Capital Football Technical Director Talks About Football Centre of Excellence and Futsal - Which Comes First and Why!



This program is broadcast on 2xxfm(98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday 01 November 2011 at 7:00PM.








In this program we speak once again to the Technical Director of Capital Football, Royston Thomas. In the previous interview, we had some discussion on the structure of the Capital Football high performance regime, the program designed to develop our players.

But we are not finished with this subject. We get a bit more detail on the structure of the program, but importantly, expectations and priorities! And that magic phrase – “Skill Acquisition Program”.

The Capital Football high performance regime (I call it that because that is still its title on the CF website) is now in two parts:

  1. The CF Centre of Excellence (for the elite player stream)
  2. The CF Centre of Development (for all other young players who are not part of the COE)

Both development programs, but in particular, the COEage groups U13,12,11,10 are now referred to as the Skills Acquisition Program (SAP) and the Under 13 age group is referred to specifically as the “Skillaroos”. The boys Skillaroos are in place, but the girls (at this time anyway). The boys Skillaroos pay no fees. All other age groups, boys and girls pay fees.


Picture of the Capital Football SAP Under 10 Boys - Coaches Munoz and Alamos

Things are changing under the TD Royston Thomas and we need to understand precisely what he intends and wants of our players, particularly in the COE programs.

In recent months the changes in expectations have caught a few parents and players on the hop. The commencement of the Futsal season and preparations / selection of players for the ACT Futsal age rep teams for the Nationals in early January 2012, has brought some parents and players into conflict with the underpinning philosophy for the Football COE. For some, it will Futsal or Football but not both. This is very new  to may and does not settle easily for some. In the past, there has been accommodation made between the Football HPP / Academy systems and ACT Futsal National Representative age group  selection and training, as both rgrams claimed the core of our talented players. 

Things have changed and now the focus is clearly on Football elite pathway. Futsal is not something that seems to be able to be absorbed where it crosses the Football elite pathway. Many will be disappointed, but take the time to listen to the Technical Director’s position. 

You may disagree, but in the context of elite sports performance management  it is almost unarguable. I very much doubt if an elite swimming coach would countenance one of his/her swimmers (say in an NSWIS or AIS program) undertaking a program in another sport that saw the swimmer miss mandatory training sessions or took the focus off swimming. Our biggest sports now claim our best young athletes for as good as the whole of the year, usually to the exclusion of most other co-curricular activity. So in that sense the Capital Football Technical Director's underpinning philosophy for the COE should not come as a surprise. And its back to playing squads for the Skillaroos at least.

But is it the best solution for our young players, particularly the best of our young players? Its the question that quite a few having been asking in recent weeks, provoked I suspect by the arrival of trials and selection for the ACT Futsal teams. Something to consider - the ACT is small place in the scheme of both Football or Futsal and the pool of talented players often as not crosses over between both games in the younger age groups. Football has the muscle at the FFA but Futsal does not. Football coaching and club infrastructure are substantial, while Futsal has little to compare, including a serious deficiency in futsal coaching education. Which explains why the run up to the Nationals is so concentrated and intense. The exception to this is the Boomerangs FS who compete in the Football NSW Futsal Premier League. They too compete for the availability of the best of our best players at age and as they compete at the top level int he Australian domestic Futsal competition, you can understand why many young players value this experience.

But before taking a position, listen to what Royston Thomas has to say. He does make sense. But clearly more detailed coordination at Capital Football is now necessary to ensure we preserve as much of our competitiveness and opportunities in both for all our talented players. The CEO Capital Football hinted at this in our last interview. Good co-ordination and good policy are the key and we seem to be short on both. Its not as though we haven't done this before! 

The Capital Football Technical Directorhas taken a very clear position in relation to the priority he expects parents to acknowledge and players to comply with, if they are selected for and agree to be part of the Capital Football “Skills Acquisition Program squads” which form the Centre for Excellence. The Technical Director’s position is clear – its either all in or not in at all. You give the program your full commitment and make whatever sacrifices, in respect of other sports or recreational activities, in order to meet all Skills Acquisition Squad program activities.

The requirement for a high performance regime is a FFAmandated requirement, put upon each member federation. It is underwritten by the FFA National Curriculum and in particular, the National Football Development Plan. Each member federation is expected to do its job in respect of the identification and development of young players to the age of 14 years for boys and 15 years for girls.

In the ACT, Capital Football has explored several solutions for the development of players over time. Some more successful than others. The current Technical Director has drawn a clear distinction between “community” and “elite” player development. That is the way the FFA wants it to be. 

Hope you enjoy this interview, its an important one for parents and players and  Football Clubs in the ACT.

Download Podcast here:


Campus Read Keynote Lecture


David “Sonny” Lacks, son of the title subject in The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, will speak at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 3, in the Student Union Simplot Ballroom. The lecture, presented by the Campus Read committee, is free and open to the public.

The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, by Rebecca Skloot, tells the story of Henrietta Lacks, known to scientists as HeLa. She was a poor black tobacco farmer whose cells -- taken without her knowledge in 1951-- became one of the most important tools in medicine, vital for developing the polio vaccine, gene mapping and more. Lacks’ cells have been bought and sold by the billions, yet she remains virtually unknown, and her family can’t even afford health insurance.

Sonny Lacks will speak about his mother and her important contribution to modern medicine and will share what it meant to find out, decades after the fact, that his mother’s cells were being used in laboratories around the world.

For more information contact Blaine Eckles at 208-426-1583

Please visit the Campus Read Resources Guide (http://guides.boisestate.edu/henriettalacks), created by librarians at the Albertsons Library, if you would like to access additional resources that discuss the book, and also find how you can check out a copy of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot.

Carrie Moore,
Librarian

The Witch's Tea Party/Birthday Party

So I had to, for sake of time, combine my Witch's Tea Party with my friend's birthday party - which she was all for and loved the idea.

I baked the cake and did a few of the decorations.



The little witch hat candy bowls were my friend's party favors for us ^_^


Its me all pretty in my lace hat ^_^



Walter Crane, Neptune's Horses


Neue Pinakothek, Munich

Date: 1892
Technique: Oil on canvas, 86 x 216 cm

Source 1
Source 2

NYC October Blizzard Pics

Yep, we had a blizzard yesterday - October 29, 2011.  Lucky and I went out this morning to check out the damage.  It was surreal - the leaves hadn't even started to turn yellow and orange yet.  How often do you see snow on the ground when there are green leaves on the trees?

Fort Washington Ave, 10/30/11

Fort Washington Ave, 10/30/11
Park on Fort Washington & 173rd
The rose bush in the dog run was still in full bloom!
Inspecting a downed branch
That was some heavy snow!

How to make an origami crane (on a snowy day)

It's SNOWING in New York City today!  (Yes, it's still October... we completely skipped actual fall.)  After a slushy walk with the dog, I decided this was going to be an indoor day.  Check out my first attempt at an origami tutorial:


Next time I'll use non-shiny paper... the glare is a little distracting.

Vasily Vasilyevich Vereshchagin, The Apotheosis of War (Апофеоз войны)


The State Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow (Государственная Третьяковская Галерея)

Date: 1871
Technique: Oil on canvas, 127 x 197 cm

Source

Football and Futsal in the ACT This Weekend!

This weekend we have a wonderful selection of top quality Football and Futsal in the ACT.

When too much Football and Futsal is never likely to be enough - this is the weekend for it!

Take your pick, pick all of them, but get to one of them.



Canberra United v Perth Glory -  Saturday 29 October 2011, 3:00PM - McKellar



AIS v Melbourne Victory FC - Sunday 30 October 2011, 3:00PM - AIS Athletics Track    





Boomerangs FS v Sydney City Eagles - Saturday, 29 October 2011, Southern Cross Stadium Tuggeranong (first game 1200 then continuous till 7:00PM)

Gold, Gold, Gold Canberra Champions of the Australian Masters Games

Sourced from TUFC website http://home.tufc.org.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=119:article-template&catid=10:match-reports&Itemid=27



How good is this!


Move over Woden Valley Redbacks and the Dana Cup. 


This Canberra mob won the Gold medal at the Australian Masters competition.  Outstanding and read the article below and see how many of these medals this team has been winning over the years. Unbelievable. They look pretty fit too. 






Canberra Old Boys, Australian Masters Games, Adelaide 2011 (Tuggeranong players unless otherwise marked)
Back (L-R): Momo Radulovich, Woody Elliott, Ian Ippoliti (Griffith NSW), Alan Greenslade, Tony Santolin (Griffith NSW), Wally Hoefel, Rudi Aiono (Brisbane Qld), Alan Froud, Bob Kostic (Hervey Bay Qld), Bill Hardie, Les Herbert.
Front (L-R): Norm Holcroft, Milan Novakovic, Joe Kaczor (Brisbane Qld), Stewart Leenards (Perth WA), Ken Menser, Pat Sergi (Griffith NSW), Wally Conlon.






Canberra Old Boys victorious domination!

Champions of the Australian Masters Games

GOLD! GOLD! for Canberra Old Boys


At the 2011 Australian Masters Games in Adelaide (7 – 16 October) the Canberra Old Boys Masters team won TWO gold medals. They won gold for the Over 55 Division as they were the only team entered. They were then placed in the Over 50 Division, recruited two over 50 players, then put the younger teams to the sword to win their second gold medal. An impressive performance when you consider the team’s average age was 58, and included 7 players aged over 60.

Over 6 days, the Old Boys played 8 x 60 minute games. After losing the first game (after being severely jet-lagged from the arduous flight from Canberra), the Old Boys won the rest, scoring 17 goals with 5 against.
The Canberra Old Boys are a ‘touring side’, affiliated with the Tuggeranong United Football Club, whose motto is ‘degenerating disgracefully’. The Old Boys draw its core from older players of the TUFC masters teams, and are complemented by other players from around Australia who have links with the team.

They have participated in masters tournaments every year since 1994, around Australia and overseas, always playing in the oldest age division, and on the way accumulating an impressive medal tally, highlighted by winning the World Masters Over 45 division in Melbourne in 2002:
1994      World Masters Brisbane (Over 45)                               SILVER
1995      Australian Masters Melbourne (Over 45)                     BRONZE
1996      SOS Masters Gold Coast (Over 45)                                –
1997      Australian Masters Canberra (Over 45)                        SILVER
1998      World Masters Portland USA (Over 45)                       SEMI-FINAL
1999      Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 45)                        GOLD
2000      ASPAC Masters Gold Coast (Over 45)                       SEMI-FINAL
2001      Australian Masters Newcastle (Over 45)                     SILVER
2002      World Masters Melbourne (Over 45)                            GOLD
2003      Australian Masters Canberra (Over 45)                       GOLD
2004      Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 45)                 SILVER
2005      World Masters Edmonton Canada (Over 45)              –
2006      Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 45)                 GOLD
2007      Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 45)                        GOLD
2008      Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 50)                 GOLD
2009      World Masters Sydney (Over 50)                                    –
2010      Pan Pacific Masters Gold Coast (Over 55)                 BRONZE
2011      Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 50)                        GOLD
2011      Australian Masters Adelaide (Over 55)                        GOLD

Tuggeranong masters in the 2011 team were: Bill Hardie, 64, Alan Froud, 64, Wally Conlon, 62, Alan Greenslade, 62 (all originals from the first tournament in 1994), Momo Radulovich, 65, Wally Hoefel, 59, Les Herbert, 58, Ken Menser, 57, Woody Elliott, 56, Norm Holcroft, 55, Milan Novakovic, 51.
What’s next for the Old Boys? The Gold Coast in November 2012, then the World Masters in Torino, Italy in August 2013. Some older Old Boys also join the Oklahoma City Over 60 team in July each year to take part in the US Veterans Nationals.






Ambroise Frédeau, The Blessed Guillaume de Toulouse Tormented by Demons (Le bienheureux Guillaume de Toulouse tourmenté par les démons)


Musée des Augustins de Toulouse

Date: 1657
Technique: Oil on canvas

Source

Football NSW Ramps Up the Coaching Expertise for the Skills Acquisition Program

Sourced form Football NSW website http://www.footballnsw.com.au/index.php?id=17&tx_ttnews%5bpointer%5d=1&tx_ttnews%5btt_news%5d=5799&tx_ttnews%5bbackPid%5d=16&cHash=0a66632a65&utm_source=streamsend&utm_medium=email&utm_content=14915683&utm_campaign=The%20Official%20Football%20NSW%20e-newsletter%20-%20Issue%20149

My colleague at the Nearpost, Eamonn Flanagan drew my attention to the list of coaches appointed by Football NSW run their part of the FFA's Skills Acquisition Program. Its very impressive!

Then we compared this list below to the lists of coaches that had passed through Capital Football's rep teams in the last 3-4 years (as best we could remember). And that's part of the problem, so many had pased through in both Football and Futsal, for one reason or another.We are training more coaches than before in Football and run a couple of "C" Licence course in recent times, which all to the good of Football. But is that enough? In Futsal we have made  precious little investment in Futsal coach education and it shows at the Nationals.

Every year our young players (girls and boys) are selected to play for the ACT against the NSW teams. The NSW Metro teams are nearly always on top in "Group A" of the FFA Football National Youth Championships. The ACT is firmly placed in Group B and that must improve. In Futsal we win the odd title, but seem to be making fewer and fewer finals, with NSW Metro often dominating both places int he finals. So I guess you could say it's not a whole lot different in Futsal these days - but with some interesting exceptions.

 NSW are simply powering away in front of the ACT and gap is getting bigger. You can't always attribute this to a larger player pool.

In respect of Football, the list of Coaches that will underpin the Skills Acquisition Program provides evidence of the likelihood of a further increase in the gap between the ACT and NSW.

The NSW Futsal coaches will come from the Football NSW Futsal Premier League, the best domestic competition in Australia. In the case of Futsal in the ACT, coach education is probably being delivered by the Boomerangs FS, in a hands in week by week installments through the NSW Futsal Premier League competition. So for these coaches, they are likely to be in better shape to match their NSW counterparts, if they find their way to a coaching gig for the ACT in Nationals.Interesting.

Have a read (this list if for Football only) and give it some thought.


Official: SAP Coaches for 2011/2012

20.10.11 14:58


Football NSW has officially announced the SAP (Skills Acquisition Program) Coaches and Coaching Coordinators for 2011-2012.

Football NSW SAP is a Football NSW initiative aimed at laying down the foundations required to give the best youth footballers the highest chance possible to succeed at the elite level between the ages of 9-12.
In order for the identification process to commence, expert coaches and coaching coordinators have been appointed under the watchful eye of former Socceroos skipper and Football NSW Technical Director Alex Tobin.
Former Young Socceroos, Olyroos, NSL greats and Socceroos stars such as Paul Wade, Peter Katholos, Gerry Gomez, Ufuk Talay, Damien Brown and Saso Petrovski are just some of the many names ready to take charge in their respective regions for the SAP program in the coming year.
Tobin was delighted to have secured the services of all his coaches and coaching coordinators whom he believed would develop aspiring youngsters to the elite level.
“It’s very exciting to know that so many experienced coaches are working with some of our youngest talented players.
“Many of our SAP coaches bring a wealth of experience and we are confident that our young NSW players will see the benefits throughout their Skill Acquisition Program.
“Everyone is looking forward to the challenge.”
The SAP Coaching and Coaching Coordinators are as follows:
Metropolitan East SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Peter Katholos
·         Gerry Gomez
*Canterbury, Eastern Suburbs, St George
Metropolitan South SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Devrim Huseyin
·         Marko Filipovic
*Bankstown, Southern Districts
Metropolitan West SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Ben Wright
·         Tim Wilson
*Blacktown, Granville
Metropolitan Illawarra SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Saso Petrovski
·         Peter Willis
·         Glenn Fontana
Metropolitan Sutherland SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Steve Karavatakis
·         Christian Zeleny
Metropolitan Macarthur SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Steven Neligen
·         Max Groll
Metropolitan Nepean SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Ufuk Talay
·         James Rankine
Metropolitan Gladesville SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Paul Wade
·         Tim Thorne
Metropolitan Ku Ring Gai SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Jason Falzon
·         Gary McGinnis
Metropolitan Manly SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Matt Sim
·         Richard Paddle
·         Richie Williams
Metropolitan Central Coast SAP Squad Coaching/Coaching Coordinators
·         Damien Brown
Western Branch SAP Coordinator
·         Andrew Fearnley
Southern Branch SAP Coordinator
·         James Muir
Riverina SAP Coordinator
·         Andrew Mason

Dr. Elaine Watson named dean of Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine

Posted October 26, 2011 by Donald F. Smith, Cornell University
Ross University’s veterinary school on the island of St. Kitts in the Caribbean is having a banner year. In March, they became accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association, and yesterday they announced the hiring of Dr. Elaine Watson as their next dean.
An internationally-recognized scholar in veterinary reproduction and seasoned administrator―she has served as dean of the veterinary school at the University of Edinburgh since 2003― Dr. Watson will bring experience in international veterinary medicine to a program that has until now been largely U.S. focused. She succeeds Dean David DeYoung.
The veterinary program at Ross University is one of three medical schools in the region owned by DeVry, Inc., the other two being Ross University School of Medicine and the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
Ross admits three classes of veterinary students each year and graduates approximately 420 students per year (most veterinary colleges on the mainland graduate 80-140 students per year). Because they do not have a comprehensive teaching hospital, Ross students complete their clinical training in an accredited veterinary college in the U.S.
Most Ross students are American citizens, and return to the United States to practice clinical medicine. Over 60% locate in just eight states, either in the northeast (11% of their graduates are in New York State), or in Florida, California, Illinois and Ohio.
Ross University rides the crest of a “back to the future” wave in veterinary education. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a substantial proportion of veterinarians graduated from private, for-profit veterinary programs. These schools all disappeared by the late 1920s but a similar model for professional education has again emerged with Ross being the largest and best known.
Historically, the most successful of the early proprietary veterinary schools was the Ontario Veterinary College, founded in 1862. American students flocked to Toronto to receive a veterinary degree from the Edinburgh-educated Andrew Smith. Over a century later, another Edinburgh icon, Elaine Watson, has assumed leadership of the largest and most successful private veterinary school serving U.S. students.
Dr. Smith invites comments at dfs6@cornell.edu

ACT Players Given Opportunity To Train and Play at AIS During the National Youth League Season

Sourced from Capital Football Media Release



The first group of ACT players are ACTAS graduates:

  • Daniel Barac
  • James Field
  • Jakob Williams
  • Michael Taurasi
  • Steven Domenic
  • Jack Green




Capital Football
Media Release
Tuesday 25th October 2011


Locals given the chance to shine at AIS

Six Canberra locals are being given the chance to train with the AIS during the National Youth League season as part of a new partnership between the National Institute and local football governing body Capital Football.

The agreement could see the AIS participate in the ROCK Premier League with the reciprocal arrangement seeing some of the most promising young talent given the chance to shine at a local level. The AIS has produced a plethora of players who have gone on to a career in the Hyundai A-League as well as overseas and with the Socceroos.

The first in-take includes Daniel Barac, James Field and Jakob Williams, all of whom starred for Canberra Olympic in their march to the ROCK Premier League Grand Final, as well as Michael Taurasi, Steven Domenic and Jack Green, all fellow graduates of the ACTAS program. 

“It’s great to see strong support from the local football community, particularly with six young Canberra lads being included in the squad for this coming Youth League season,” Mark Pepper, Football Operations Manager at the AIS said.
 
“I think the showcase opportunity these players are getting has the potential to help further motivate young footballers in Canberra as well as provide an opportunity for locals to see top flight, national level men’s football here in the capital”.

THE AIS overhaul of its football program includes their new ‘Homestay’ initiative as they seek ‘Expressions of Interest’ from families in Canberra to provide homestay arrangements for the AIS Football Program players in 2012 and 2013. ‘Homestay’ involves a local Canberra family welcoming a Scholarship player into their home. The family would provide a safe, supportive environment that gives stability for the player, allowing him to focus his efforts on his football and academic achievement.

“The opportunity that host families have to host a potential, future Socceroo will further enhance the strong ties between the AIS, Capital Football and the football community generally,” Pepper commented.

Heather Reid, CEO of Capital Football, said: “This is a great opportunity for our male youth players to be in the National Youth League in the absence of our own Canberra team and provides a vital link between our Premier League and National league competitions.”

Capital Football extends its congratulations to the locals selected to train with the AIS and wish them all the best for the future.

AIS Football Squad: Jordan Thurtell (Queensland), Ben Warland (SA), Mitchell Oxborrow (WA), Riley Woodcock (WA), Ben Garrucio (SA), Stefan Mauk (SA), Matt Davies (WA), Jacob Melling (SA), Paul Izzo (SA), Yianni Perkatis (NSW), Kobbie Boahene (VIC), Connor Chapman (NSW), Anthony Proia (NSW), Daniel Barac (ACT), James Field (ACT), Jakob Williams (ACT), Jack Green (ACT), Michael Taurasi (ACT), Steve Domenici (ACT)





CEO Capital Football Talks About Football and Futsal - Part 1



This program is broadcast on 2xxfm (98.3mhz) across the Australian Community Radio Network, on Tuesday 25 October 2011 at 7:00PM




In this program we speak to Heather Reid, CEO Capital Football. We cover the ongoing disciplinary matters between Capital Football and Canberra FC, the entry of the AIS (with ACTAS) in the Capital Football Premier League in 2012, Womens Premier League for 2012, Mens Premier League teams for 2012 and Futsal. And this is only Part 1 of this interview.




The changeover from Winter to Summer Football and Futsal programs is a period of high activity at Capital Football. Gone are the days of high and low periods of activity in our game. Its an all year sport(s). The administrative tail is long, participation rates large and growing, facilities stretch to capacity and no let up in the accompanying volume of operational difficulties.

The W League begins and preparation for the Futsal Nationals are but two of the premier events that demand attention and lots of it. The Boomerangs FS now campaign in the NSW Futsal Premier League and that too requires a massive effort from players, Club officials and parents, competing as they do at the highest domestic competitive level in Australia each week. Premier League Futsal is underway and will reach down into the junior age groups.

Then there is the Capital Football Technical Director's Football Centre of Excellence and Centre for Development programs, which are crucial to the ongoing development of young players for the National Youth Championships in 2012.

Which program comes first and when? If Futsal and Football are both important, then how wil it work for each player? Parents like to know that and administrators need to know.

A significant number of our good young players are training in a technically rich developmental environment at  the Ceorver Academy, a program which has probably done more for the younger players than anything else in the ACT in the last few years. Parents pay for this high quality service, independent of any other arrangement they may have for their children in Capital Football programs.. Its a program that demands the discipline to attend all sessions (and rightly so).

And all this before we get to Summer Football competitions for Men and Women, or the regular senior and junior Futsal competitions. And we are only talking about out sports, not others nor any other co-curricular activity.

Effective co-ordination of competing demands is an organisational as well a parental problem. The lead must come from Capital Football, at least for Capital Football programs / competitions.

Its definitely and an all-year round  business these days. But has the obvious struck you yet, when you catalogue the options in Football or Futsal that are now available to our limited player based by age?

Its a Football and Futsal smorgasbord out there! Whats the pathway for your child?

Yes, its obvious - so many things, how are the conflicts between program offerings resolved - are they resolved in advance or in a timely manner and by who, and can you be sure that your son or daughter will not be disadvantaged should they wish to represent the ACT? This is tricky business that must often be resolved on a case by case basis, but in doing so, administrators are sometimes unfairly criticized for "showing preferential behavior". Tempers flare and patience evaporates. Sometimes people are right to complain because there are genuine stuff ups or poor options selected by administrators. Just as often, some people want it all when having it all is not possible. Disputes escalate so quickly in the age of the email and text message.

Somewhere in this mix questions get asked about the quality of coaching and in Futsal that is a big question. In fact, here is a question  put to me by a parent of a very good young player (football and futsal) two days ago - would you be entirely happy with a "minor" and/or inexperienced /unqualified coach being appointed to select and coach your child's team at the Nationals? (My answer was that I expect and a suitable adult to coach minors and that a coach who was a "minor" should assist only - I guess I got asked that one for reason!) And what if we are lucky enough to have a cohort of players at age who might reasonably form two ACT teams at the Nationals (usually called "Cobras" for the first ranked teams and "Colts" for the second ranked team)? Do we have two ACT rep teams where playing strength allows and if not, why not? Assuming they are relatively competitive, why not build capacity? Why one team only at age - what is the logic in this position when there are no rules that preclude more than one team?  Then there is that old chestnut - let some better players, play up an age or two, it will help them develop. Now this is rubbish at the Nationals. You play all your best at age against the best of other States at age. All your best at age is the key for us here in the ACT. If you don't, you rob one age group to reinforce another age group and who says one age group is more importnat than another at Nationals. Covering weaknesses at one age group is solved before and during selection by looking for and identifying talent at age, not pilfering good, younger players. Just let the kids be good at age, they are only this age once and who are you to take that away from them. And so on. Every year its the same phalanx of questions from parents and I have heard all of them already in the last two months. Don;t we ever learn? Why have we no enduring corporate memory on these matters at Capital Football? All these issues should already be underpinned by good policy and the situation clear to administrators, coaches and parents.

Communication (effective) and flexibility are the key when operating with a small target group of players , such as the available player pool in the ACT, but there are limits all round. Common sense should resolve most things without resorting to a telphone book of rules, but after it has gone bad, talk of more rules is usually where we end up. And for what?Administrators can't make parental decisions, but they have to make decisions which advance and build the sport. This is difficult terrain and its navigated every year with varying degrees of success. Futsal is a good example of that and seems to have begun (at least at the rep level) with a higher than usual amount of concern.

This is an illuminating set of interviews. Try seeing it from the CEO's perspective. Very interesting

Download Podcast here:

Théodule Ribot, Untitled


The British Museum, London

Date: 1823-1891
Technique: Black chalk with stump on cream paper, drawn on back of etching of head of a young girl, cut in half, 171 x 224 mm

Three witches; seated around a cauldron, one on right with cat on shoulder

Source

Canberra United FC off to a flying start

Sourced from Capital Football website and http://www.women.soccerway.com/matches/2011/10/22/australia/w-league/adelaide-united/canberra-united/1219079/statistics/




How is this for a Stats sheet? Yes, I know, its only game one. But a newish squad, brand new international female coach and a terrific win to start the season.


GENERAL STATISTICS

 Adelaide United
W-League 2011/2012
Canberra United 
W-League 2011/2012
 TotalHomeAwayTotalHomeAway
Wins000101
Losses110000
Draws000000
Clean sheets000000
Avg. goals per match110404
Avg. goals conceded per match440101
Rank71
 
Biggest victory1 - 4, vs Adelaide United1 - 4, vs Adelaide United
Biggest defeat1 - 4, vs Canberra United-
Average age squad22.0122.33
Average time first goal scored--
Average time first goal conceded--
Failed to score--



Other game specific related stats look like this:

MATCH STATISTICS


Adelaide United 1 (Rachael Quigley 36’) Canberra United 4 (Michelle Heyman 2’, 82’, Caitlin Munoz 61’, 70’)

Half-time: 1-1

(Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, kick off 1.45pm – local)

Adelaide United: 20. Kristi HARVEY (gk), 2. Ruth WALLACE, 3. Anna GREEN 5. Abby ERCEG, 7. Rachael QUIGLEY, 8. Leanne SLATER, 9. Marijana RAJCIC, 14. Donna COCKAYNE, 15. Emma CHECKER (12. Greta FRENCH-KENNEDY 62’), 16. Grace HENRY (18. Georgia MACRI 72’), 17. Katherine EBBS (19. Nenita BURGESS 84’)
Substitutes not used: 6. Ebony PHILCOX
Yellow Cards: Nil
Red Cards: Nil

Canberra United: 1. Lydia WILLIAMS (gk), 2. Caitlin COOPER, 6. Caitlin MUNOZ, 7. Ellie BRUSH, 9. Grace GILL (15. Sally SHIPARD 46’), 10. Snez VELJANOVSKA (4. Christine WALTERS 83’), 11. Michelle HEYMAN, 13. Nicole SYKES, 14. Ashleigh SYKES (8. Hayley RASO 74’), 18. Taryn HEMMINGS, 19. Jennifer BISSET
Substitutes not used: 20. Aroon CLANSEY (gk)
Yellow Cards: 7. Ellie BRUSH
Red Cards: Nil

Referee: Stacey SASOPOULOS
Assistant Referees: Ana NEVJESTIC, Fotis MASSINIS
Fourth Official: Jarrod MULLER