First, I am not defending the decisions and or regs that have been made by CF.
But when was the last time amendments to the playing regs were submitted by clubs to the agm of CF?
All I have heard in the last few years is the moaning from clubs about the crap admin CF has been doing.
What has changed in the last 5-7 years that clubs just stand back and accept the unpopular decisions?
for a start, the AGM was held on April 3 this year, long after the regs stating compulsory entry into Kelly Cup were set in stone. Same with W-League.
Literally nothing the clubs could have done at the AGM to change this seasons regs.
It is this sort of attitude that is causing your problems (or perceived problems). Forgive me for smiling but I wish that things had been this easy, from an administrative point of view, that it appears to be now.
The playing regs that I have seen on the website were reviewed in December 2016 and I assume were published or sent out to the Clubs shortly after. I'll bet that no one receiving the regulations actually read them as it has been my experience (in football, rugby league and pony club) that people don't read regulations until they need them to find a loophole to get themselves or their club out of the mess they are in.
If the CF AGM was held on April 3, there was plenty of time for Clubs to send in remits regarding matters that they did not agree with. The inference that the regs were "set in stone" is not true - regulations and rules in most organisation can be changed, altered or biffed out at a General Meeting.
It's a bit like an old saying that the Mad Butcher once used when we were discussing the state of another sport - "the people get the government (or governance) that they deserve".
Good luck.
Sadly there are more points I would like to address...
But I will pick out the above or I will be here all day:
Bold Point 1) Since when was the AGM on the brink of the season the right forum to raise individual league regulations changes/issues?
Captial Football has set up advisory groups (MAG/WAG etc) which are supposed to by look into compeitions and regulations and make recommendations. There are also specific MCL and WCL and Junior nights help at the end of each season where issues are raised and discussed.
Bold Point 2) You have got to be joking. Clubs get silenced, threatened with fines and generally being off-side with Cap Footy doesn't make life fun for a volunteer. Despite this many clubs are off-side with Capital Football; or maybe the other way around. The sad thing is, is that people talking about and discussing these issues is a good thing (obviously second to not having these issues). But what is shows is that the people still care and want things to get better (they have not given up). This should be embraced as a catalyst for change.
Bold Point 3) Assume. That word sums it up. I know that regulations for the W League were not published nor distributed until maybe 2 weeks out from the competition start. That is why when you look back further in this chat you will see fairly recent discussions around 5 'rolling' subs. These regulations were inserted into the Senior Regulations (which has caused other problems).
Recommendations:
Where the system falls down is where there is a lack of (or no) consultation in regards to actual changes. There also seems to be information that is 'lost' because it is sent out via email. Some people are on some mailing lists and not others. Because they bcc everyone you never know who has and hasn't got the message. The newsletter published online is a step in the right direction. Maybe they need more of this type of information sharing.
There also seems to be a lack of 'process' surrounding changes. Particularly regulation changes. There is the MAG and WAG groups and the end of year meetings, but how do these discussion translate into changes? Like who actually 'decides'? Who should 'decide'? Maybe this needs to be clarified in the first instance so people know 'when' and 'where' to speak up.
I would like to see regulations confirmed much much earlier. Perhaps release 'draft' regs prior to Xmas and then 'confirmed' regs for the upcoming season at the end of January? You will never please everyone, but the majority is surely the goal :)
In summary:
More consultation
Communications on website
Outline (or create) the process for regulation/league changes
Set timeframes
This would be a good start no?
