At the conclusion of the 2009 season, Capital Football proposed and facilitated the running of an absolutely wonderful initiative for the off season between 2009 and 2010 - the Summer 20s. It was to be a short , sharp competition that concluded before Christmas, giving a little time for a break before serious Premier League pre-season training and selection commenced at Club level. It was a resounding success, a terrific first attempt.
So what happened the second time around?
This was so important, as our season is limited to approximately 18 games in regular competition, comprising two rounds. Not a long season. Not long enough to sustain development of talented players or those with aspirations to be competitive for "Youth League" selection at an A league Club. Not the full answer but an important, achievable, managable contribution.
The "vacant space" in our Football development in the ACT region, for all those post the ACTAS upper age cut off and those that don't get selected for the AIS (and lets face it, that's the vast majority), is notable for its lack of developmental opportunities. Premier League Clubs are the only substantial outlet for development and that has limitations, since Clubs play to win, train far less frequently than is necessary to sustain player development, have variable coaching standards (though this has shown a marked improvement) and in many cases lack the resources to do it, even if they would like to do it.
Most of our Premier League Clubs operate on the "smell of oily rag"! Aside from two Clubs (Belconnen United and CFC) most of the rest just make ends meet. If you don;t already know, then I will tell something I know to a moral certainty - Its a struggle every season just to stay in the competition and meet all the pre-requisites required by the Capital Football to service the licence they hold to compete. Onlt two CLubs have a licenced Club, their own Ground, offer the best remuneration to players (its not massive in the ACT but it's something) and its therefore, no surprise they dominate. A few Clubs fall short in the basic requirements of the licence arrangements and again, not surprisingly they live on the end of PL existence, reliant as most are on a small cadre of volunteers, who at the end of the regular season are tired of football and looking for a break. This is Club life every season for most of us. If you accept this simple analysis, it follows that its a "no brainer" to conclude that campaigning the Summer 20s is likely to be a difficult task for some PL Clubs to accomplish. Conclusion - they will need help.
So here is a question :
What measures did Capital Football take in advance of the end of the 2010 season to ensure that the PL Clubs were encouraged to participate and their respective problems accommodated with solutions that enabled them to field a team to play in the Summer 20s?
Good question? Well here is another!
Why is it that the draw for the Summer 20s reveals that only four PL Clubs will field teams to play in the Summer 20's? (One of the competing Clubs is providing two teams and its not a Club with money!!!)
The Summer 20s was a solid and commendable response by Capital Football to provide an opportunity for those players (predominantly from the Premier League Clubs) under the age of 20 years, to continue to play and develop their Football. Ask all the coaches from the Clubs that participated - they were also coaching in some fashion in this year's PL season. They will attest to its worth.
There was every reason to anticipate that this program would be more heavily subscribed in its second year. It is not!
Indeed, this should have been a tip top priority for Capital Football and an integral component of the Capital Football High Performance regime. If you have any doubt about how the principal staff at Capital Football felt about the Summer 20s, just go back to interviews on this Blog. They gave it a ringing endorsement and they had a right to be proud of their intiative. Note to self - Why does the Summer 20s have less support than last season?
A further question:
Why did the remainder of the PL Clubs fail to field teams in the Summer 20s and did the PL Clubs communicate their intentions to Capital Football insufficent time for Capital Football to contemplate how they might be encouraged or assisted to particpate?
And another question:
Are the Clubs that are not participating saying they do not support this off season development program; do they lack the finances to underwrite a team (even on a cost recovery basis from the players), do they lack commitment form the playing roster, do they lack the coaching staff to support the team, do they lack the other volunteer staff to support the team, do they believe their players have had too much football, do they need help from Capital Football, are they spending their precious off season time holding "focus groups" and other MBA management twaddle "realigning" their Club's future, or, all of the above?"
And finally;
Does this worry Capital Football and if it does, what do they intend to do about it?
My first and prevailing reaction to the lack of support for the Summer 20s:
Talk about shooting yourself in the bloody foot!
If you have a talented player, get them to one of the Clubs that is participating in the Summer 20s for season 2011. Why would you do anything else?
Is there anyone out there who would like to be interviewed on this subject and provide some coherent and plausible explanation for this situation? I'll travel to your location to do the interview!
Here is a quick audit of the PL Clubs, just for the record as it were. I've included the draw, get to the games because those that are playing will thrill you as they did in the last Summer 20s.
Canberra FC - competing
Tuggeranong Utd - competing
Woden Valley - competing
Belconnen Utd - not competing (did compete last year)
ANU FC - withdrawn from PL, not competing
Canberra City - not competing
Goulburn Strikers - not competing
Monaro Panthers - not competing
Canberra Olympic - competing
Cooma Tigers - not competing
For the full draw go to the Capital Football website - Results Vault:
http://football2.resultsvault.com/menu.aspx?entityid=31055&width=800&showname=1">&save=0
The first Round as follows:
10 Oct 10 Canberra FC v Bye
10 Oct 10 6:45PM Woden Valley 1 v Woden Valley 2 Hawker Football Centre
10 Oct 10 8:30PM Tuggeranong Utd v Canberra Olympic Hawker Football Centre