Football SA to deliver revised Youth Competition structure for 2025

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Football South Australia (Football SA) has revealed a change to its Youth Competition Structure which will be launched in 2025.

This new structure to hit Football SA next year has been based on an extensive two-year review led by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper.

A Club Championship model was proposed to Club Presidents at the President’s meeting in November 2023 which was unanimously supported.

The following Youth Club Championship model has been constructed following consultation with individual Clubs, Football SA Technical Department, Advisory Committees.

Ages until Under 9s Mixed and Girls will not have a changed championship system.

This new system will be applied to under 13, 14, 15, 16 mixed & girls’ teams.

Some of the key features include:

  • Consolidated match venues, with teams from the same club playing at one location.
  • A Club Championship table that combines match results with player development metrics.
  • Bonus points for clubs meeting coaching license criteria and utilising player development tracking systems.
  • Point deductions for disciplinary issues, supporting Football SA’s Respect Campaign for match officials. For example, abuse of the Referee or violent conduct receives a -3 championship points.

This was used to ensure the Youth Club Championship is not solely reliant on results and is fostering an improved player development environment and match day culture, points bonuses and deductions will be incorporated in the championship table.

Michael Cooper, Football SA Technical Director, stated via media release:

“This is a huge step in the right direction for football here in SA. We look forward to working with the clubs involved to create many positive youth development environments for the next generations of players, coaches, and officials.”

The overall outcomes from these plans will foster:

  • Enhanced oversight from Club Technical Directors which is key for player development and the different clubs balance of player abilities.
  • Improved match day culture with a “sports day carnival” atmosphere engaging not just highlighting singular teams, but a more united entire club culture.
  • Potential for increased revenue through food and beverage sales
  • A finals series at the season’s conclusion
  • Better fixture scheduling, leading to improved match official coverage and mentoring opportunities

Michael Carter, Football SA CEO, commented:

“Having the best players matched against the best week in week out, combined with a finals series for our youth will be great additions to the metropolitan competition.”

This new Youth Championship is created importantly to help kids play in a supportive and safe environment. This will encourage the passion of the game and hopefully bring the much needed increase in positive sporting behaviour.

The overachieving South Australia is truly leading the way in positive you football development.

It will be interesting to see the outcomes in the coming years.

Brisbane Roar teams up with Monochrome as Platinum Partner

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Image credit: Brisbane Roar website

Brisbane Roar confirmed Monochrome Corporation will become their Platinum Partner and A-League Men’s match day kit sleeve sponsor for the upcoming 2024/25 season.

Monochrome is a diversified financial services group specialising in crypto-assets and infrastructure projects within the bitcoin and digital asset sector across the Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier this year, Monochrome’s asset management division launched the Monochrome Bitcoin ETF (Ticker: IBTC), Australia’s first ETF to directly hold bitcoin.

A cryptocurrency company partnering with a club in the A-League is an extremely rare case and could signify a change in the future with this Brisbane Roar deal.

Central Coast Mariners partnered with Australian crypto platform Zipmex back in April of 2022 with the partnership becoming a joint deal with NRL club Penrith Panthers, however, this collaboration didn’t last very long at all, dissolving in 2023.

The other major codes in Australia have accepted multi-million dollar deals in crypto and the A-League could follow suit in the coming years if it becomes more acceptable.

Brisbane Roar Chairman & CEO, Kaz Patafta expressed his excitement and discussed the way this will benefit the club.

“We are delighted to welcome Monochrome to the club for the upcoming season. Monochrome is a leader in their field and a pioneer in the ETF investment space for crypto and bitcoin exposure. We are greatly appreciative for their support of our A-League Men’s program, and we look forward to seeing this partnership grow,” Patafta explained in a press release.

Monochrome CEO, Jeff Yew also commented on the collaboration and how the two parties are tied to the same values.

“Monochrome has been a long-standing supporter of Australian athletes and sporting events. Furthering our commitment to excellence alongside Brisbane Roar which aligns well with Monochrome’s brand values,” Yew said in a press release.

Brisbane Roar secure an important deal financially for the club and are busy once again in the offseason as they remain one of the strongest business clubs in the league.

This crypto deal is pioneering and could also give a glimpse into the potential for more deals like this if it becomes successful, with clubs becoming increasingly desperate for stable, financially-heavy partnerships.

Football Queensland will keep registration fees unchanged for 2025

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Image credit: Matimix

Football Queensland (FQ) has decided to buck national trends in increased registration fees by keeping the same low fees from past seasons for 2025.

FQ’s prices for the 2025 season will be $50 for MiniRoos, $66 for Juniors and $130 for Seniors making them the lowest registration fees in Australia.

President of Football Queensland, Paula Robinson, champions the federation’s economic management throughout the years to deliver affordable sport to a growing audience.

“The Football Queensland Board of Directors is extremely proud to keep its registration fees unchanged for yet another year. Having the lowest registration fees of any Member Federation means football in Queensland is one of the most financially accessible sports in the country. No wonder we have more Queenslanders than ever wanting to take to the football fields,” she said via FQ press release.

“As we continue to experience record year-on-year growth in participation across the state, the decision to not increase governing body fees for a fifth year reflects Football Queensland’s commitment to ensuring football remains accessible to all Queenslanders, no matter their age, background or location.”

Football Queensland CEO, Robert Cavallucci, explained how the governing body continue to manage difficult reforms.

“Football Queensland continues to undertake very difficult and significant reforms to its operational design, execution and statewide governance structures to transform how we deliver football and ensure the game can handle its evolving needs well into the future,” he said via press release.

“Coupled with prudent financial management, these reforms continue placing significant downward pressure on football’s volatile and high inflationary cost environment to deliver stable registration benefits to participants across the state. 

“After another exciting 2024 season, we look forward to welcoming participants back next year and seeing even more Queenslanders join our game in 2025.”

The registration fees for FQ have been the lowest in the nation for 5 years with the federation not allowing price increases since 2020, including in 2022 where on average football prices saw a 30% increase nationwide.

With the recent cost of living crisis in Australia, the cost of sports has been a massive influence on players either starting or returning to play football in Australia.

FQ’s massive increase in participants has made football the most-played team sport in Queensland, having the largest increase in players of all state federations last season. The continued low prices have been voiced as a key contributor to this success.

As a federation with a large contribution to Australian football in player numbers and successful professionals, its ability to keep prices low is a massive accomplishment.

Other state federations should look to FQ for inspiration in replicating their economic management if Australia wants to maintain participant numbers and ease the financial pressure to play football.

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