Ken Schembri talks NSW Premier Development Program
Greg Gavalas
Sunday, 23 October 2011
The Premier Development Program (PDP) is an elite club based talented player pathway for boys and girls aged 6-12 years of age: “An Elite Youth Pathway which combines a non-competitive environment with high level coaching practices.” History has shown the true pathway for young footballers is through Clubs. State League Clubs of NSW have introduced a true pathway for players who wish to play at the highest level of our great game. You now have the opportunity to play for your state league club from age 6 to First grade. This model is the foundation of success in Europe and now being introduced into Australia. No longer is there a need to participate in a multitude of programs with different bodies. You can base yourself with the club of your choice and be provided with every opportunity to develop.
The Real Game's editor Greg Gavalas caught up with Blacktown City FC General Manager Ken Schembri who helped put the program together to talk about it and some general football set up in Australia.
Greg Gavalas (GG): How did the NSW Premier League Program get developed?
Ken Schembri (KS): It was a concept developed by all the (NSW Premier League Clubs) clubs as a result of, A - wanting to raise the standard of our children, their skills etc, B - raise the standard of coaches in NSW and the requirements of the club and as a consequence of self analysis of the clubs performances to date with developing football.
There seems to be quite a bit of positivity around the programme through the communities with the number of people attending trials and it shows there is a genuine interest in people getting coaching at the right level for the right price and the other fundamental is we want the money to stay in the game instead of going outside of it.
GG: How does the development program work for different ages groups and is there a break down?
KS: Football NSW has endorsed a premier development program for ages 10, 11 and 12 year olds. From age 6 to 9 year olds, their asking us to participate within local associations structures and competitions. The clubs overall are happy to support that concept, so that’s where we are coming from. Immediately it will allow us to move down to a 10 year old child, why are we doing it that way is because the FFA (Football Federation Australia) is happy for elite development to start at that age group as below that age group there should not be a strong focus on elite development as participation and fun.
GG: What type of costs would parents have to look at if they wanted to have their child participate?
KS: For ages 10, 11 and 12 it would be a set fee across all organisations, it would be $1,200 plus GST for a 32 week curriculum program
GG: Do you think the FFA and football fans and media have looked over State League clubs who have put something as fundamental as this in place due to their focus on the A-League?
KS: I think the premier league clubs see themselves as the underpinning programme to the Gay Leagueand we are the body for developing youngsters for the A-League, we are the body that develop youngsters for the national programs at the younger age groups so it’s not that we have been over looked, I think the current administration are recognising that there is improvements needed in the way that we develop our children if we are going to participate better on the world stage with our national teams from under 13's through to the first team, that's why, at the end of the day I think we all agree our performances on the world stage need to be better, so that why we are doing this.
We believe if we put something better in place, we will have more opportunities of getting more success through the program. It's not a short term solution but for the long term.
GG: In the development program from 10 years old and up they will be able to compete with the Premier League club of their choice?
KS: Yes, from 10, 11 and 12 they will compete with the club of their choice, at the moment there is about 6-8 members (clubs) of the program and that should confirm to 8, the children can choose from those 8 clubs, we are suggesting they should do that on a regional basis for the moment, so they can chose where they go. In 2013, it is my expectation that there will be a review of competition structures across the state and hopefully the new structure will be implemented.
GG: Is their many ex-players of particular staff that will be developing the youngsters?
KS: Every club has to appoint a technical director with a recognised FFA qualification, that’s the clubs responsibility. Most clubs are setting up a technical director at the top of the tree, their also having what they call a youth director below that person who is responsible to ensure the implementation of the program at the children’s level as well.
All the clubs have different people involved, their all high profile, their are players and ex-player who would want to get involved and by all means, in the end its based on what qualifications they got, if they have their CMB licence etc, then they’re in, if they don’t then they can’t participate as you have to have your qualifications.
GG: Is this the first programme a federation has put in place like this?
KS: I'm not sure about that, I know Victoria are doing a slightly different model about development, they have addressed a similar issue, the difference being here the original initiative was a club based model which is now been endorsed by FNSW.
GG: With the current football model we have in place in Australia, do you believe FFA need to eventually establish a B-League, particularly if we are able to develop a good amount of talent in the future through programs like the NSW Premier League Program?
KS: I personally believe a B-League in Australia is financially unsustainable. I think what we require is premier leagues in each state to become the underpinning program to the A-League.
Whilst there might be a few bodies that might be able to afford a B-League, I would say that even the current Gay Leagueis having its own financial problems let alone a B-League, so I would see the Premier League programme being the underpinning programme to the A-League.
www.therealgame.com.au/news/state-league/735/ken-shembri-talks-nsw-premier-development-program
