SCC in Vic is invite only for VC & Met 1 players, or if clubs send in nominations outside of that. So many different views on NITP...won't get involved in that discussion.

yes southern cross trials are open to anyone, best speak with your club JDO or contact BSA if you are interested in NITP

I still want to know the reasons why 3rd teams have been cut out of reserve state championships. Nothing put out (that I have seen) by game administrators after saying it was ok for years. If anyone can tell me some of those Div 2 teams are "elite" they are deluded. Straight out blocking involvement by decision makers.

more likely trapped by a talent suffocating by-law. Hardly going to drive another 60 mins 3-4 times week to join a b grade set up at a club that has proven it cant get its act together - we have standards !

Thanks, they've been invited to TI camp so i a guessing this is a segway too.

And YES i am absolutely completely and utterly all for families moving kids if they are being held back. When i say held back, i mean if you have opinions other than your own that your child should be being devloped higher. Go and seek the advice of a non biased devlopment coach or two, ask them for the hard facts, if you are told your child has potential and the right skill level plus the desire to work, MOVE! man i see kids stuck in that second year rut of the div 3 program at Sturt and Forestville and Norwood so often, if you're happy that's cool but heaps arent and do nothing.

Move your kid to west, north... anywhere!

Keyboard propaganda by draconian sympathisers . The clubs that are struggling need to be getting good coaches and quality systems in place. They should be places people want to go - not forced to. My daughters would rather change sport than venture into your suggestions. Rather than promoting these stifling concepts these people should be out in the public recruiting. If they think it is working they are deluded - numbers the lowest I have seen for years - particularly in the north west.

I take on board your advice, thank you for the debate.

Larry, surely you are using satire?

You sound like a Lannister from game of thrones.

standards? what? other clubs don't? you've studied their ethos?

anyhow. Your girls arent playing state champs - if you think state champs is important in their development, move clubs. if not, stop complaining.

not satirical - I do understand and take on board your points and probably posted this debate in the wrong thread to start with - as my discussion has nothing to do with the original thread.

No biggie. As a parent of a child who moved from one of the big 3 to a smaller club (and was seriously reluctant to do so, assuming simlar things to yourself) i would truly look at other clubs for your children.

My child has flourished beyond belief. Moved based on being told by countless people, including opposing coaches they were being held back being coached in a lower div and only competing against those kids.

They're now growing by competing against kids who are truly skilled, growing by learning under better coaches, growing by playing with kids who can play both offense and defence - i will never ever look back and wish i had done this in under 12's when first realised politics held them back.

Div 3 at a big club may mean more trophies, a run and gun style of ball (which suits heaps of kids) but it also means no state champs, no TI, NO SCC, No state...a ceiling.

Hey anonymous, you would be incorrect there but i understand the general concept of what you are saying - however my child has since made state selections.

i wont get into the nitty gritty, but my kid was held back politically and that is all, not skill i didnt lose any sleep over the bullsh*t that happened nor did i make noise i just moved them.

Players above them who have parents on the board or coaching a div 1 or 2 team and very average players at that. As simple and pathetic as that, but we all know that's just how it goes in junior sport.

If i could wave a flag around saying "MOVE YOUR DAMN KIDS" to parents smelling a rat, i would.

^^^ yes. Along with our many reasons of shifting our teen, the culture of the club was very inter competitive, movements up and down around and around week to week, even throughout winter.

Our kid started to lose that team feel or that pride you get when you dig deep with and for the team, it wasnt celebrated, it wasnt mentioned, nothing really was, the coach barely acknowledged the kids let alone encouraged them.

We'll never look back. We drive 30 mins to training and it is longer by 10 mins than the previous club, big deal.

We now have a coach who cares about the kids, shows them respect by greeting them by name yet is beyond strict, whips them into shape, takes no s&it, benches them when they get selfish, promotes a team first attitude and in return has complete devotion and respect of these kids and absolutely has mine and this less successful club is building an awesome program which in a fwew years will be very successful however all i care about is my child is taught how to play for the team first, is challenged to reach their potential both mentally and skill wise and is able to access good programs and trials to take their game higher.