Roarers will read these words while nodding: “Each professional club should operate as a central hub of the community, not an adjunct on top, offering its professionalism via coaching courses, assistance for club volunteers, the opportunity for junior clubs to be associated officially as a family member and regular contact with the coach, players and administrators.”
This complete tool-kit for junior clubs should have been provided by the Australian Rugby Union as part of the Super Rugby franchise model, not left to the discretion of individual clubs.
Every club within a Super franchise’s geographical area should be a core part of the franchise itself and have access to advice and expertise to grow the game at all levels.
Waratahs coach Chris Hickey should, for instance, be conducting a monthly seminar for every grass roots coach in his catchment area to explain his approach, philosophy and tactics.
Super Rugby franchises should be asking what we can do for you, rather than you for us. Not asking for devotion but creating it through meaningful support for those at every level.”
The problem is, the above is an extract from an article by Craig Foster about football in the Sun Herald, with certain words changed to make it relate to rugby.
But it didn’t take much in that regard.
As such, it is nice to see that rugby is not the only major football code with grass roots problems.
Although with “230,000 registered footballers (at various levels) in the Sydney catchment”, football has a grass roots that dwarfs rugby’s (with 183,810 participants nation-wide according to the ARU 2008 Annual report by comparison).
However, in many ways rugby may well look to football for some guidance as to how to deal with what are clearly similar issues, in providing an integrated and complementary structure building its juniors to the international pinnacle.
While AFL and rugby league can look to huge TV revenues (and for league until recently, leagues club pokies) to help support a grass roots development model such as AFL’s enormous AusKick program, both football and rugby have a relatively limited revenue base with which to fund itself, much of which is used running the top levels which ensure that revenue in the first place.
In rugby, the Wallabies and Super teams, in football the Socceroos, and now A-League.
It is worth noting that AFL and league do not have to concern themselves with the international level as much, as their club levels are their main bread winner and main focus.
Football, like rugby, has stagnated until recent times at the national level, and suffered horrid infighting at the administrative levels, with warring bodies and apparent duplication.
However, football has reformed itself significantly in recent years, as the result of government funding and the scrutiny that went with it.
As anyone who follows football as well as rugby knows, there has been significant change to the junior training and structures, and to coaching, and an influx on Dutch and European coaches and executives – which some locals have resented.
The introduction of sevens rugby to the Olympics is likely to lead to increased funding to rugby, in a way which AFL and rugby league cannot hope for (given they are not and cannot hope to be international games, especially at Olympic level).
However, the administrative scrutiny that will likely come with that funding is unlikely to result in fundamental change to rugby administration anytime soon. The change that came to football took years, in reviews, reports and pressure.
There has been noise about change in rugby administration, with suggestions of independent boards for the Waratahs, constitutional change to the ARU, and the suggested introduction of private equity – with little discussion as to how and why.
However, this usually tends to be smoke without the fire.
As in football, those who have to cause the change are those that will be unseated by it, and unlikely to want to essentially get rid of themselves (unlike the Kiwi league chiefs, as also reported in today’s Sun Herald).
The current malaise in Australian rugby should be the reason for a root and branch review of the sport in this country, and reform to both administration and structures.
If rugby wants to stay in touch with the professional codes in this country, then it must accept that it has problems that need serious reform to fix. Anyone in the sport that thinks it can continue operating as it is, is kidding themselves. After all, the definition of stupidity is repeating the same actions and expecting a different result.
When that happens, we can start worrying about concerns like football has, with the knowledge the structures and administrators in place can act on and deal with such issues, rather than knowing little or nothing will happen.
Oh, to have the grass roots problems football has.
Same problem, different worlds.
Sam D
Guest
Thanks westcoast, I guess the point I was making was that AFL NRL soccer are putting so much back into their junior models and Rugby Union does nowhere near as much. I reckon the AFL have got it right.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Yikes, if AFL is getting that as direct support (as opposed to indirect, e.g. upgrades to grounds used by more than just AFL), then that is obscene. They need a means test. "Do you earn more than $1b from TV revenue? Yes. Then look after yourself."
Yikes
Guest
Gosh Bay, it's not just broadcast revenue that AFL and NRL are ahead by. Michael Cockerill's article in the Herald today is frightening. He says since 2003, AFL has received about $453m from the three tiers of government. In the same period cricket has received about $141m, soccer has received $77 million, rugby league about $45.5m, tennis about $14.5m and rugby union about $9m. Now, to be fair, I don't know if his numbers are right. He says AFL has received that from all 3 tiers of government, but lists soccer's 77 million as only Federal money, with no details for the other codes amounts he quotes. In addition, he is including stadium upgrades for AFL venues which may assist other codes (but mostly cricket). Still! Bloody oath. Clearly rugby needs to up its game with the politicos.
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Westcoast, so where is the ARU copying this??! Hello, anyone paying attention over there?!?!?
Midfielder
Guest
Bay & Sam Sam first .. the AFL have a massive amount for spreading there game as the AFL can set the salary cap ...and leave the balance to develop and expand their game ... WS will be in a very short time over take RU in player numbers and influence ... only RU can do something about it... Bay good article ... Football has always been strong in junior numbers and has had districit rep teams... the problem has always been the difference between the NSL & State teams and the district association rep teams... and the difference in coaching ... and what was coached... how it coached ... etc... Football today has made some huge changes to its processes aiming as best as possible to identify talent and direct coaching methods that suit the players age and ability... Essentially football has four age groups each with a different slant to the coaching needs of the players.. Under 10... its just learning the basic skills and get feel and touch on the ball... 11 to 15 ... they increase there skill set regards touch and skill but learn about shape ( how and why 442 0r 541 or 433 are played) they are coached in a 4 3 3 shape . 16 to 21 ... combine everyting into team play ... after 21 or earlier to a professinal league where winning is now the most important thing rather than skill and knowledge improvenment which has been the most important in the 3 previous methods... Common coaching methods... RU already does a lot of this already .... But the real difference is in Football juniors have always considered very important whereas in RU ... important but not quite as important as Football does...
Westcoast929406
Guest
As an AFL supporter, To clarify what Hawthorn are actually doing- Hawthorn will match the AFL`s 100,000 a year development monies and the players will get an Hawthorn football kit, and hand out Trophies. They had 22 schools enter = 264 players. All of the main groundwork work actually being done by AFLNZ staff under the watchful eye of AFL Oceania with Hawthorn help. Hawthorn have modelled the scheme on their successful Tassie project in which they have visited EVERY Primary school on the Apple Isle handing out footy stuff. Its not rocket science and is not costing a lot of money.
Sam D
Guest
nice roar bay35, Did anyone see the front page of the Herald Sun today? Hawthorn are running a nationwide competition in New Zealand aimed at Year 9&10 kids. If Hawthorn can afford to fund something like this, with development staff, organisational staff in New Zealand of all places, it's scary!!
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
Thanks Bay. These guys remind me of an alcoholic (drunk on power) - it is only when all is lost that an alcoholic (if not dead) can start to reform. Will Rugby in Australia need to die and be reborn before it can really start to develop?
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Rickety, the states are starting to poo poo that report already. See http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26268972-5015651,00.html States calling the ARU undemocratic? Pot. Kettle. Black. And whingeing about the ARU being overly controlling? They have the cash, they call the tune!! Plus the problem is actually not enough control, as the state unions seem to go off on their own frolics before requiring old Uncle Moneybags ARU to bail them out!!!
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Rickety, this report has been a long time coming then, as this type of reform has been muttered about for some time. The main issue everyone has is the large number of members/votes NSW and Queensland currently have, due to their playing numbers. While I can understand the criticism, do you want NSW with by far the most players having the same as Tasmania with 2 blokes and a dog in the ute? The suggestion the Super franchises get representation is also weird, as they are run by the relevant state unions. So you are just giving them 2 members. Something has to change. RL is looking at going to an AFL style commission, but there seems no suggestion we well do that. Yet RL is currently a hell of a lot better off than us. We need more people on the boards who are independent, with business skills or professional administrators, and less blokes who got there from being club secretary because they cobbled together enough favours to get in until someone else does the same and stages a boardroom coup. For a sport supposed to be supported by the big end of town, we seem to get a disproportionate number of blokes who would go broke running a hot dog stand. perhaps that's why they get into rugby administration .....
Bay35Pablo
Roar Guru
Tony, that's what I here. But keep in mind (i) WA is starting from a lower base, (ii) Perth is smaller size and population wise, and (iii) you don't have league hoovering up all your fat kids, just AFL as king. I think the sport is in a trough, but will come out of it, but we need the junior development in the heartland to keep up a gear. Otherwise in 20 years time we could have a gutted heartland, and be hoping like hell the Force and Rebels have built enough depth to cover that problem!!!
Tony the sandgroper
Guest
It sounds like you have a problem over there in the East. The Western Force playing group and their admin staff and Coaches are doing just what you want. They are available, approachable and often visit the youngsters at training and when their other duties permit. It might be the advantage of a smaller geographic concentration of Rugby Clubs in Perth, but we have no complaints and the Rugby WA and WF Rugby Development boys and girls are doing a great job here.
Simmo
Guest
Futbol/football/soccer really hit rock bottom before we got the reform we were desperate for. And when I say rock bottom I mean a national league averaging 3,000 punters per game, a national team that played in front of crowds where most people were barracking for the opposition, completely lack of respect from other sports, the media and people who love the game. RU is no where near that bad. Which is good. But it also means that there isn't the impetus for the current hierarchy to want to change the structures that will move Australian RU away from the boom-bust cycle that it's currently wedded to. As a futbol fan I'm actually grateful that we had it as bad as we did several years ago.
albatross
Guest
http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/wanted-a-fix-for-the-dire-state-of-rugby-union/1654344.aspx
reds fan
Guest
Shouldn't point 1 read: NZ and SA hold their domestic comps in higher regard than Super rugby, and would prefer to maintain them instead of continually expanding Super Rugby. The way you have worded your point 1 "for the good of Australian rugby", is the reason every NZ and SA supporter accuses OZ rugby of expecting them to do the heavy lifting for us.
True Tah
Guest
Thanks for posting the article RK, but I guess the phrase "turkeys dont vote for christmas" is what comes to mind. For some blokes on these boards, they are not going to go voluntarily. Futbol was forced to do something similar and that was instigated by the federal government. I do not think the federal government gives a rats about rugby, as seen by their culling of funding for the proposed redevelopment of Ballymore. The other disturbing this is the whole talk of Super rugby conferences - if anything, Super rugby is one of the main reasons we are in the current predicament, yes it was a great boon back in 1995, but like the article, it has outlived its usefulness. The main problems which are affecting Australian rugby are: 1 - The fact that NZ and SA do not want their domestic comps sacrificed for the good of Australian rugby 2 - The players get far too much relative to how many games they play. I hope Tony Dempsey is well remunerated because he is doing a great job for his union members. This means funding for grassroots is diminished. 3 - Getting rugby on FTA should be a priority, and I think Air New Zealand Cup would be great for say OneHD. If they are willing to show German and Japanese futbol on OneHD, they should be interested in Air New Zealand Cup.
Rickety Knees
Roar Guru
G'day Bay, Take a look at this article from the Oz: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,26263622-2722,00.html Look forward to reading your analysis of it
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Important article People in NSW and QLD need to realise that Football finishes second to AFL participation wise in the AFL states. If you have ever lived in Western Sydney that sounds absurd but it’s true. So while football in NSW sits on it’s laurels (with huge rego fees) it’s at risk of losing one of it’s big strengths. Interestingly Melbourne Victory run a 5 aside competition that sounds very similar to Auskick. They go out to the schools (both MV womens and mens players) give coaching clinics and give them some MV merchandise. Sounds like a really good program but this is a club based program and it doesn’t seem the FFA is involved. In fact I still think the FFA charge the levy on player registrations that was brought in by Soccer Australia to avoid bankruptcy. Reducing or removing that levy sounds like a better spend of Australia’s money than a lot of the youth programs they have implemented which are doing things that should be largely club based anyway.