by vics01 » Mon Apr 28, 2014 11:53 am
My Sunday Morning hang over cure
[b]Where is the SFL
[/b]
The SFL have been avoiding hard decision’s now for several years.. When I use the term SFL I include the clubs.. The board cannot without the clubs vote make major decisions and structure changes to the format of the league.
The FDC was created to identify why and propose solutions to the disparity between top and bottom clubs which has gradually increased to the point where Aldinga this year have been totally demoralised. It appears the FDC has been a complete waste of time with regard to addressing the major issue.
The 2 division conversation is all but over; there are not enough clubs to form 2 divisions even if the SFL was to move to an 8 and 7 two division competition some clubs claim division 2 would mean the end for that club.
Over the weekend of 25/26 April a number of clubs were doubling juniors up just to field a senior team.. Is this good for the competition?? Does it not show tough decisions need to be made now??
Is this of value to the development of those juniors?? This is not the only week this has happened it has been happening from the commencement of the season.
What are the benefits to the Junior player?? It could be suggested that eventually it will result in burnout of these juniors. Very doubtful it is for the benefit of the player more about just scraping numbers together.
Flagstaff Hill, Cove, Christies Beach, Happy Valley, Morphett Vale, Edwardstown, Port Noarlunga and Reynella did not double any juniors up to senior sides.
I have not included juniors who played senior A grade football only IE: Cove and Noarlunga both had u18 play A grade these were well and truly up A grade level.
Aldinga: 3 players
Brighton: 1 player
Marion: 3 players
Morphettville: 6 players (MP field a C grade side, would it not be more important to field the B grade before the C grade??)
Noarlunga: 2 players
Lonsdale: 7 players (Of concern these are u16 players)
(A full team)
Surely not all these juniors are really up to the standard required both skills and physically for a true A grade competition. If they are they should play at that level only.
Aside from the obvious that the sides these juniors are playing in are getting thrashed week in week out which may also eventually turn them off playing.
In this day and age of litigation what is the duty of care of the clubs and the league? How do we justify a young 15 year old being cleaned up by some of the more senior and physically larger players? With the press the SFL has received in the last few weeks which some say reflects badly on the SFL as a whole how will it reflect if a young 15 year old is seriously injured?? Food for thought.
Even at 16 and 17 juniors are still growing and developing what is the future impact on their bodies.
I suppose the move to an under 15/17 competition will bring more kids into senior footy a year earlier an alleviate them playing two games a day. Although I have heard a number suggest that they will look to move to other leagues to play under 18 football again a big loss of numbers for the SFL.
Fact is society has changed from the mid 90’s when the SFL was travelling along with good numbers.. Other sports such as Soccer and Basketball have a bigger junior base now. Other social issues impact such as school, seven day a week trading more freedoms for young people. Cultural issues in some areas.
We are trying to fill the same number of teams from the ever shrinking pond. It is time for Clubs to look at merging before it is too late and they fold for good.
MERGERS
Importantly everyone gains numbers which adds strength to clubs
Marion/Morphettville Park: Marion gains some more quality MP gain good facilities and a real oval. Marion Roos – Morphettville Rams.
Hackham/Lonsdale: Hackham gain juniors/Lonsdale gain good facilities and like MP a real oval.. Southern Force – Onkaparinga Dolphins.
Aldinga due to geographical location are a hard case may they need to look at merger talks with a GSFL club.
Club history is still alive rather that in someone’s garage.. There will be lots of varying opinions and probably even some abuse but it is time to think outside the square for survival and genuine even competition.
On a lighter note DTH is forever telling me how many players BDOS have and will have Glenelg and or Sacred Heart and how this impacts maybe BDOS can merge with Glenelg or better still Sacred Heart.