November 19, 2006
Div.4 - should it be a dedicated Veteran’s League?
Division 4, as it currently stands, is a Heinz league. Some teams have veterans only, some are full of youngsters (under 35) that just can’t be bothered training or focusing on a higher standard & some are a mixture of both. I contest this has the possibility of causing some players, especially the older ones, to stay away from the game simply because chasing down a 25 year old, even one of a lesser standard in ability, is less than appealing (or even painful) and even risks injury.
A true veterans league has the potential to be of an extremely high standard if it is restricted to players over 35 who have played at a minimum of Div.1 level.
This league could be played at one venue on one day and could be self serving where the league would supply even their own referees and assistant refs.
Thoughts?
Great idea , only about the tenth time i have heard of this one , the real problem is the 35 year olds running around at present are much better than most of the so called “stars”
Think outside the square , why not have a summer over 35 comp - 7 a side let the clubs run it they could actually generate $$$$$ , mind u FFT will want their share!!!
To make it happen u have to price structure the leagues accordingly , players should not be playing the same rego toplay Premier League as to play Div 3-4 .
The rest of Australian Football Associations have woken up when will we!!!
Comment by Left back — November 22, 2006 @ 7:26 pm
Did you take some nasty pills?? You are very critical of everything and everyone. I am assuming you are going to take a positive stance (FFT board perhaps) in all this mess created by others and will sort it out or are you just having a whinge?
Comment by Blackjack — November 23, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
Thats the problem with do gooders - u started this blog with all the best intentions , and I applaud you ( positive) 4 that , but as soon as somebody has a go or tries to put something in writing that u don’t like u want to jump on your soapbox and preech to the so called masses about what is right or wrong.!!!
This a blog - refered to in the dictionary as - A phenomenon that has spread this is the Weblog or blog, an online journal or newsletter in which an individual has the potential to tell the world all about his or her opinions.
I agree no personnel slagging , but if i or others have issues on the bigger picture and am critical , want to say something about football in Tas be it for or against the Governing body or clubs so be it, u don’t have to have the last say unless it is to do with the subject .
As above i gave my opinion and also suggested how i believe it could work - yet u have to get personnel - nasty pills - regards
LEFT BACK
Comment by Left back — November 24, 2006 @ 7:44 am
So if you have all the good ideas. Do something about it. Organise a summer 7-a-side veterans tournament. Don’t just get on here and whinge and spoil it for everyone else.
Just do it mate!!!
Comment by Blackjack — November 24, 2006 @ 8:44 am
I play div4 (as it stands now) and have never played in higher divisions (except as a fill in over the summer cup) so I wouldn’t qualify in Blackjack’s comp. I do agree however that chasing down 25 year old players gets a bit painfull at times (I’m over 35) and I really object to teams dropping players from divs 1-2 to beat other div 4 teams. I play for fun and the camaraderie. Generally all the clubs that have a div 4 team are good guys who’ve been there and done that and love the game.
In saying that, a summer comp for over 35’s on the surface is a good idea. I can see a whole bunch of players trying it out. The main problem is that after the end of the season it takes me personally a month or so to recover! I don’t know how many players use the summer months to get ready for the next season but I could see existing div 4 players not as enthusiastic to play as others. I’d like to play a less intense off season comp. Perhaps it’s time we looked at inventing a ‘touch football’ version of soccer to play in the off season?
I sort of agree with Left Back that divs 3-4 pay as much as the other divs to play but don’t get full benefit of their fees (lack of refs and quality grounds). At the same time your it’s up to your club to be not paying FFT for refs that didn’t show. A large amount of your fees go towards insurance so that we can all keep playing but your club then sets the amount you eventually pay. They have running costs (for grounds, clubrooms, equipment costs, coaching costs etc) all of which are divvied up so that everyone pays their part to keep your club going. If you’re complaining about how much it costs to play then talk to your club. Maybe they’ll reimburse you for the games that FFT didn’t provide a ref for the game.
Comment by Axeman — November 29, 2006 @ 11:43 am
Axeman - Referees fees are charged to clubs on a game by game basis - if no referee then no fee is charged by FFT. if any Div 4 player is paying the same fee as higher division players then they need to talk to their club. Div 4 team nomination fee for 2006 was lower than for higher divisions, as was the player registration fee.
The difficulty in running an Over 35 comp is getting sufficient teams that can week in week out provide a full team of over 35’s who dont want to play in higher leagues. Most clubs have some over 35’s but few have enough. The current structure - where div 4 is treated as a social league - would seem to be appropriate.
Comment by sj — December 4, 2006 @ 10:53 pm
I am approaching 35 and would love to play in a social/competitive comp for over 35s. The alternative is to hang up my boots and look towards a slow death by gardening.
The football association in the Sutherland Shire of Sydney, with a population of appx 250,000, has 7*35s leagues of 8 to 10 teams per comp. Surely it is achievable to establish 1 league in Southern Tas.
Maybe FFT could borrow some ideas from the Shire as to how they established one. If the clubs themselves nominate a 35s team for div 4 then, over time, the div will become a 35s comp by default. Maybe that sounds a bit too simplistic.
I do not like the idea of a summer comp. I need the summer to recover, thaw and familiarise myself with the wife and kids again.
Comment by Ice-5 — December 6, 2006 @ 9:54 am