This program was broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network on Tuesday, 28 June 2011 at 7:00PM.
You recall that last week we listened to Part 1 – "things happening on the field" (technical, curriculum, national team development and coach education. All important subjects that people here in the ACT region would have something to say about, something that would be of vital importance to Capital Football, if we had a "fans form" of our own, if we had a peak body that had all aspects of communication and consultation with its constituency working well.
In tonights program we look at the other group of football issues that guide and inform us all - "the things happening off the field" (organisational structure, communication, governance, the power of the football fan and participation base in relation to growth and financial well being of the game across the nation.
This is of vital importance to us here in the ACT region, as the Capital Football Board begins its strategic planning process, in order to set the direction and priorities for several years ahead - Things on the field and things off the field - nice way to think about it.
The fans forum we listen to in this program (things off the field) is based at the A League / national level, but if you take the issue and scale it down to the ACT region, it lights up like a beacon! This is an excellent way to consider the state of our game and where it might be heading – off the field and on the field issues. As the Capital Football must dovetail with the FFA Strategic Plan, its vitally important to consider how we will craft a plan that fits with the FFA, when there is no A League presence in the ACT.
This is exactly the sort of analysis that recommends itself as a guide to the Capital Football strategic planning process. If ever a process cried out for broad community engagement this is the one – it sets the tone for everything that follows for all of us in football and futsal in the ACT region. If our strategic planning process is broadly consultative and given time for all interested parties to engage, it could be the model – the exemplar for how things will be done between Capital Football and Clubs going forward. What we have now is not good enough for many reasons.
It must be tempting for some at Capital Football to simply regurgitate chucks of the old strategic plan, in the mistaken belief that all is well and will be again, so do what we done before. That would be a serious error of judgement.
The President of Capital Football, Rachel Harrigan has advised the NPL that consultation will widen to include Clubs and one hopes that before the Boards thoughts are set in concrete, the President opens the process out to the Football Community in general – an "ACT Football Fans Forum" to assist the Strategic planning process – an absolute must. We could begin by putting a detailed schedule of activities and regular progress reports to the community on the CF website.
Next week we will broadcast an interview the NPL conducted with the new President of Capital Football.
I recommend this program – the SBS World Game has set the standard! We should follow in the same fashion.
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