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MASSIVE NAY MEGA MASSIVE news breaking on the CC…. the little club that should not...
Mariners announce free grassroots program
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1167825/Mariners-announce-free-grassroots-program
At a time when questions are being asked over the quality of talent flowing into Australian football, Central Coast Mariners chief Mike Charlesworth is tackling the issue head on: by inviting kids to play for free.
In collaboration with the Central Coast-based International Football School and Central Coast Football, the Mariners have launched their own initiative to add fresh shoots to the grassroots by launching “Free FC”, which will enable juniors to avoid being hit by hefty participation levies of the various state bodies and play organised games for nothing.
Dismayed at parents having to stump up hundreds of dollars to register their kids in competitions run under the umbrella of the state governing bodies, Charlesworth insisted: “It’s way too expensive for kids to play the game and we want to change that, starting here on the Central Coast.
“Making it competitive cost-wise for kids to play is the direction we need to be heading in as a nation. Australia is one of the most successful sporting countries in the world but why are we so far behind in football right now? The reason is it’s too costly for kids to play.
“We expect the best and are competitive in just about every other major sport but in football we seem happy to be second rate. I don’t think we should put up with that any longer.
“The various state bodies are the problem. There are too many levels of administration in this country.
“There’s the FFA, which we obviously need, Then you have the local bodies which you need but then there’s this giant monstrosity [state federations] in the middle which sucks the blood out of the game at grassroots level and provides very little of anything.
“We are going to finance Free FC ourselves, which we should not have to do, but it’s the right thing in the long term.
“Football in Australia for kids is by far the most expensive in the world, and that’s unacceptable.”
The “Free FC” program will be held in a supervised environment to ensure kids are given the best possible chance to fall in love with the globe’s favourite game, according to Charlesworth.
“It is also a wonderful example of how the three football organisations in the community can unite to create better opportunities for kids and assist in the growth of the sport,” he added.
“For us, Free FC is not necessarily about discovering the next Mitchell Duke, Matt Simon or Mat Ryan. It is about ensuring every child has the chance to fall in love with the game so they can go to bed with the dream of becoming the next Duke, Simon or Ryan.”
It has the backing of FFA with A-League chief Damien de Bohun describing the program as a “tremendous initiative”.
“Football Federation Australia applauds the Free FC program as it allows young children to play football who may otherwise not be able to do so,” he said. “It is a long-term goal of the FFA to make football the most accessible game and this is a good step forward.”
The program caters for boys and girls aged eight to 12 who can register to attend one of four locations every Tuesday night for an hour of free football.
IFS CEO Paul Chapman hopes the model will one day be rolled out nationally.
“Mike Charlesworth and I both have a similar passion to create more opportunities for young people to enjoy the football,” he said. “I believe Free FC has the potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of thousands of Australian children by providing them with an opportunity to participate in an activity that is fun and free.”
The weekly Free FC sessions will be organised by Damien Brown, who played 40 games for the Mariners between 2005 and 2008.
Brown, the Mariners’ Youth Development Coordinator, currently organises the club’s Newcastle Permanent Mariners Active sessions and coaches at the International Football School Mariners campus at Mount Penang.
Since its inception in 2010, the Mariners Active program has introduced more than 30,000 kids to football at primary school free of charge.
CCF Chairman, Mr Darren Sprod, is another supporter of the Free FC initiative.
“This program gives every child a chance to try the highest participation sport on the Central Coast for free. Local clubs will be invited to Free FC in the registration period to encourage children to further their football experience by joining a local club.”
The initiative kicks off on Tuesday October 15, just three days after the Mariners’ opening game of the season against Western Sydney Wanderers at Bluetongue Stadium.
The first Free FC session will be held at Pluim Park, Lisarow.
Those interested should visit http://www.marinersdevelopment.com.au.
Mariners announce free grassroots program
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/news/1167825/Mariners-announce-free-grassroots-program
At a time when questions are being asked over the quality of talent flowing into Australian football, Central Coast Mariners chief Mike Charlesworth is tackling the issue head on: by inviting kids to play for free.
In collaboration with the Central Coast-based International Football School and Central Coast Football, the Mariners have launched their own initiative to add fresh shoots to the grassroots by launching “Free FC”, which will enable juniors to avoid being hit by hefty participation levies of the various state bodies and play organised games for nothing.
Dismayed at parents having to stump up hundreds of dollars to register their kids in competitions run under the umbrella of the state governing bodies, Charlesworth insisted: “It’s way too expensive for kids to play the game and we want to change that, starting here on the Central Coast.
“Making it competitive cost-wise for kids to play is the direction we need to be heading in as a nation. Australia is one of the most successful sporting countries in the world but why are we so far behind in football right now? The reason is it’s too costly for kids to play.
“We expect the best and are competitive in just about every other major sport but in football we seem happy to be second rate. I don’t think we should put up with that any longer.
“The various state bodies are the problem. There are too many levels of administration in this country.
“There’s the FFA, which we obviously need, Then you have the local bodies which you need but then there’s this giant monstrosity [state federations] in the middle which sucks the blood out of the game at grassroots level and provides very little of anything.
“We are going to finance Free FC ourselves, which we should not have to do, but it’s the right thing in the long term.
“Football in Australia for kids is by far the most expensive in the world, and that’s unacceptable.”
The “Free FC” program will be held in a supervised environment to ensure kids are given the best possible chance to fall in love with the globe’s favourite game, according to Charlesworth.
“It is also a wonderful example of how the three football organisations in the community can unite to create better opportunities for kids and assist in the growth of the sport,” he added.
“For us, Free FC is not necessarily about discovering the next Mitchell Duke, Matt Simon or Mat Ryan. It is about ensuring every child has the chance to fall in love with the game so they can go to bed with the dream of becoming the next Duke, Simon or Ryan.”
It has the backing of FFA with A-League chief Damien de Bohun describing the program as a “tremendous initiative”.
“Football Federation Australia applauds the Free FC program as it allows young children to play football who may otherwise not be able to do so,” he said. “It is a long-term goal of the FFA to make football the most accessible game and this is a good step forward.”
The program caters for boys and girls aged eight to 12 who can register to attend one of four locations every Tuesday night for an hour of free football.
IFS CEO Paul Chapman hopes the model will one day be rolled out nationally.
“Mike Charlesworth and I both have a similar passion to create more opportunities for young people to enjoy the football,” he said. “I believe Free FC has the potential to enhance the health and wellbeing of thousands of Australian children by providing them with an opportunity to participate in an activity that is fun and free.”
The weekly Free FC sessions will be organised by Damien Brown, who played 40 games for the Mariners between 2005 and 2008.
Brown, the Mariners’ Youth Development Coordinator, currently organises the club’s Newcastle Permanent Mariners Active sessions and coaches at the International Football School Mariners campus at Mount Penang.
Since its inception in 2010, the Mariners Active program has introduced more than 30,000 kids to football at primary school free of charge.
CCF Chairman, Mr Darren Sprod, is another supporter of the Free FC initiative.
“This program gives every child a chance to try the highest participation sport on the Central Coast for free. Local clubs will be invited to Free FC in the registration period to encourage children to further their football experience by joining a local club.”
The initiative kicks off on Tuesday October 15, just three days after the Mariners’ opening game of the season against Western Sydney Wanderers at Bluetongue Stadium.
The first Free FC session will be held at Pluim Park, Lisarow.
Those interested should visit http://www.marinersdevelopment.com.au.
