Why is Australia so far behind the rest of the world in football development?
Why are colleges struggling to engage our young people?
Why do many children hate college?
Why do so many children come home from college with loads of homework?
As a parent of three young boys the above questions are very relevant to me, but it wasn’t until my children started college that these questions became very real. Further, when my eldest son started playing football, (it was once called soccer and now I call it football too), I started to look around for opportunities for him to develop his game.
This marked the beginning of my foray into football research and I continue to be awed by the complexities and skills of the “world sport”.
There is still much for me to learn to truly understand this game, however, I have been lucky enough to be able to surround myself with some of the best footballers in this country and their frustration has confirmed to me that there has to be a better way to develop our young players.
Fifteen years ago I worked for a self-development company. During this time, I took part in a project to ‘develop a dream’ that could one day be turned into a reality. I remember very clearly creating a super college. With my love for sport at that time, I envisaged a college with vast grounds and fantastic facilities, where the coaches really understood how to encourage youth to be the best they could be. The classrooms did not resemble a traditional classroom at all; here, the teachers worked with the students rather than instructed them. The teachers were there to guide the student’s discoveries. It was an inspirational concept and a dream that gave me butterflies every time I thought about it.
Time passed though, and I returned to the Corporate grind where my focus was on everyday life and my wife and I starting a family. I retrained as a teacher when my eldest son was very young and returned to the education sector as a newly trained, although slightly older teacher. After being in the classroom for almost six years I had a friend express to me his dissatisfaction with his own son’s football development and also his frustration at his son’s college experience. The dream I’d had so many years previously was reignited.
About two years ago I did a lot of research into football development, looking at what happens around the world. I found that the countries leading the world in this area do one major thing different to Australia. They integrate college and football. They focus intensely on development when children are between 8-10 years old in order to create an environment where the players achieve up to 10,000 hours of practice by the time they leave college.
I started to wonder what could be done in Australia and how I, just a classroom teacher, could gather people together to help me to do something about this.
Time has passed very quickly since then and I have been lucky to have found a team of people who have helped me make my dream come true, almost! We are only a few months away from 2013 and I can honestly say that I can now see the dream I had so many years ago becoming a reality. The amount of work that has been done over the past 2 years has blown me away and sometimes I have to pinch myself to realise that it is real.
In 2013 we will be opening the first college in Australia where all of the students are sports people. The entire student body will be involved in a five day-a-week football development program that is incorporated into the college day. We are in the process of completing a lease on one of the best venues on the Central Coast and have a team of football professionals who have developed our football program. Sometimes I wish I was 10 years old again.
Beyond our football program I have been very fortunate in finding educators who are also passionate about challenging the status quo in the classroom. This is an area I am very excited to see become a reality and 2013 can’t come quickly enough.
I invite you to join me on this journey and be part of the IFS family. I will endeavour to keep those interested in our journey up to date by writing additions to this blog over the coming months. In the meantime I will release short updates via our email list.
Thank you for taking time from your busy life to find out a bit more about the IFS project.
Paul Chapman
Founder and CEO Central Coast Sports College
Beverley says
Great Blog, good on you – may your dream come true.
Winnis says
With so much enthusiasm and momentum building from so many interested parties, (Academics, Dignitaries and the public in general) I’d say your’e well on your way to achieving that dream Congratulations on such foresight – it’s a win win situation for all- Students who can excel academically with forward thinking tutors, future sports champions with guidance from a dedicated team of the best this sport has produced over the years throughout the State and, of utmost importance, parents having a golden opportunity to have the ultimate ‘package’ at an affordable cost. Good luck to the whole team who have been working so hard to make this dream a possibility and a forthcoming reality.
Michael Fokas says
Hi Paul
I believe you’re onto something. A sports college which specializes in football. I am just wandering about the venue you will be using. What type of staff will you need initially to satisfy the Boards strict curriculum requirements? Performing Arts and Sports Schools run like regular colleges. How will you achieve this?
I am a football nut and a Teacher in Science at Sydney Secondary College (Balmain). Its a pity I don’t live up the coast as I would love to help or get involved as I too think the current education system is still far too restrictive. I’ve often thought how great it would be to teach the science involved around football. One can write a whole program around football that could include most of the Board of Studies curriculum in Science if one made the effort.
As a youth I had a promising career as I played for an elite Youth team (Sydney City) coming runner’s up to Rob Slater’s freakish Auburn side in the State U16 Championship. I then played for Canterbury Marrickville with Graham Arnold until I was “blessed” with a knee reconstruction. I got involved on the board of a State League Team in such posts as Youth League Convener, Club Secretary and Treasurer. The usual politics got the better of me and I left the scene as I was only 22 or 23 at the time.
I have enjoyed coaching all age groups and even female teams over the years but not at a serious level as my career was not fulfilled and that did not make me chase a coaching career like some of my past team mates.
My son will be playing in the up and coming Liga Academy competition at Maquarie Uni in the U11, U12 and U13 comps for the Red Devils Academy and I hope to see you guys there. I would love to have a chat.
I wish you and your colleagues the very best of luck in achieving your dream. I believe the idea is revolutionary and I am grateful it is happening with the code we love. I hope it takes off and other colleges pop up all over the country. Imagine that, you will be known as the “Father of Football Schools”. Imagine international stars coming back to Australia so they can endorse your college and thank you for your vision and commitment to a dream. Imagine that!!!!
Thank you Paul! Discovering the existence of your college has given me new hope.
Michael Fokas
admin says
Hi Michael,
Thanks for the comments. We are planning on leasing buildings and playing fields (including a swimming pool) at Mt Penang, Kariong. We hope to complete the lease very soon as most of our other plans are now complete! Once the lease is finalised we will be putting details, with photos of the venue online. Should be ready in good time to fit out the rooms for teaching and learning!
In regards to teaching staff, all of our staff are fully qualified teachers having gained their tertiary education and will become accredited, if not already, with the NSW Institute of Teachers.
We would love if you were closer as we are still looking for a Science/Maths teacher.
Had a great day yesterday at Liga Academy and our players certainly experienced some amazing football. Looking forward to many more days such as these for our young, up and coming players.