Quote Originally Posted by KITZ View Post
I don't know why you'd go to newfm if a NPL club is an option. The ladder isn't as important as people would have you think. Its no different to SAP, if you want to develop the best player, you go and find the best players to play against - if you aren't playing against the best week in and week out, what is the standard you are going to develop to? Also a lot of clubs have different policies on bringing their youth through and playing up. Might not be as big a consideration at 13, but by the time you hit 15/16 you are thinking about senior football and want to be somewhere thats keen to back your player if thats what they want from their football. If your player has the right mindset they can be successful at any of the NPL clubs and play senior football - they don't have to win a youth grand final to do that. Im not even sure if that increases your chances of playing senior football or not, but I guess some only feel successful if they win consistently.
Firstly cheers for the response,and I cant disagree with anything you've said here.In a perfect world NPL should have the best players and best coaches.What im finding though is its not the case across the board.My main priority is to get my kid the best coaching and to play and train against the best kids possible but also to get him at a level where there is enough enjoyment in it for him to maintain his enthusiasm for the game.In the merry go round so far we've seen good coaches who have been in the JDL system moving to NL1 youth teams next year and wanting to take their players with them.If im being honest i think my kid is somewhere right in the middle of the talent pool for his age.He wants to trial at all the clubs he can get an invite to and if he makes any of them of course they will be the priority.He is happy to move with a coach that knows him to the NL1 if he doesnt get in but hes adamant he wants to use it as a springboard to get back into the NPL group.I just dont know how enjoyable it will be if hes in a team getting flogged every week if hes not learning.I agree its a delicate balance by thinking that winning at a lower level is the best way to get better.This year has been a great example of how i think the program should be,my son has won way less games than ever but hes improved out of sight because his coach has challenged him all the way.If he keeps up that pathway he'll get to where he deserves to be.