Ronaldoknow please tell me, apart from CS, which clubs offer a 40+ week academy that incorporates sports science nutrition etc. The answer, much as some clubs might try to dress up an extra coaching session, is ....NONE (though FC 20 are close).
Good on CS but not all clubs have your resources. Why should most players in chch not be offered academy style development? Or are you suggesting they have to go to coastal to get it?
Good on CS but not all clubs have your resources. Why should most players in chch not be offered academy style development? Or are you suggesting they have to go to coastal to get it?
Not at all. Suggesting the governing body should get on with overseeing the development of the game through the clubs as New Zealand football require, not competing with them as is currently happening. What incentive is there for clubs to invest in human and capital resources when you are competing with your governing body?
Ferrymead Bays success in the MPL this season is a case in point. Now we all know that paying players is detrimental to the development of a clubs young players (i.e. money spent of players is money not spent on developing young players) but I understand the approach they took. You only have to read some of the stuff written in Gricey's Word on their website https://www.ferrymeadbaysfootball.co.nz/Soccer-Team-Christchurch-Ferrymead-Bays-Football-Griceys-Word.html to see where their emphasis lies. Why develop players when it's cheaper to buy them already developed? Why put money, time and effort into an academy then find the best players aren't available because your governing body has set up in opposition to you?
Get my point?
Coastal's Sporting Futures academy will be up and running again in November in spite of being asked not to do so by Mainland. Why? Because in Gareth Turnbull and Korouch Monseff we believe we have the 2 best coaches in Mainland and further believe that developing players need exposure to their abilities for the good of the players own development.
Your point about why shouldn't most players in ChCh be offered the opportunity to develop in an Academy is very poignant. At the moment they aren't - less then 1% of juniors are offered places in the SOF and many actually decline. Shut it down and get Ed and Alan working alongside club academies, then you'll see some real development take place.
Coastal is not reinstating the Sporting Futures academy for it's own benefit but for the good of the game. I realise that not many clubs have our resources but most also lack our vision and drive, hence the fall back position of their support for the SOF. If they can't set one up thenselves let's empower Mainland to so so and stop other clubs stealing "our" players. Foolish and retarded thinking. Thinking that is holding the game back. In this season just completed Coastal lost several (as many as 10) players to rival clubs in the MPL, Div 1, WMPL and WPDL. We know we can't keep everybody happy and provide first team football for all but if we can improve their game while they are with us it has to be good for the game overall and that is what we are about. Look at the improved standard in the women's MPL this season, in part brought about by ex Coastal players turning out for other clubs. A similar situation will develop with our Coaches network. We are not going to be able to provide spots for everybody in the near future - Jose Matiz is a good example working with Ferrymead Bays - so other clubs (and the game) should benefit. Now if only Mainland could get alongside this philosophy and support clubs to become stronger and better organised we would start to see some real accelerated growth in the local game.