent off because, even if he saw the offside flag before shooting, there wasn’t enough time between the two actions to prove it was intentional. But, despite the fuss being made about it, we mustn’t lose sight of the bigger picture. Barcelona were a class apart.

Their manager, Pep Guardiola, will watch this week’s Champions League games featuring Chelsea, Manchester United, Real Madrid and Inter Milan with interest but not fear. I don’t think he minds who he gets in the quarter-final draw. But I think everyone else will be praying they avoid Barcelona.

Clearly there is a way to knock them out. Inter Milan did it under Jose Mourinho last year with a supremely disciplined performance in defending the 18-yard box. But to do that, and also score three goals in the home leg, is a very tough call.

Mourinho’s Real Madrid showed that without that discipline you can get hammered, as they were 5-0 this season. Arsenal were better than that on Tuesday night but not tight enough and they couldn’t pose a goal threat either. Barcelona’s principles are world renowned. I wouldn’t say other clubs see that and say, ‘We must copy the way they play’ but, of course, we all try to look and learn.

We have two former Barcelona coaches in our academy at Liverpool and that must tell you something.

What is interesting is that, despite the incredible individual talent at the Nou Camp — they had three nominees for World Player of the Year — the team is king.

The first-team players have been educated to play a certain way since they were kids. If you went to see the B team, I bet their style is very similar to the style we saw against Arsenal.

On top of the world: Xavi, Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta were shortlisted for the Ballon D'Or, with the Argentine scooping the prize

Xavi and Iniesta are rightly lauded but would they look half as good if they went to another club? I think the Barcelona players look great because they play in a system where they trust everyone around them. Maybe if you took them out and stuck them somewhere else, you’d realise that individually they aren’t quite as great as you thought.

Even Messi, one of the most talented players you’ll ever see, wasn’t quite the same when he was taken outside the Barcelona comfort zone and played for Argentina in the World Cup. It is not a criticism of him, just a compliment to the methods that they use at the Nou Camp.

Whatever ability their players have, it is tutored and doctored in the right way. And they make their team-mates look better as well. ........

But irrespective of who Barcelona face, you’d fancy them now. Youngsters today should be glad they are able to watch a team who compare with anything their fathers — or grandfathers — saw in the past.

The 2011 Under 13 Girls FFA National Junior Championships - Don't Miss It!

Competition draw and ACT squad list soucred from the Capital Football website.

The FFA National Junior Championships for Under 13 Girls will be held again in Canberra in the period 18-20 April 2011 (dates inclusive). All games will be held at Hawker Enclosed.

If you can, get to some of these games. The best in Australia at age is on display. They will all play the 1-4-3-3 as required by the National Football Curriculum, and National Development Plan. Its an excellent opportunity, particularly for coaches of junior teams int eh CF competitions, to watch how the various coaches have prepared their teams and how this age group is developing within the current national development regime.

The ACT representative squad is as follows:

1. Jillian Scott (gk – Woden Valley)

2. Gabrielle Risteska (Monaro Panthers)
3. Jamie Berkeley (Woden Valley)
4. Leah Carnegie (Belnorth)
5. Amelia Turner (Woden Valley)
6. Olivia Fogarty (Woden Valley)
7. Nickoletta Flannery (Woden Valley)
8. Lorna Arkell (Radford College)
9. Samantha Roff (Radford College)
10. Sandra Hill (Woden Valley)
11. Grace Maher (Majura JSC)
12. Hayley McLachlan (Woden Valley)
13. Lorena Barbaro (Gungahlin United)
14. Georgia Fogarty (Woden Valley)
15. Iesha De Andrade (Woden Valley)
16. Alexandra Cook (gk – Majura JSC)

COACH: Colin Johnstone
MANAGER: Eddie Senatore
PHYSIOTHERAPIST: Tim McNally

The scedule of fixtures is listed below.

NATIONAL JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIPS


Fixture List

Group A
NSW Metro
Northern NSW
South Australia
Victoria Metro
ACT

Group B
Queensland
Western Australia
NSW Country
Victoria Country
Tasmania

Day 1 – 18th April 2011

8.30am Western Australia v Tasmania

9.30am Northern NSW v VIC Metro

10.30am ACT v South Australia

11.30am NSW Country v VIC Country

12.30pm NSW Metro v Queensland

1.30pm Northern NSW v ACT

2.30pm NSW Country v Western Australia

3.30pm Queensland v Tasmania

4.30pm VIC Metro v NSW Metro

5.30pm VIC Country v South Australia



Day 2 – 19th April 2011

8.30am ACT v VIC Metro

9.30am Tasmania v NSW Country

10.30am South Australia v NSW Metro

11.30am VIC Country v Queensland

12.30pm Northern NSW v Western Australia

1.30pm VIC Metro v Tasmania

2.30pm NSW Metro v ACT

3.30pm Queensland v NSW Country

4.30pm Western Australia v VIC Country

5.30pm South Australia v Northern NSW



Day 3 – 20th April 2011

8.30am NSW Metro v Northern NSW

9.30am ACT v NSW Country

10.30am South Australia v VIC Metro

11.30am Western Australia v Queensland

12.30pm VIC Country v Tasmania

1.30pm All Stars Announcement

2.15pm All Stars v National Champions

3.15pm Presentation

Woden Valley FC Dominates the Elaine Watson Cup Final 2011

Woden Valley (Womens) FC completed a remarkable pre-season competition on Sunday with both the PL Pathways and PL Under 18's playing against each other in the final.

The Woden Valley Club website (http://www.wvfc.asn.au/category.php?id=1) provides this commentary on the game:

"A successful weekend for both the WVFC U18s and WVFC Pathways women was completed when both teams qualified for the Elaine Watson Cup final. A shock was on the cards into the 2nd half with the U18s holding a 1 - nil lead before the Pathways girls pulled away to win 3 -1 eventually. Both teams contributed to an enjoyable final with some good football on display. "

Womens Federation Cup Final Part 1 - Ed Hollis Woden Valley Coach

This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz), through the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 29 March at 7:00PM.

If you didn't get to the Women's Federation Cup final at Mackellar last Saturday, you have my deepest sympathies.

This was a fantastic game, played by two teams who are well coached, were well prepared for this game and played with skill, discipline, flair, passion and total committment. It was everything you could want a game of football to be.

The two teams were Woden Valley FC (defending Womens PL premiers for 2010) v Belconnen United FC. The game concluded at the end of 90 minutes of ordinary time 0:0, then they played 30 minutes of Extra time, still 0:0. Both teams had played themselves to a standstill. A penalty shoot out followed and Belconnen's experienced players saw them win the game for Belconnen United FC.

The player of the match went to the Belocnnen GK and it was hard to argue with her performance. But I just can't let this opportunity pass without special mention of the two Belconnen centre backs, they were absolutely outstanding among two teams of players who were all giving their best. These two Belco players held it all together at the back and  this was clearly a key to the Belco Coaches game plan. Their individual and collective performance was the best I have seen in these two critical positions in the last few years of mens or womens football in the ACT PL. Both players have much to recommend them to ACTAS.

My heartfelt congratulations to all associated with both teams. It was well worth the $5 entry fee that Capital Football cheekly charged spectators. I hope they take the total entry fee contribution and buy every player in both teams new football boots and the two coaches oxygen recovery equipment!

And all this good Football at the end of the Pre-season competition. Amazing! Womens Football is just getting better and better.

There is only one thing I can recommend - rather than me write about this sensational match, listen to the Coaches talk about it. In Part 1 we begin by talking to the Coach of Woden Valley FC, Ed Hollis. In Part 2 we will speak to the Belconnen United FC Coach.


Download Podcast here:

If the FFA National Curriculum Inspires You To Play Like Barca....Lots of Things Have Got To Work Together.?

Sourced from http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/newshome/9033287/for-real-in-salt-lake-barca-style-is-the-model/

The challenge this season in Junior Football in the ACT is to have coahes fully implement the 1-4-3-3  at all competitive levels at each age group. A big job in a volunteer environment!

As a very capable coach in the junior ranks, a coach who has never coached any rep teams, nor does this coach seem to have ambition to do so, who usually coaches Div 2 or 3, remarked to me on Saturday, before the start of the Women's Federation Cup final:

"When I say the "1-4-3-3" , what I really mean is, getting the young players to play a possession style of game, short passing and swift movement off the ball into good space, ready to receive the ball. Keep the ball, don't loose it. When they loose possession, defend as high and as quickly as they can and win it back. Sure, I'll play the 1-4-3-3 structure or its close relative when its 7v7 or 9v9, because that encourages an attacking, possession based game. I refer to Barca because they do it better than anyone else, even the Spanish national team. I know this requires young players with lots of technical skill to play it in a really classy way, and that fact is usually used by  some others to justify not playing this system. Well, to my way of thinking, this sort of argument is just crap. Who says you have to the best to want to play like Barca? The real point of it all is that by emphasising the aspects of individual skill and group play that Barca demonstrates, triangles is the big one, and the FFA national curriculum hopes we will implement, players at every level will get better at the game, enjoy it more, get lots more touches on the ball and stay with the game longer. Its fun to play this way. In that environment we produce more of the best for the nation. If every coach in the Junior age groups gets this going, we will make a big change to the character of football over a couple generations. And it will take that long. But it starts with the local club, Div 3 team, if you get my point. Oh yeah, the one thing that Barca shows my young players is that its OK to take the initiative, be creative, assume a position in space that provides a good option for the attack - not just stand in a pre-determined position like a bloody parade. And that happens with the 1-4-3-3 just like any other playing system. But like Barca, I encourage the players change positions (accept responsibility) as the need arises for short periods, that's OK, while others drop in to to cover them. When I watched the National Youth Championships, I didn't see much of that, which is a pity because without it the team plays like a half baked cake. If they played Futsal more, this would be second nature, but there'slenty of experienced coahes who warn young players off futsal. I haven't coached one player (girl or boy) who didn't get excited watching Barca videos, they know instinctively this is the game. ..."

I wish I could remember more of what his Coach had to say, but the game started and we gave that our attention. This coach struck me as being as up to date as anyone I met in the ACT. And Football is not his day job!



My point is this - we have lots of smart people in Football in our community and the real powerhouse in Football in the ACT region is in Junior Football. It's the Junior Football Clubs in the ACT region that need the support from the FFA and Capital Football. But mostly Junior Clubs say they don't hear from or see much at all from Capital Football and the FFA is just an abbreviation.

Worse still, Club officials seem to complain all too often and seemingly with good reason, of their inability to  get Capital Footbal to take any notice of their needs and ideas for the conduct of competitions and development.

What do you do at the Junior Club if this year your Club finds itself  with a large cohort of players that are graded as Div 1 standard at age, enough say to form two teams? Well the answer is a "no brainer' for the club - enter them both in the Div 1 competition. Give every young player a chance to play to his / her abilities. What then, if you are told by Capital Football that your club is limited to one Div 1 team? A competition administrative rule decision imposed on your Club. First you realised it existed. What do you do with teh team of players that don't get a place in the Div 1 competition? Its a disaster for a Junior Club, lucky enough to find itself in this psosition. Its a disaster for Football! And this is happening right now! How does this approach coexist with the direction the FFA wished to take via the National Curriculum and National Development Plan? Obviously it doesn't and junior Clubs know it and by taking the approach they would prefer in this matter, they seem to demonstrate that they are more in touch with the development needs of young players and intentions of the FFA than Capital Football. As one Club official remarked to me last week - "who makes these decisions?" Who indeed! Good football is underpinned by tip top administrative decision making, responsive to Club needs - and Junior Clubs can't do much about that if they are not engaged in a meaningful and constructive fashion and not by a sub committee or remote adminsitrative decosion making process. However, Zone Reps can, so use them! Sometimes I think the Junior Clubs forget just how much "football muscle" they possess and several of our Junior Clubs are very big indeed.

If we get the national curriculum message across to the Junior Clubs, this pivotal component in our Football constituency, help them to get mobilised to implement it, consult in a more substantial fashion with the Clubs, give them the competition structures that enable it to happen for all players at level, things will change fast.
Coach education and training has made good ground for Football at CLub level and it makes a vital contribution to change and the quality of football outcomes. And that provokes other questions - why not find a way to fund Development officer positions?

The new Capital Football Techncial Director, Royston Thomas made it clear at the Capital Football Annual General Meeting, that he would visit / consult/ communicate/ work with the Junior Clubs. That's a big step in the right direction. We'll hold him to it.

We are not the only ones thinking of these things in Football. This article form the USA, concerning a Club called "Real Salt Lake" who are implementing the 1-4-3-3 makes an interesting read. As they say - we are not alone!


For Real in Salt Lake, Barca style is the model
Simon Evans, Reuters
March 18, 2011, 9:20 am

MIAMI, March 17 (Reuters) - Most of the money and attention in the growth of soccer in the United States has been focused on Los Angeles and New York but the unlikely setting of Utah is where the game has developed in the most attractive way.
Real Salt Lake, founded just seven years ago, coached by a 38-year-old from Nebraska and playing in the suburb of Sandy, made their mark by winning the MLS Cup in 2009.
This year they have reached the last four of the CONCACAF Champions League which is the premier club competition for North, Central America and the Caribbean.
They are winning admirers, such as ex-France striker Thierry Henry, as much for the way they play as for their results. Real have adopted the Barcelona style of aesthetically-pleasing football based on a short passing game and swift movement.
"I believe in soccer being played that way, it's the way I like to watch it, it's what attracts me about the game when teams play a possession-orientated style, " head coach Jason Kreis told Reuters in an interview.

"It is something that I wanted to do but it is something also where you need the right tools to be able to do it.

"It has taken some time for us to get a critical mass -- the right number of players that are technically gifted enough and smart enough to play the way that we are trying to," he said.


While Kreis has never played or coached outside the U.S., his influence is drawn mainly from Spain and, despite his club's name reflecting a cooperation deal with Real Madrid it is their Catalan rivals' way of playing that has made its mark in Utah.
TOTAL FOOTBALL
"Barcelona have probably been playing that way since (Johan) Cruyff," he said, referring to the Spanish club's former Dutch forward and manager who brought 'Total Football' to the Catalan side from his days with the national team.
"I think we try in a lot of ways emulate that style, I think it would be very fair to say that we have Latin American players on our team who like to play that style and it is more a natural fit," added Kreis.

It is an approach which stands in contrast to the perhaps rather dated view of MLS as a physical league with teams who prefer to play a direct form of the game.

"I hope it continues to change in that direction," said Kreis. "I always think it is going to be a physical league because we have very good athletes, we have strong, big guys that can get the job done and can stretch their bodies maybe a bit further than in other places.

"But I would also say that some of the physical side of our game is because we haven't raised our technical ability as high as it probably should be -- the average player in our league is definitely not as technically gifted as the average player in the Premier League or La Liga or the Bundesliga.

"Because of that we have had a lot of poor first touches and poor tactical decisions on the ball which means that defenders can really jump into things," he said.

Salt Lake's approach is based around the cool play of deep lying midfielder Kyle Beckerman whose astute positional sense, vision and composed passing ensure that Real start moves on the floor from the back.

Kreis acknowledged that a direct approach can bring results but would like to see more teams in MLS play a short pass and move style. He believes that would require a major change in the way young players are developed in North America.

"There are lots of ways to look at soccer (it's) just that (the direct style) isn't particularly mine. If all soccer was to be the way I like to see it I think it would have to start well before college soccer. We need to start implementing that in our youth teams and our youth national teams," he said.

Winds Of Change Begin To Blow at the Capital Football AGM

Capital Football held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) last night.

Three Board members positions had been declared vacant (their time had expired and they had to be relected in order to remain on the Board). There were two new people who had nominated for election to the Board. A ballot would therefore, have to be held to establish who would fill the three vacant positions. As they say "game on'!

The voting is done by the current Board members and elected Zone Representatives. A small group. Clubs do not get a vote in this process. That's teh way the consitution is written.

The public can attend. You would expect some of the Football commnity to attend - few do. You would think Clubs would send a representative to attend - few do. I guess some Clubs woould feel that if they can't vote why turn up. I'll get back to Clubs.

All the Capital Football staff attended, indeed, they were the majority in the audience. Curious that, but then, they too are part of the football public, they certainly are at an AGM. From where I sat, a roll call for attendance at the AGM looked like this:

• All Board members attended (probably the best result they have had in a while given the attendance record of a couple listed in the Annual report.)
• Not all Zone reps attended (majority did)
• Only two Clubs (Tuggeranong United and Monaro Panthers) had representatives in the audience.
• The audience numbered 12 persons, 7 of whom were CF staff. One fellow left early, he was sitting next to me, there was a quiet but audible groan and he got up - the combination of the financial report and the CEO's report seemed to do him in, which is a pity because some fo the dicsussion that followed was well worth listening too. The Football public can be so fickle!

I thought the lack of represntation by the Clubs was simply very disappointing.  Now some Clubs were represented by the Zone representatives, who are themselves are office bearrers at thier club (eg Belconnen United, Western Creek, Woden Valley juniors). But the rest were conspicious by their absence. Where were the Premier League clubs and the Junior Clubs? Not good enough. Not when you have legitmate concerns in Football and express them elsewhere. This was Clubland's chance to put these matters on the table, recorded in the minutes. Make the Board, Zone reps and CEO sit and listen till you had talked yourself to a stnadstill. The role of the Zone rep is not entirely clear, Evolving" was teh word used by one Zone rep, which is true. Much more could and should be done by Capital Football to make this process work for Clubs. At the moment, it keeps the Clubs at arms distance form the orgainsation and Board. That's not good for the development of the game.

The thing that gets me is that the complaints you hear at Clubs are signficant (from their perspective) - for example -  "Capital Football" doesn't consult, they don't communicate, they are only interested in the talented players, they atek too much money and what do we get in return, never seen techncial development at our Club, the Womens' game gets too much, they don;t know what it costs to run Premier League football at Club level, they don;t listen to concerns at Club level, they keep too much secret, we they don't get much from Captial Football from one year to the next, when did you last see a Board member at  Premier League game and so on and so on..". Too many to list here. The dialogue is vibrant at CLub level. There is a remarkable pool of talent across all the disciplines / professions among players and parents at Clubs and with that, a lot of good ideas. But you ahev to have a dialogue - both ways - for things to work. AT the present time its seems to be broken both ways.

What message does your Club send to the Capital Football Board, the CEO and staff if your Club makes no effort at all to enagage in forums like the AGM? Without your input CF will definately get things wrong more often, because with the best will in the world, your lack of engagement means they get isolated. Their conversations about the things that impact on your Club are discussed among themsleves. You risk placing them in the position of having themsleves for the Football client. In these circumstances we all risk sub optimal outcomes, things stay the same, group think predominates. We get what we deserve sometimes, and sometimes we get more than we deserve - both are true around Capital Football and your Club(s). But have a good look at yourself and your Club before you hurl the next brickbat. Not bloody good enough, not by half!

But I digress, back to the AGM -  there was a wind of change in the air before the AGM opened. There was every reason to think change was afoot.

Well, this is a wind that seems to have been blowing gently since the last AGM.

The twitter around the grounds and among club officials seemed to be predominantly  one of dissatisfaction with "Capital Football", that easy phrase which captures, often unfairly for some, all Board members, CEO and staff. There are lots of opinions in Football, lots of passion, Clubs have their own view of the world and Football is currently in a process of fundamental reform through the FFA, particularly now in the areas of the National Curriculum and National Development plan. We have some hard problems to resolve here in the ACT, particularly around the provision of good playing facitlties for ever increasing participation rates in the ACT region and the development of players. The challenege is to create a meaningful dialogue with the Clubs,  as President Belconnen United and Zone Rep, Mark O'Niell, ever the forward thinker, pointed out during the meeting. A view that was clearly shared by several of his Member colleagues.

The Capital Football Annual report was tabled and it tells a tale of progress and limitation, and if you look closely, the imposing scope of the task to build our game in the ACT.  Dots points, graphs, good news aplenty, how many times did the Board members attend Board meeting that year (hmmmm!), everyone thanking everyone for all the work, and always, a financial report that is definately worth discussion for the insights and understandings it brings when words elsewhere in the report just don't seem to bring enough clarity. The Treasurer answered questions in an energetic, candid and informative fashion and that helped a great deal.

Then came the election.

Three Board member positions were declared vacant and candidates nominated for election /re-election. The outgoing members all re-nominated and importantly, two new candidates made themselves available for election to the Board.

The nominees for the Board were

• Alan Bradbury (former Director)
• John Logue (former President)
• Racheal Harrigan (former Director)
• James Selby (new nominee)
• Eddie Senatore (new nominee)

 The nominees were asked to speak to the Members at the table. To give their pitch for a position on the Board. Bradbury and Logue spoke of the past and they obviouisly had a lot to be proud of in their work over many years in Football and with CF. John Logue has a massive history in Football in the ACT, a voice of reasonableness in difficult times, and he could certainly claim to have seen much of the worst of some of Football adminstration. Harrigan spoke passionately of the future, work with the Kanga Cup and of her strategic interest going forward. Senatore and Selby were a breathe of fresh air, different, but clearly seemed to bring something new to the table. Selby was an impressive speaker and has considerble experience in sports adminstration, which seemed highly relevant to the needs of the CF Board.  Senatore seemed to capture the audience with his no nonesense catalogue of professional achievements, depth of exeperience immediately transferrable to the CF Board, strategic business and sports experience and his focuss on communication with Clubs. A formidable skill set that seemed highly desirable to the CF Board.

The wind had turned into a gust!

There were some good options on the table. The members appeared to go with an eye for the future change over the next four years. The successful candidates for the CF Board are;

• Racheal Harrigan
• James Selby
• Eddie Senatore

The position of President of the CF Board is resolved by a separate ballot among the Board members, time not yet known. Three people appear to have something to recommend for this important role. Maybury looks to be too good a treasurer to loose. Harrigan's passion is highly commendable and so necessary. But for me, they could do no better than the newly elected Eddie Senatore, who has considerable experience in this role in other important community organisations (eg St Edmunds College).

My one thought as I walked to the car. If you have a broom, might as well use it!

I suspect this is only the start of a new era at Capital Football. An opportunity for Captial Football to reinvent itself to meet new challenges. I expect it to be a very productive one in the years ahead and a lively tweleve months in front of us.. More power to them I say.

Its the Vision Thing You know! Its Time To Think Big About Community Football and Futsal Faciltities in the ACT

It seems that the NPL has stirred a hornet's nest in some quarters at Capital Football.

Front and centre is the issue of owning our own Football and Futsal facilities in the ACT.

Lets start by reminding ourselves that it was a long term drought that saw many ACT Government community grass playing fields decommissioned, no water, no maintenance and left to decay to the point where they now require large investments to get them to playing standard. These open spaces have become very juicy targets for developers of medium density housing ("urban infill"??)

It seems that there is a view among some in Capital Football that Capital Football is not in the business of owning and maintaining football and Futsal facilities. It's such a completely underwhelming position. No hope and no vision for the future.

Capital Football, on behalf of the ACT Football community, provided a very significant proportion (50% +) for the  redevelopment of Hawker enclosed with a new FFA standard Tiger Turf surface. And what a terrific playing surface facility it is. So don't tell me we are not in the business of investing in something we can call our own and how much better would it be if we did "own" Hawker Enclosed?

But the next "Hawker" is said to be about five years down the track! Too slow. We need another six of these facilities in the next three years!

My response to that suggestion that Capital Football does not own / maintain facilities for Football is simply this - is what we are doing now working to the complete satisfaction for the Football and Futsal community in the ACT? A community that is growing faster than we can service demand with suitable playing surfaces, even for our Premier League teams. Is it happening with the speed and frequency necessary to sustain and build the game? Are we "future proofing" our game?

When we ask questions, the answer is always the same - we are talking to so and so in the ACT Government, their are plans for new playing fields in new suburbs, we had a meeting with so and so. All that ever seems to be spoken of is "process", the sort of stuff you just expect to be happening, but not firm, detailed outcomes.

Take the Hawker Enclosed example - after a fine first effort to redevelop the ground, where is the expansion capability at Hawker for the next ground or the Futsal Facility? There is real estate in that area, but no plans. So in the end, we have one isolated playing field. If you ever go to see the HPP squads and others training during the week, you'll quickly acknowledge the limitations of a "one field site" solution.

So we look elsewhere for ideas and inspiration. Do we do that? Valentine Park in metro NSW for Football NSW comes immediately to mind. What about that fantastic community Football  development in the London, home of Barnett FC, called "the Hive", a very recent development. There's a message here for Capital Football, but are they "on receive"? Is this sort of "vision" a bit too demanding? Here's a promo video for "The Hive":



We need some visionary, bold thinking for Football going forward in the ACT, particularly in the area of playing facilities.

The FFA launched a National Curriculum and a National Development Plan that is intended to influence every level of the game, particularly in the junior and youth age groups, boys and girls. How can these wonderfully praiseworthy initiatives by the FFA be supported in the ACT Region without bold strokes across the playing facilities requirements in our region?

What we are doing, is what we have always done. Its not good enough, never was! And that seems to be the where the thinking stops! Dare I raise the matter of the $26m of ACT Gov funds that escaped to AFL (in Sydney)!

Why don't we have a Football and Futsal Centre in the ACT where we could focus the game in our community, provide a number of first rate playing surfaces, a family friendly cafe, Football / Futsal shop, medical services, swimming pools, live in accommodation for visiting teams, just to name a few elements that come to mind. A place to cater to all levels of football development from ACTAS to Capital Football and Club development training, competitions across all age groups and levels from Junior to State League to Premier League, a place to focus the Kanga Cup and the FFA Futsal Nationals.

And why not two of them? Is this something that the ACT Government would be likely to be interested in? You bet! Why? Because its a plan that stands to continue to benefit all the Football community for many, many years to come. And ours is a very large sporting constituency.

If we had the flexibility with regard to playing facilities, delivered available and up to standard faciltties, we could, if we wanted to, completely restructure when and how we play our competitions during the year, giving both games a whole of year presence, without the constraints currently limiting the conduct of games in the ACT.What a fantastic thing it would be.

Why wouldn't Capital Football, together with the Clubs and in partnership with the ACT Government want to be a proud "owner" of this type of vision for Football and Futsal?

Every time we talk of doing something different with the scheduling of our game, we are told that the grounds are not available. And they are not, because we don't own or have any priority control over them! And nothing changes. So tell me why / how our present and long standing approach is making things better for the game in the ACT? Its not good enough in 2011 going forward.

So Capital Football - tell us what the plan is in detail!

Japanese High School Nara Todaiji Gakuen To Play In The ACT

Sourced from Captial Football website

This is short notice news, but its likely to be very good news for junior / youth players and coaches in the ACT.

Nara Todaiji Gakuen arrives in Canberra today to start their five match development tour in Canberra. If they are anything like Nara Ishiju who visited last year, they will be sensational to watch. Well, half as good will get me to the games for sure!

It's tough in their part of the world at the moment, so this tour is pretty special. Get to the games and give the young players your support. Kindnesses remembered help build the future. Nothing does that better than football!

This is their school:

Canberra City and Canberra FC (PL18 and PL16) are the two lucky clubs that will get a chance to play Nara Todaiji Gakuen.

Tōdaiji Gakuen (東大寺学園 Tōdaiji Gakuen) is a private school, combined middle and high school in the city of Nara, Japan. It was founded in 1926 as an offshoot of the famous Tōdai-ji temple, and began as an evening middle school (夜間中学) for working students. Daytime education began in 1963, when the current name was adopted, and evening education was dropped in 1977. Today, most of the students go on to the national universities, especially Kyoto University and University of Tokyo, or medical courses. (sourced from wikipedia)



The fixtures are as follows:


Wednesday 23rd March v Canberra City PL18 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 8pm)

Friday 25th March v Canberra FC PL18 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 8pm)

Saturday 26th March v Canberra City PL16 (Hawker Football Centre, kick off 6pm)

Monday 28th March v Canberra FC PL16 (Deakin Stadium, kick off 7pm)

Wednesday 30th March v Canberra FC PL18 (Deakin Stadium, kick off 7pm)

NARA TODAIJI GAKUEN SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – TOURING PARTY

Takahiro Yoshibayashi (gk), Tomo Yamagata (gk), Taisei Hirooka, Kazuya Onishi, Daichi Kato, Yoshizuki Fumoto, Toyoki Okuda, Yuki Katakami, Taisuke Matsuda, Takahiro Shigeoka, Mizuki Ri, Taisuke Matano, Takuya Hirata, Takuma Fujioka, Yusuke Nishimuta, Naoto Kawai, Shunya Asai, Taiyo Yoshida, Haruki Matsuoka, Masato Tanaka, Tetsuki Bun

COACH: Keiji Sawada

Dentist Sounds Sports Drinks Warning

Sourced from http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/03/18/3167749.htm

Sports drinks are used all the time these days, in preference to water, from Rooball to Masters! Do you need it? Or do you simply need to hydrate correctly - with water?

Dentist sounds sports drinks warning
By Paul Kennedy and Tim Ayliffe
Updated Fri Mar 18, 2011 3:01pm AEDT

Dr Brett Dorney says he has witnessed a huge increase in dental erosion since the Sydney Olympics (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Dr Brett Dorney says he has witnessed a huge increase in dental erosion since the Sydney Olympics, when he was the event's deputy director of dental services.
Dr Dorney says he first noticed the link between damaged teeth and sports drinks when he reviewed the cases of twenty-five elite athletes in his Sydney practice in 1995.
"We were absolutely shocked to find that elite athletes do not have elite mouths," he said.
"They were suffering widespread erosion and a lot of them had decayed teeth, which is something that we did not expect from people that we look up to in the community.
"Normally two mechanisms are involved. One is called dental erosion, which is basically the tooth dissolving. The other one is dental decay [which] occurs because sports drinks are acid, and they allow acid resistant bacteria to build up on the tooth's surface."
Dr Dorney says a product that was developed six years ago could help limit erosion from sports drinks.
He cited a scientific paper released by Melbourne University in 2005 that examined the effects of adding a calcium product called CPPACP to sports drinks.
"When this was added... they found that the erosive potential of that product was dramatically reduced," he said.
"The other important part was that the flavour of the sports drink, according to the study... had not changed."
Dr Dorney, who will present his research to an international conference in the United States, says he is not encouraging athletes to stop consuming sports drinks.
But he insists they should be made aware of the dangers.
"I think modern dentistry is about education - you must give people the information so that they can make choices [about] dental health and what dental risk they are going to be at.
"[Tooth erosion] is multi-factorial, it depends on whether the person is dehydrated, it also depends on the sport they are playing, the intensity of the sport, whether they have had sufficient fluid before they started playing."
Emma Rippon, a sports dietitian employed by the Collingwood Football Club, says sports drinks play a vital role in athletic performance.
"Sports drinks were originally designed to help elite athletes to maintain their sporting performance during activity," she said.
"They provide fluid, they provide carbohydrate for energy, they provide electrolytes, sodium and potassium so they are a really important part of an athlete's nutritional strategy."
But Ms Rippon agrees sports drinks cause problems for some athletes.

"There is a problem with tooth decay and tooth enamel erosion in athletes who misuse or overuse sports drinks. We are aware of that as a professional organisation of sports dietitians, we know [it] can be an issue," she said.
She says one way of minimising harm is by reducing the amount of contact the acidic fluid had with teeth.
"They can squirt the drink to the back of their mouth... [and] they can then follow up with some water to help rinse their mouth out as well," she said.
"And not drinking it while they have a mouthguard in their mouth as well, which would obviously hold the sports drink in their teeth."
Ms Rippon warns recreational athletes and children should also beware.
"There's a level of education for these young kids who are again drinking these things because there's a marketing hype, or they have just stopped into the milk bar on the way to school, and I do see it myself and it is a concern, because that is the misuse of these products," she said.
"Also, we are not encouraging our kids and not giving them the right messages if they are having these types of fluids instead of having proper nutritious food."
Sports drinks like Gatorade and Powerade play a major role in sponsoring elite sports teams and individual athletes.
Ms Rippon says it is not the role of the manufacturers of sports drinks to educate consumers about the dangers of misusing sports drinks.
"But again there is an element of education and seeking the right advice from professionals in the industry and in the area to help people get an understanding about whether sports drinks are right for them," she said.
Powerade, owned by Coca Cola, states on its website: "The combination of carbohydrate in a somewhat acidic environment can cause dental cavities and/or erosion, however sports drinks are no different to many foods and fluids".
"Minimise the contact time between the sports drink and teeth (for example by swallowing immediately and rinsing with water regularly whilst using a sports drink). also, don't wash your mouthguard with a sports drink before putting it in your mouth."
Gatorade, owned by Pepsico, said it employed a nutritionist to work closely with sports bodies, including the Australian Institute of Sport, to ensure the best use of its products.
-Paul Kennedy presents Contact Sport at 7.30pm AEST tonight on ABC News 24.

Is It The Barca Way For Football Development In The ACT? It Should be!

Well if it isn't, it should be.

They are the perfect training aide for National Football Curriculum. Who wouldn't want to play like Barcelona? The number of triangles they create in quick time, the willingness of every player off the ball to work to provide the next best option, the hunger to retain the ball and then win it back quickly if its lost, are attributes you would want in your team, every team, not just the representative teams or development programs. Every Junior coach should analyse the Barca style, Capital Football should make it their business to get as much vision of their games, edit it to provide a training resource to coaches and clubs.  If the Junior Clubs mandate the use of the 1-4-3-3 this season, the National Football Curriculum will really take off and the Football leap ahead.

Parents take note - look to have your child trying to play like this and their coach advocating and training to play in this style. Its fun! The best that Football can offer - next to the enjoyment of playing a truly beutiful game with your mates.

If you get a chance, find a video fo the recent first round game between Barcelona and Arsenal. It was nothing short of Football heaven. An inspiration for the season ahead here in the ACT at every competitive level in junior commmunity football.

The Les Murray Blog from that wonderful Football program "SBS The World Game", contains a terrific article on Barcelona - http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/les-murray/blog/1048057/Is-Barca-the-best-in-history#add

Les Murray had this to say:

Is the current FC Barcelona the best club team of all time?

"...Sorting through the images that are in my mind, and the experiences that I’ve had as a student of the game for more than half a century, I’m having difficulty resisting the supposition that this Barca is not only up there with the cream but may be as good as it gets.
It’s important that I qualify what I mean here. I’m not talking about the greatest club in the world, based on trophies won, achievements made over prolonged periods, star players paraded etc. I make reference only to the unique excellence of this current Barcelona, the one under the guidance of Pep Guardiola, which is yet to complete its third season.
Greatness in football is defined by many things. But the greatest point of distinction and respect, is when a team becomes a singular reference point for all that other teams admire and want to become. This is the Barcelona of today, in a way and to an extent one has rarely seen in the long annals of the game." ....

"The stars have aligned, creating a product that is the envy of all clubs and will be remembered and nostalgically recalled fifty years from now. By and large it has a team that was not bought but organically fashioned from within, and by a technical ideology which, though inspired by the Dutch, is now distinctly its own. This is important when making comparisons for too many great teams of the past were assembled by the cheque book.
This fact promises the greatness of the current Barcelona some serious longevity, which brings us back to the original question: is it the greatest club team of all time? "....
"What I can and will say, is that the Barca of today is the finest club team I have ever seen. I would guess that many would take the same view, including Craig Foster who I’m sure would shamelessly concur. And I’ve been around more than twenty years longer than him.

I rejoice every day at being alive to witness the infinite beauty of this Barcelona and sometimes have to pinch myself to see if it’s all real."

Here is a couple of video clips of Barcelona to inspire you: