I seriously question where junior football is going in this state. We have a situation at present where SANFL Club school reps are approaching clubs asking them to support the development of School football, because of the concerns that other sports especially soccer are taking a strangle hold while football withers on the vine due to a lack of interest by parents and teachers not wanting to be involved on saturdays. Why would a club who has invested a lot of money time and effort want to hand juniors back to a school who in general do not have the structure or facilities that clubs and leagues have to support football.
The SFL for example runs a very good junior comp. from under 8 through to under 18, the saturday comp. this gives the kids an identity and also gives a real community feel to the day with teams from u14 through to A grade all playing at the same venue. If clubs supported a school comp they would likely loose kids from this Saturday comp to a Saturday school comp, along with funds they use to develop junior footballers. Maybe the SANFL should look at encouraging schools to play wednesday midweek football. (Yes before all the superior schools these being colleges get on their high horse) this would be a bonus for Aussie rules. Schools would have a captive audience on a Wednesday and clubs could further develop the kids on a Saturday/Sunday. As it stands we all want football to be successful but are pulling in two directions thus allowing other sports to take a hold.
Utimately without Juniors, Community football Clubs will fold. Schools, especially the college's really give no support to anything other than to their own ends. Unless you are playing in the so called 1st team the school offers little or no develpoment. let alone trainers or support staff.
I note in the SANFL constitution a school first policy is promoted, unless a child is playing SANFL reserves or 1st's. I do believe that even then schools pressure players to put school first (for what I don't know, it's not like they are playing for points)
Football Victoria has adopted another approach
The Fostership Program involves nurturing relationships between the various segments involved in football development; a major focus of AFL Victoria Development’s strategic plan.
This Program concentrates on local football clubs supporting their local schools in their football endeavours with resources such as coaches and umpires. Local schools promote the local community football club, providing a pathway for players to join the club.
The Fostership Program also outlines how to develop strategies to foster the development of partnerships between schools, Auskicks and local clubs.
Given that the CFB is based on Football Victoria and is in position tp support leagues and clubs in SA hopefully they will look seriously at addressing the issue of Club and School. If teachers and parents do not want to be involved at school level make it a midweek comp where teachers are present and being paid and leave clubs to develop the kids into future champions. Also it may free up umpires and make more available for both levels of football
In Victoria at least it would seem an attempt is being made to strengthen football