Capital Football Board must act now

I've never written to the Capital Football Board before, never felt the need or desire but the current debacle over "our" High Performance programs and it's ability to provide opportunities for a much broader and younger football base, boys/girls, is such a positive move that something must be done. And now.

Who are on the Board?

Alan Bradbury, Peter Maybury, Kim Chapman, Fethon Illeris, Stephanie Issaacson, Rachel Harrigan and John Logue (President)

The Board cannot throw this opportunity for our young players away, at least we deserve some communication and quick.

And secondly they should endorse John Mitchell's ANU outfit and encourage them, promote them and ensure they get as many Youth League games as possible in the coming months. And scrap the Youth Rockets...it's been tried and failed.

See my letter below and feel free to add comments.

To: Capital Football Board.



As a member of the Canberra football community I would urge the Capital Football Board to consider urgent resolution of it's High Performance programs.



The placement, removal, and what only can be regarded as an unsatisfactory message placed on the Capital Football website leaves many of the community I've spoken to dismayed, disillisioned and some outright angry. Whatever your internal processes the way you have informed the community is poor to say the least.



I've spoken to many Academy Parents, Coaches and many many people from across all level of the game in clubland.



I've never heard such a positive response to the North/South Development HP programs from all sectors of the game, boys and girls, men and women. I'm sure your registrations would reflect this and I imagined they would have tripled come trial day such is the word of mouth excitment that was being generated.



It seems to me the Board have little idea of the success and goodwill Capital Football were getting from this initiative.



Of course there are those who disagree, but few if any outside the current Academy (and hasn't that program got some equity and development issues) disagree with the proposed changes. While some support the Academy within the program you'd be lucky to find one person outside the program in support of it's maintenance in it's present form. Have you tested the grassroots on this?



People who have no history of the game are signing up their kids, their girls and boys, to get "better developed." Do you realise what you have done by abandoning, stopping or reviewing the program. That's the point; no-one has an idea what you are doing or why you have done it. Capital Football are not looking to good on this one. We simply deserve better?



There are rumours across clubland and the information you are giving us is disappointing.



Why Capital Football cannot proceed immediately with it's HP program for 9-12 girls/boys North and South as proposed; and if needs be argue about the other HP programs/Academy few in clubland can understand.



Of course an Academy selected on merit may be worth maintaining, one based on financial ability to pay leaves most of us chuckling at it's proposed aims. The FFA clearly have noted this, and NSW's of course, are making their programs free. One wonders if we'd see the same squads if Canberra Academies were free. True development?



On a further note: Capital Football's Youth Rockets program has failed to give our Youth real consistent opportunities. No problem, it's a difficult thing to maintain. But you have the answer staring you in the face. Why not put your support and energy behind the most progressive program we currently have in the ACT for our young boys. John Mitchell's ANU "Youth" team is playing games against Sydney Youth and giving our players a chance to showcase themselves.



If a better model comes up you can always move to that but for now let's blow it's trumpet as best we can. If you don't who will?

In view of a lack of other suitable programs, why try and reinvent the wheel. Seems like the ANU team is the best way forward for our elite boys. Support it and encourage John and his team to get a full program of Youth games over the coming season.



I've never written to the Board of Capital Football before but the feedback I'm getting has compelled me to do so.



Once the season is over many many parents and kids will have missed the boat. You're website talks about resolving things in September. Too late!!



Club communication systems slow considerably come Sept 5th everyone knows that.



It;s time to act. Either get the program going now or inform the community as to the way ahead.



Your faithfully



Eamonn Flanagan