Blackjack\’s Blog

The local laws of the game that sees the dismissal of a (senior/adult) player from the field of play for swearing must be one of the most ridiculous actions by the governing body yet devised.

Ok, once again, the original intention was good; to reduce the incidence of abuse toward referees, etc. but it has now gotten ridiculously out of hand. Some players are now attempting to have opposing players red carded for using language. Crucial matches are being influenced because, for example, a player verbalises his/her frustration at a particularly over exuberant tackle or is hurt during such a tackle.

Thankfully a few referees are using their commonsense and as long as the ‘word’ isn’t heard in the next suburb or is abusive directly toward another player, the swearing player receives a verbal warning and told to cool it. On the other hand I have witnessed a player sent from the field after being repeatedly ‘hacked’ from behind then voicing his frustration by saying, “F***ing hell” that wasn’t even heard on the opponents bench 20 metres away, but because the referee was standing over the incident, the player is sent off. A plainly stupid action.

Rightly or wrongly, swearing is well ingrained part of our society. Our kids listen to music that is rife with gangsta (foul/abusive/derogatory) terminology and four letter words. We watch the English Premier League and witness the likes of Rooney, Gerrard, Ferdinand and Kewell ‘go off their tits’ directly at referees and linesmen (assistant referees) with rarely even a yellow card in sight. Our media is full or language that was once never heard outside of the public bar of the local pub. Yet, as grown men and women, once we enter the field of play we are supposed to switch off what is ‘normal’ in our society and adopt this angelic response to frustration.

I’d be the first person the show a player a red card if that player turned to me and abused me directly or made threatening remarks, but I’m not going to red card a player because he says ‘fuck’ (there, I said it!!) after a particularly hard tackle or demonstrates his frustration at his own poor pass or shot on goal. Especially when I know that at the end of the game I’m going to be standing in his club’s bar using the same language he could be send off for next week.

Enough is enough. Let’s put an end to this ridiculous situation and play the game as adults, not as a strict school masters toward naughty students.

There is a rumour circulating and try as I might, it won’t go away.

Are FFT about to quit their Grove Rd headquarters and move up the road to the Hobart Showgrounds??

Has anyone else heard this rumour? They must have, because it has come back to me three times inside a week. I don’t have any specific details to this rumour so I’m unaware if the move entails grounds and all, or if it’s just office/headquarters (KGV Soccer House). I can’t think of any feasible reason for grounds to be included in such a move, especailly after so much money was spend on the recent resurfacing and drainage works.

If this rumour proves to be factual, what would be the positives and negatives of such a move? Is it simply a case of needing more room for the expanding office or are we in the process of establishing a new headquarters for football in Tasmania.

Alternatively, it may be that we are about to bid to be a host city for the 2010 World Cup once the South Africa plans come crashing down (any moment now) and Mr Blatter hands the staging over to the FFA.

Can someone confirm or deny?

FFT are heading down a very dangerous and rocky road by insisting all coaches for the 2007 season have a recognised coaching qualification. Don’t get me wrong, the idea is to be commended and would put a halt to the old dinosaur who ‘thinks’ he’s the world’s greatest coach and is waiting for a call from FFA to take over from Arny at the helm of the Socceroos. But realistically, we have to consider where we are and what we are trying to achieve. It’s all very well for FFT (this includes the FFA board not just the office personnel) to sit in their glass tower and deliver directions but I wonder if there are too many of them who have actually been administrators at club level and realise just how difficult it is to recruit ANY coach let alone one who has a qualification.

I have been a co-ordinator at club level and there were times that I would have warmly welcomed the aforementioned dinosaur simply because no one else would put up their hand. A lot of club teams have to settle for team ‘minders’ or a manager for the season, while some coaches are spread thin by being forced to take on the coaching role for more than one team.

FFT have insisted that no team will be registered unless it has a qualified coach and qualified coaches even at senior level ar as rare as hens’ teeth. There has to be some common sense in this debate and FFT are going to have to learn to work with clubs rather than casting down directives from above and expecting them to cope.

If FFT are so insistent that coaches have qualifications they need to get out into the field and offer courses that are accessible, i.e. cost efficient, timely and geogrphically suitable. Commonsense also needs to be a strong influence. Division four teams will have no appointed coach because no one will be prepared to outlay the couple of hundred dollars it takes to achieve the youth qualification that is the minimum standard for this senior level. Even the youth teams (especially at the yonger age level) will struggle.

What will prevent each clubs from appointing a ‘Director of Coaching’ as the ‘nominated’ coach for each other their teams and have an ‘assistant’ to work with teams on a daily basis. Will FFT refuse a team’s registration if it becomes apparant that this is indeed the scenario they are adhering to? If FFT does indeed act to suspend a team or club, is this not ‘big brother’ (and inflammatory) in it’s action. Does FFT have the authority to dictate how a club will coach it’s teams? Where does it state that a club cannot structure it’s coach as mentioned previously with one ‘head coach’?

This is dangerous ground that FFT has chosen to tread regardless of it’s best intentions.

Welcome.

This is my very first attempt at blogging so I ask for some patience and understanding on the technical side. To my knowledge there are very few, if any, blogging sites on and for the Tasmanian game, so hopefully we can create some sprited and worthwhile discussion and/or debate. Being human we will make some mistakes but I hope people will be understanding and especially forgiving.

I’m no expert on footballing matters (unless you ask me) but I love the game with a passion and I make no apologies for that. No doubt I will get offside with some as I am opinionated and arrogant, but that’s not my problem it’s yours!!! (joking…sort of!!)

This site won’t be restricted solely to the Tassie scene, although it will be the major player. Those of us who are involved in the game here, even if only as a spectator, love the game as a whole so we will be open to discussions on the Aussie scene (from national teams down to state leagues) as well as the internationals game (EPL, La Liga, etc.).

There will be one rule on this blog. Personal insults will NOT be tolerated. If you can’t say it constructively then don’t say it.

Feel free to drop me a line (blackjack@plebian.net) with suggestions for discussion topics or just ideas on how to make this a better place.