ROUNDBALL GAME IS KICKING GOALS
From the Herald Sun
By Paula Beauchamp
SOCCER has become a problem.
For most parents the sport's low injury record is a drawcard, but increasingly mums and dads are being forced to console kids who can't get a kick.
Of all the sports played in Victoria, soccer is experiencing the most rapid growth.
In the past three years the number of players registered to compete in Melbourne soccer competitions has grown by 13 per cent, according to the Football Federation of Victoria.
That growth in demand means too few facilities and too many players on the sidelines.
"Australians have always loved their sport," Kingston Council's leisure and culture manager Dean Walker observed.
"But, as we become a more multicultural society, less traditional sports such as soccer are becoming more popular."
Councils today face growing demand from clubs wanting additional playing fields and improved facilities, particularly to cater to more juniors and women.
And the winter season is no longer enough.
Players and their clubs want to play 12 months of the year, a "seasonal creep" that is clashing with traditional summer sports such as cricket.
To address the stalemate in their area, Bayside and Kingston councils are working together on a regional soccer strategy.
Bayside is a well-established area with limited open space to allow development opportunities.
Kingston has a little more flexibility in that regard.
“You need to get smarter about what you do with your open spaces and learn to make more efficient use of them.”
Mr Walker said the days when local governments would look solely within their own borders to address facility issues were fast diminishing.
"As suburbs become fully developed you don't have unlimited open space to address your needs," Mr Walker said.
"You need to get smarter about what you do with your open spaces and learn to make more efficient use of them."
Kingston and Bayside will consider using some facilities jointly for junior competitions or seniors in both areas, depending on the outcome of the regional planning study.
Both councils are currently assessing tenders, which closed this week, for a contract to carry out the study.
The contract is estimated to be worth about $60,000.
The study will explore gaps in existing facility provision and set up a framework for sustainably delivering soccer opportunities across the region.
According to briefing notes provided by both councils, young people are being turned away from both Kingston and Bayside clubs because they have reached capacity.
Futsal, an indoor version of soccer, has enormous growth potential but is already at capacity, according to the project brief.
Clubs, private operators and recreation facility providers are all establishing their own competitions.
But teams wishing to participate currently languish on waiting lists.
Nor can men's teams at the elite level be accommodated.
The study will also look at participation trends particular to the area to predict future demand.
But the current love affair with soccer is unlikely to abate.
Mr Walker says the ease with which kids pick up soccer skills, gets them hooked.
"It's not like learning to handle an odd-shaped (Australian Rules) ball," he said.
"A soccer ball is perfectly round, easy to kick and kids enjoy the early success they get. It makes them enjoy it more."
Wednesday, 29 August 2007
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
Pasta Night at Anderson Park this Friday
In our efforts to assist our large amount of juniors, the Doncaster Rovers committee has decided to launch a program whereby we can provide assistance to young players. This assistance scheme will benefit not only elite but the club is also looking to launch an assistance program for those players, boys or girls, that may find the financial burden of fee's, boots, etc difficult to meet.
At elite level players must pay for their own way to represent the state at outdoor or Futsal and that is also the case if you are a VIS player and playing in tournaments to assess players for selection into the Joeys. This can cost between $1,200 and $2,000 per trip and at the sharp end of the elite you need to go on 3 to 4 of these a year, so you can imagine the burden this places on the family.
In an effort to raise further funds to supplement financial commitments already promised by the club , DRSC will be holding its inaugural ‘Pasta Night’ on Friday August the 31st, commencing at 7.15pm.
There will be 3 pasta sauces on offer (Bolognese, Carbonara and Siciliana [Tomato, salami, olives and Spring Onion]) served with a choice of Spaghetti or Penne (tubes).
All pasta dishes will be priced at $10 a plate for a main course sized serve. The canteen will be open and soft and alcoholic drinks will be able to be purchased as people want. The senior women will be playing on the night so everyone will also be able to lend some support to the senior women’s team as well.
Note that this date allows the junior and senior teams invited to attend and ‘load up on carbs’ for their matches on the weekend. As a result, all players will be doing themselves a favour as well as helping our first recipient, Rani, achieve a possible dream. It is hoped that if this first ‘Pasta Night’ is a success, it will become a regular event and fundraiser for the club which will be channelled towards assisting children & families to achieve goals whether that be at elite level or to simply assist in playing at Doncaster Rovers .
The CoM wants this night to be a real success and to show Rani and his family how proud we are for them. We therefore request and urge that all players with partners or parents to attend from 7.15pm to approx 9pm, including Seniors, Ressies and Senior Women as well as all the U/15 and U/16 teams as Rani would have played with many of the players spread through these teams over the course of his career at DRSC.
At elite level players must pay for their own way to represent the state at outdoor or Futsal and that is also the case if you are a VIS player and playing in tournaments to assess players for selection into the Joeys. This can cost between $1,200 and $2,000 per trip and at the sharp end of the elite you need to go on 3 to 4 of these a year, so you can imagine the burden this places on the family.
In an effort to raise further funds to supplement financial commitments already promised by the club , DRSC will be holding its inaugural ‘Pasta Night’ on Friday August the 31st, commencing at 7.15pm.
There will be 3 pasta sauces on offer (Bolognese, Carbonara and Siciliana [Tomato, salami, olives and Spring Onion]) served with a choice of Spaghetti or Penne (tubes).
All pasta dishes will be priced at $10 a plate for a main course sized serve. The canteen will be open and soft and alcoholic drinks will be able to be purchased as people want. The senior women will be playing on the night so everyone will also be able to lend some support to the senior women’s team as well.
Note that this date allows the junior and senior teams invited to attend and ‘load up on carbs’ for their matches on the weekend. As a result, all players will be doing themselves a favour as well as helping our first recipient, Rani, achieve a possible dream. It is hoped that if this first ‘Pasta Night’ is a success, it will become a regular event and fundraiser for the club which will be channelled towards assisting children & families to achieve goals whether that be at elite level or to simply assist in playing at Doncaster Rovers .
The CoM wants this night to be a real success and to show Rani and his family how proud we are for them. We therefore request and urge that all players with partners or parents to attend from 7.15pm to approx 9pm, including Seniors, Ressies and Senior Women as well as all the U/15 and U/16 teams as Rani would have played with many of the players spread through these teams over the course of his career at DRSC.
U9 Match Report 25/08/07
DONCASTER ROVERS U9’s
‘The Blues Twos’
‘Great team performance sees off Richmond’
Saturday 25 August (Home)
v. Richmond
With 10 players available, Ari absent due to illness, we entertained a strong Richmond team wanting to reverse our defeat earlier in the season.
We put in a solid team performance, with everyone playing their part in what was a tremendous effort by every player. We tackled hard, passed accurately and in the end our pressure told. Despite Josh rattling the bar in the first half, it remained 0 – 0 at half-time.
In the second half, we stepped up our pressure, and thoroughly deserved the 2 goals Josh and Jonathon scored, the first from a neat through ball from Alex, and the second a cracking shot from a tight angle.
It was pleasing to see the midfield battle hard and win the ball continuously. Jack, James, Alex, Peter and Jonathon all looking composed on the ball and providing the energy moving forward to supply Josh up front.
Kirk kept another clean sheet in goal, looking composed whenever he was threatened, which was kept to a minimum, as Lachie, Jeremy and Justin all dealt with any attacks in our defence.
A thoroughly deserved 2 – 0 victory.
Next week we are at home against the DR Blues 1s, 10am kick off at Anderson Park.
Season so far :- P 14 W9 D2 L3 Gls for 53 Gls Ag 28.
C’mon the B2s
ANDY EXLEY
‘The Blues Twos’
‘Great team performance sees off Richmond’
Saturday 25 August (Home)
v. Richmond
With 10 players available, Ari absent due to illness, we entertained a strong Richmond team wanting to reverse our defeat earlier in the season.
We put in a solid team performance, with everyone playing their part in what was a tremendous effort by every player. We tackled hard, passed accurately and in the end our pressure told. Despite Josh rattling the bar in the first half, it remained 0 – 0 at half-time.
In the second half, we stepped up our pressure, and thoroughly deserved the 2 goals Josh and Jonathon scored, the first from a neat through ball from Alex, and the second a cracking shot from a tight angle.
It was pleasing to see the midfield battle hard and win the ball continuously. Jack, James, Alex, Peter and Jonathon all looking composed on the ball and providing the energy moving forward to supply Josh up front.
Kirk kept another clean sheet in goal, looking composed whenever he was threatened, which was kept to a minimum, as Lachie, Jeremy and Justin all dealt with any attacks in our defence.
A thoroughly deserved 2 – 0 victory.
Next week we are at home against the DR Blues 1s, 10am kick off at Anderson Park.
Season so far :- P 14 W9 D2 L3 Gls for 53 Gls Ag 28.
C’mon the B2s
ANDY EXLEY
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