Quake to Play Out of Windsor for 2012/13 Season (NSW)
Moving to the Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium to ensure their home games are played on an International sized court
19 July, 2012
The Epicentre is on the move. Due to FNSW requirements that all Premier League games must be played on International sized courts, Quake Futsal Club will play its 7 home games at Hawkesbury Indoor Stadium, Windsor.
Asked why Windsor, Quake President Jeannette Donaghey said “in the end it was the only choice we could make if we wanted to play Premier League. We’d love to stay at Minto but the court is nowhere near big enough to meet FNSW minimum requirements. In fact, there are really only a hand full of venues in all of Sydney big enough for full sized courts and the others were already booked or just as far, or farther away, than Windsor. We spent a lot of time scouting venues in the MacArthur region. There is nothing available at the present time to suit our needs.”
But what about the long term future of Quake’s home court? Jeannette is confident this move will only be for the 2012/13 season. “We’re aware that there are 3 venues in the planning stages in the MacArthur area that should be big enough for a full size court. We’ve already had brief talks with one of the owners outlining our needs and will be approaching the other venues and the local councils very soon. We understand that the Club’s identity is closely linked to the MacArthur region and have no intention of leaving the area. Training will still be at Minto Indoor Sports Centre and we’ll be talking to them about the possibility of work being done to increase the centre’s size to fit a full size court. We’ll be doing everything we can to be back ‘home’ next season.”
What do you say to those who think it a long way to travel? “We know the situation is not ideal but we ask all our Purple Hearts to remember that this is a temporary arrangement. It’s for 7 games only. No matter where we play we are still Quake and we will play our best futsal, as we always have and always will. I’m sure everyone will understand that it’s better to be playing Premier League at Windsor than Super League out of Minto.”
So, a new “home” ground for 2012/13. No matter where we play, Quake will be ready to play the greatest game of all.
GO QUAKE!
21 Comments
Jul 26, 2012, 1:50 pm
Food for Thought: Perhaps it is time to think outside the square and play our Premier League Mens on a seperate night either on Friday or Sunday, with four clubs playing at the one venue, internatuional court, stop clock games on a rotational basis this would give us a few options. 1. Potential market for a television deal.2. Bigger crowds as the juniors and girls who will still play on the Saturday at their home courts (no court size criteria)can come to support. 3. Split costs between the four clubs at the one venue. 4. Opportunity for mass marketing 5. Aligning with the needs of the Australian coaching staff for international games and tournament structure by playing stop clock.
Just some thoughts.
Jul 26, 2012, 5:21 pm
Glenn, that sounds very much like the chat we had in Canberra on Sunday… It makes sense to me!
Let’s get the discussion started and, please, let’s concentrate on how to get it happening and not the reasons/excuses why it would not work!
Jul 26, 2012, 5:50 pm
I never usually post on here but i know myself and Sydney City would be right behind this idea. Three games could be played on a friday night with the only exception the team that is playing Boomerangs to play the Saturday with the rest of their club. The night could then be promoted with the hope of attracting spectators. We could then also encourage all mens players to coach junior teams on a saturday where they would only have to be there for a few hours instead of having to stay all day till their mens game at night. If we hope to get a National League one day we need to create a product in which the younger players can come and watch the seniors. A stand alone mens night could be a small step forward.
Jul 27, 2012, 9:48 am
I am also a supporter of this concept. Some of us at Quake have had a smimilar chat with Glenn and the idea sounds great.
You can have 2 of the 4 Mens games Friday night – Kick off say 6 and 8 pm, and then 2 games Sunday, maybe 4 and 6 pm…fully timed, international court, etc……
As Rob suggested, how about we make it work rather than think of reasons why IT CAN’T work….
So now it is Quake, Dural and Sydney City who, on principle, are behind the idea…….Carlos
Jul 28, 2012, 10:36 am
I agree…………its a great concept.
Jul 28, 2012, 1:02 pm
Unfortunately, the International size Court criteria applies to all Grades of Pemier League – from 12 girls to Open Men – so…..this kills the idea of moving the Men so the rest of the Club can still play out of Minto for Quake….
Jul 28, 2012, 1:05 pm
So now it is CARLOS, Dural and Sydney City. Quake has not even discussed this issue. But keep in mind that it is a PL requirement that ALL ages have to play on the full sized court, not just the men. So this solution doesn’t solve the venue problem. But it is worth taking another look at promoting the game.
Jul 29, 2012, 9:23 am
bigmaarn are you even reading things before you comment? its not about solving a venue problem for a single club, its about potentially making the nswpl a more marketable product. stay out of the conversation as you are both straight away being negative. stick to the topic.
the idea is great. group the top level mens matches at the same venue and potentially on a different night. costs can be shared and maybe even something tipped in to pay for someone to film it all. given the quality of players in nsw, it would almost be a weekly f-league scenario in terms of quality futsal.
Jul 29, 2012, 11:20 am
I think Jamie is right………..”If we hope to get a National League one day we need to create a product in which the younger players can come and watch the seniors.”
Jul 29, 2012, 11:30 am
Bad idea by Carlos to get involved….I better stay retired!….sorry all for confusing everyone! back to Foxtel and the Olympic Games.
Over and Out!
Carlos.
Jul 29, 2012, 6:32 pm
futsalfan. Great ideas being posted. But why is the men’s comp always being looked at in isolation? You don’t care for the Women’s comp? No interest in Youth development? You think a Men’s comp can and should be run without the support of juniors? Anyway, my point was that comments posted here shouldn’t be attributed to Clubs if the club isn’t making the comment. They should be attributed to individuals. By all means look at better ways to promote the Men’s game. But don’t do it without considering all members of our great futsal family.
Jul 30, 2012, 1:26 am
Dural will be laying the tiles down for another court that should comply with Premier League standard. So far as I know, no other club has booked this for the PL/SL season.
Jul 30, 2012, 1:34 pm
Reading the posts is quite interesting.
You have coaches suggesting options to improve the game at the top end and the possiblities of then marketing the game which will bring interest and patronage and then you obviously have administrators offering opinions on the best way forward for their club. Can i ask the broader community if anyone can show me the benefit of running academies,12s,14s in both boys and girls on a full international court and why these age groups would and or should be put under the pressure that they are to secure vital club championship points when development of athletes is what you are trying to achieve at your club. I would also like to draw your attention to a Professor Ferretti post on his website about the size of the block and how he trains at least twice a week on smaller pitches to improve decision making,perception and technique in his training seasonal training plan.
One more question if i may – who should decide on whats best for player development Club Coaching directors or Club administrators
Jul 30, 2012, 3:00 pm
Unfortunately, FNSW is deciding for us. They set the criteria for playing in the PL and Clubs have to follow…..
Not being critical, just stating facts.
Club Administrators have to compromise between FNSW strict Criteria AND trying to promote the game….NOT EASY!
Cheers!
Carlos
Jul 30, 2012, 4:41 pm
As a club we like the idea of having the mens play on the same day as the Juniors (mainly for officials because the entire fixture is played on 1 single day) but I think for the sake of the competition and the benefits that come with playing on a single night as suggested by Glen, Jamie, Carlos Rob etc out weigh the negatives. I think it would give the mens competition a real boost case in point the past 2 Grand finals that were played on a Friday night. The crowd and atmosphere were great. And allowed the general fan to watch ALL the mens fixtures.
Knighty touched on a point that I’ve been talking about for years which is whats the point of having mainly the u/12s and u/14s boys and girls playing on an international size court?? The main benefits of playing futsal are more touches on the ball and working in smaller confined areas, especially for the junior teams. Maybe us as clubs could submit something to FNSW as a suggestion that from next season Senior Mens fixture remain to be played on an international size court but on a single night with the remainder of the club on a minimum sized large court i.e 34x 18. In saying that though the Bigmarrn makes some good points – there are other thoughts that need to come into the equation. The main issues I see that arise by doing whats proposed are Youth Players may not be available to play both nights or even can mens players make a 6.15pm fixture on a Friday night (if 4 games to be played)? Boomerangs would need to be discussed i.e could they travel on a Friday night, would Jamies suggestion come into play, would the other clubs allow it ? what do we do for the Senior womens? Do we do the same thing for them ? If we do then we need to run into 3 nights (3 nights for futsal will be a nightmare for officials that run clubs) and if we dont there is the issue of playing favourites to the mens and not womens. Its not as easy or clear cut as just saying BANG lets do it. Clubs are more important than just 1 team! Whilst the idea has merit and one I/my club would definitely support there a number of factors that all tie in together.
Jul 30, 2012, 4:44 pm
Admin I think you need a new section on F4A i.e DISCUSSION POINT. Where people nominate a certain topic and its discussed rather than all these comments on “Quake play out of Windsor”
Jul 31, 2012, 8:20 am
It is good to see all the ideas flowing. Just to respond to some of the points made.
The whole idea of playing mens in isolation is to have and be able to present a marketable product to the media in what ever form that takes.
It is certainly not about forgetting about the women, youth or the juniors as was pointed out this gives the opportunity for the younger players to support and be involved with the mens teams ( lets face it the Man U’s, Sydney FC’s, Barcelonas of the world are the marketable product not the women or juniors no disresepect intended)
As far as juniors playing on an international court size, that is ludicrous and goes against everything that Futsal and the FFA philosophy of small sided games is all about.
Having the mens play all together also gives the Australian coaches and selectors a better opportunity to witness the talent collectively rather than in isolation.
If FNSW have made a decision on court size then that can be changed simply by being united and presenting a logical case to them, but we must be united in the concept and have the support of everyone.
Please keep the healthy discussion going and put pressure on FNSW to re negotiate the court sizes for the premier league teams.
I do however believe it is vital for the growth of the sport both finacially and development for the junior and womens component of the club structure remain aligned to their local area.
And Matteo you are correct I put this in the wrong post!
Jul 31, 2012, 2:05 pm
I have spoken to most of you over the years and the move to Full size pitches is a welcome sign and can only benefit the sport, as SK comments full size for 12/14′s is not a good option ,touches on the ball and movement is the most important requirement for this age group. Friday night Futsal what a great concept ! How can we make this happen…this season
Jul 31, 2012, 2:14 pm
Hey Glenn – There are a couple of seperate issue. 1) Court Size 2) Marketing & growth – don’t quite agree on your reasons for going to an international court, its not not for marketing or media purposes that we should use an int’l court, we can market the sport just as well on a 34×17 court and we could seperate the ages and group them at various centres for marketing purposes regardless of court size.
Isn’t the reason for going to a big court (& stop clock) to “assist the development of our elite players to a level that enables them to compete on the international stage of AFC & FIFA tournaments”. Knighty/ Rob/ MSeeto might like to comment on that.
Your right about the womens comps, it has nothing to do with ability, quality, discrimination etc. Fact is AFC/FIFA currently have no int’l structure for womens futsal. They have no AFC/WC for women so “at this point in time” there is no justification for the extra cost/complexities of playing them on international courts apart from “it would be nice to do”. I know that may anger a few people but emotions aside, thats the facts.
No other ball sport, Outdoor Soccer, NBL, AFL, NRL, ARU, Tennis ….. play all ages from 12-Open, Mens and Women in one big group. They all have their own competitions, structures and rules for the varying group, yet we are trying to write ONE set of rules & criteria to cover everything from junior development academies through to elite level. And we wonder why it isn’t working smoothly.
Great point by Glen – if FNSW have made a rule that isn’t helping the sport, then the clubs need to put together a united proposal to address the issue and get it changed.
Aug 3, 2012, 12:51 pm
Why not move the mens to a standalone night as discussed & with the time slot that is then freed up add a youth womens competition. That way everyone comes out ahead.
Aug 6, 2012, 9:25 am
Good point. Certainly the importance must be placed on keeping clubs in their local feeder area. FNSW need to reconsider the court size criteria for all other age groups other than men until such time we can get the womens competition back on to the world stage (which will hopefully happen in my lifetime!) If we have consensus from all the premier league teams perhaps a meeting needs to be conducted in conjunction with FNSW in order to move forward. I believe it is not too late to make the changes required to the competition for this coming season. A PL steering committee needs to be formed ASAP to take the plan to FNSW. I’m happy to help but, again, we need to do this as a united front.