Quote Originally Posted by Onyatoes View Post
Well it would be progressive if they get better coaches and a better club experience but evidence shows kids from NL1 go up, with loads of promises, get chewed up and then come back $1500 poorer. Everyone knows that the local NPL is focussed on 3 teams at each club. Seniors 18s and up. I have seen NPL 13s and 14s forced to pay Regos in October so the retired A League "star" can be paid and after a year of minimal game time, they receive a pat on the back at a hastily convened presentation where they don't even get a trophy. Some of the "coaches" are just Dad's, transformed into Coaches resplendid in a fancy tracksuit but know as much about football as they do about marbles. Sure, little Johnny should go to a good club and play. But don't go and sit on a bench or get flicked at Year 2 as an ex Jet kid comes knocking. Or even worse, go to a club and get pumped week to week or even worse become disenchanted and leave the game.
Kids go up and down depending on ability and development. I've seen NL1 kids go up and succeed and others fail. I've seen NPL kids fall by the wayside after a year or two, and some leap ahead an age group. I have also seen what you have described as a NL1 kid fails to step up to the next level (and it is a step up) but other have excelled. Kids go in and out of the Jets. That is football. Some develop late, some never fulfil the promise they showed. To say that the evidence shows kids from "NL1 go up, with loads of promises, get chewed up and then come back" is a very broad brush statement, and as I have seen, it is not always the case.
$1500: not at my sons's NPL club. I think that clubs could improve the understanding of parents by providing itemised accounts, but most don't.
Do you have any idea how much it costs to put a team on the park in NPL? Consider some of these costs:
Ground hire in season
Ground hire out of season (more expensive)
Referees fees
Player registration
insurance,
physio costs each week
clothing
electricity
equipment
strips

Having been on a NEWFM club committee I know that the cost there, without the club making a cent, exceeds $800. NPL is more expensive.

Paying rego in October to pay a an ex A league star. Not in my experience either.

I'd love to know what club you are referring to. I'm guessing that you had a bad experience there? You shouldn't assume what happened to you happens to all and at all clubs.

Minimal game time. Again, I can't speak for all clubs but can say that game time has been spread cross my son's team for 4 years. Everyone on that team got ample game time. Yep, some got more than others and it is usually the midfield players that sub off and on. A reflection of the fatigue levels in midfield rather than ability of the kids. The NPL coaches I know work on the premise that "I picked them so I will play them". Sure, some don't. If you are not satisfied, talk to the TD and if still not happy, get your money back and go elsewhere. Rego closes in June so there is ample time to change.

Coaches that are dads. To coach in NPL you must have a C licence. Dad or not, the coach must be qualified. It's my view that a father and son should not be with the same team. Some clubs agree with that and some don't. There are good coaches and bad coaches in the NPL. Whether or not they are a player's father is not the deciding factor. Also, some dad's are harder on their own kids than others. I think you are taking a very broad and unfair brush to this.

Club experience. I think the NEWFM clubs do it better than the NPL clubs. I agree that the focus is on the seniors and that some clubs could do far better. All I can suggest is get on the club committee and make them change. It can be done.