There are two Burnley teams over I believe, one a 15th grade (in which Mainland's FTC's beat them 4-0 and 2-0 today) and there is a under 16's. Can't give them too much stick as they are kids but yes, they weren't as good and were soundly beaten.
Would like to bring up the point raised by Ray Hicks about the players used. The teams were FTC teams. I was sitting in the stands with parents of kids in the FTC (I'm not one of them) and there was much discussion about how there were quite a few ring-ins for the FTC who played plenty of the game yet had not paid the same $900 fee that they had. Does seem a bit off that this happened.
While we are on the Mainland rant, here's another couple of bits of juicy goss that may or may not be true but when has that ever stopped this forum. In the South Island Tournament, Canty teams were charged $400 to travel and stay at the same place Mid Canty team stayed and those guys were only charged $50! And Baranowski is up for a Sport Canty award for "science of sport" despite being relatively invisible during the FTC programme and not delivering what was promised when people signed up for it.
That's enough shark-stirring for tonight. But you guys started it.
the younger Burnley side must of also played the Canterbury U-13's as well because I was talking to the coach of that team and it was his squad. Yes there are some FTC players in that squad.
as far as game time this is an issue with any "pay to train" form of education. I know I've gone over this before on here but the issue for the paying customer (the parents) is the next level of representation or achievement. So If I pay x to attend FTC it therefore follows my child will play in the Rep (Sth Island tournament). However it is different coaches selecting these players (in the main) and their call is the one Mainland runs with. Parents may wish to know why x was spent and their child did not make the cut which creates/contributes to the stress on the FTC staff. So If I am coaching FTC and also the corresponding or matching Rep team it's a pressure to have similar selection yeah? It's also the perception that FTC is of a higher level than the Reps, so selection is a given.
This is partially why it is difficult to have 'absolute' rules around selection.
It also brings up why separation between Coach at Club/FTC/Your child and the same Rep level age group is IMO vital to increase transparency in the organization. However I am also of the opinion that the single biggest handicap to children's sporting achievement is in fact the parents attitude! It can be easier to pick apart the coaching or selection than to honestly appraise how our child is in fact performing.
FWIW I have no issue with any player picked in the age grade I'm involved with (REPS/SI tournament) and can categorically state that all FTC players made it in (that were available) and did so fairly comfortably. I believe the trial process was open and fair and we got players on their playing merits, not reputations or expectations. Results between the sides per-tournament bear out on evenness anyway.
Different rates for traveling teams, could be any number of reasons for this, foremost individual/private sponsorship.
FTC costs, unless there where changes to the prices I am not aware of I thought the highest costing was $825 and many players received a subsidy from the Scorching Fund pool. I also see ASB Bank came to the party at this months Oamaru NTC and we got $200 (plus some giveaways) for the kids. I can't remember what we got the last 2 times but it was something and this is from funding applications or sponsorship. I don't think these costs are OTT for (supposedly) A Grade coaching. What is a comparable sport and what are their costings/charges?
RK's point or philosophy around why FTC instead of club based program is hopefully where it gets too. I'd love to see the FTC program at each club so we are increasing the number of players getting year round training. FTC is a thousand times better than the School of Football set up and I'd wager any club coach who had players come back into their Saturday side from FTC would of considered this a positive. So having it onsite at the club should be a good thing.
Baranowski has been involved in FTC. I'm not sure why it has been suggested he hasn't unless it's people thinking he should have done more sessions. FWIW I can think of 8-10 trainings/education courses / NZIS nights he's been at. I'm guessing this equate to approx 10-12% of the year. I don't really have an idea on what is a desirable % but I certainly agree that he was a major reason we choose to accept places at FTC. I also know some people think that side of it is a waste of time and just want their kids on the park so again Mainland seems damned if they do , damned if they don't.