Quote Originally Posted by Spell Check View Post
This is good insight.

So most of our NPL clubs charge approx $1500 per head fees for youth. Some more, some less, but letÂ’s go with $1500.

Based on 64 youth players most clubs would generate $96K in fees. Minus $44K fees, there is a $50K surplus. How much does the ground hire/maintenance, coaching, equipment cost generally? ItÂ’s not $50K hopefully.

Add your JDL fees on top, minus your coaching, ground fees again, and NPL clubs should have the funds available to progress well. What they do with that money however is the source of debate and frustration as most accept this goes into the senior funds.

If we are decoupling youth, letÂ’s decouple the fee streams as well and see whether we can develop our youth better. More money should mean better coaching, development, opportunities. ThatÂ’s something we can all get on board with.
I think you're heavily underestimating costs for clubs here.

Average grounds rental for year including lighting etc $30,000
Maintenance on ground $10,000
Clothing - $200 per player: 200 * 100 players = $20,000
Youth coaching not sure but maybe $1500 per team? Plus TD which is mainly youth focused at maybe $10/15k? + 10/15K per 1st grade team?
Equipment ~$5kpa?

So let's assume 100 players at $1500 each rego, that's 150k

less NNSW fees, that's $105K

Less the club costs (~$95K) above is ~$10k left.

I'm sure there are heaps of activities clubs do that I haven't considered costs for. I also see clubs at Gyms, or LMRFF. Clubs have match day physios, VEO Cameras etc

The cost of regos is very high, but the reality is that the price is more or less the cost of running the programs. Demand has shifted to expect a much higher quality program. Qualified coaches and TDs, demand for the best quality pitches, expectations around clothing, expectations around training equipment and facilities etc

The obvious question is how are 1st grade players paid etc, and clubs would argue that they are paid from sponsorship, gate takings, canteen taking etc.