Quote Originally Posted by Alan View Post
Can any of our New Lambton cohort say what is happening with SAP at the club next season? I was told of very exciting news about a fabulous coach getting involved with SAP there, but then also heard about an exodus of players and coaches.

But I'm not actually sure whether either is true!
As previously mentioned I'm the U9 SAP coach at NLFC. I do have more information about next year, but I'm not sure how much is public information so I can't divulge all that I know. I can confirm that there is a high profile "name" being lined up to direct the SAP program at NLFC. I've been told there are extensive plans for the structure, but I have not been shown or told what that means.

I have heard anecdotally that some players and coaches are changing/leaving - however I wouldn't put that down to anything more than "normal" NLFC end of season attrition. As Aegon alludes to if a parent/player has sights set on NPL, NLFC can't fulfil that goal (yet)

Quote Originally Posted by Aegon View Post
I watched New Lambton v Jaffas games on the weekend.

I can't help but feel bad for New Lambton, they are obviously attracting some talented kids to their SAP program and are fielding very competitive teams in multiple age groups.

Their squads are probably stronger than 1/2 of the established NPL clubs.

However the problem lies in - how do they retain their players? Once the kids (or parents) start looking forward toward NPL Youth they'll start leaving to go to NPL clubs.

I'm really not sure, as a club, how you would plan for this turnover year on year until some sort of Pro/rel is re-introduced into NNSWF.
What age group did you watch Aegon?
My 9's are injury ravaged at the moment - one sub across 60 minutes makes for very tired 8 and 9 y.o kids at the end of each half - and only having one team in U9 SAP means we can't draw from anywhere else.
Some clubs we've played seem to have one squad of 20 which they pick teams out of depending on the week and the opposition? However we haven't played every club (let alone every team) so it's hard to confirm that. I did notice a severe change in attitude (in my players) after getting smashed by a Mid Coast FC team that had U10 kids filling in. Massive gap between U9 and U10 in the SAP setup; unfortunate that MCFC felt the need to do it.

But putting that aside - the kids are getting better, they are learning more every week. When reminded to, they even execute it out there on the pitch.
For me, it's a hard thing to balance keeping them motivated AND enjoying it, when there are only fleeting glimpses of what their hard work on the training field can turn into during a game.