Sweeping changes on way for Australian Football

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/soccer/sweeping-changes-on-way-for-australian-soccer/story-e6frfg8x-1226074283195
Sweeping changes on way for Australian soccer

REVOLUTIONARY changes are standing by to sweep through soccer across the nation.

Football Federation Australia is targeting the introduction of state-based second-tier competitions laden with A-League clubs� reserves sides.

Domestic federation-registered clubs will be asked to apply for accreditation to the revamped leagues with stringent criteria, including administration, facilities, location and junior programs set to determine if organisations will be accepted into the structure.

In essence, the reserves of all Australian-based A-League clubs will play in top level State league competitions, FFA technical director Han Berger says.

The Dutchman said no A-League club was strategically positioned to field underage sides in local junior competitions, meaning the reserves talent pool would be drawn from the existing clubs and elite football government-funded structures.

�The Adelaide United youth team would play until, let�s say March, and then it would play as a team in the South Australian league,� Berger said.

�Basically, we think players in that age bracket (under 21) need to play all year round in a good competition for development as it is everywhere around the world.�

The new FFA vision, which is targeting a start next year, is an initiative bound to close the gap in standard between the A-League and domestic state-based competitions.

The FFA also aims to coordinate a national domestic calendar. �We�re aiming to have a second level under the A-League in place that is consistent everywhere in Australia. There will be accreditation for clubs who want to be a part of it,� Berger said. �This is one of the boxes the clubs have to tick if they want to be part of the second-tier level.

�We are aware there is work to be done but we�re certain it will happen.�

The streamlining of state federation competitions is bound to be met with resistance from domestic clubs� producing young talent after findings put forward by the National Competition Review said the local game needed an overhaul. Berger said FFA officials had discussed the future competitions with member federations.

While the State Government last week announced it would cease funding the South Australian Institute of Sports football program from next year, Berger said the FFA eventually would oversee all elite football programs which would be run by Football Federation SA.

�One way or the other, we will continue with those programs,� Berger said.

�It�s already happening in Victoria, Western Australia and Queensland.�