AYL Cancelled, just another example of why we desperately need change at SSFA. 
_________________________________________________________
**ALL PARTICIPANTS REMAIN ANONYMOUS**

Urgent Call for Change at SSFA

Soccer in the Sutherland Shire boasts the highest participation of any sport, yet the pathway for player progression is being tightly controlled by a few individuals within the Sutherland Shire Football Association (SSFA). We are bringing these concerns to the attention of the community, and we urge Football NSW and the Sutherland Shire Council to conduct a thorough investigation into the current practices of the SSFA.

We also encourage local clubs to consider these concerns when selecting candidates for the SSFA President from October 2024 onwards.

From grassroots to representative levels, our football association is facing significant challenges that, in our view, can only be addressed through new leadership.

A Plea for a Better Future:

There are growing concerns that a negative environment has taken root within the SSFA, leading to our representative soccer programs languishing at the bottom of the table and parents left without an alternative but to leave for options out of area. Grassroots clubs have reported feeling pressured to comply with SSFA directives under the threat of losing access to essential training facilities. Additionally, efforts to expand representative opportunities have faced obstacles, and there are now plans to limit Premier League competition.

Addressing the Culture:
We have observed what we believe to be a culture within the SSFA that is not conducive to open communication or community engagement. Concerns have been raised by parents and clubs about operational issues, such as field access and equipment allocation, yet responses have often been dismissive. In some cases, individuals have been asked to deregister players or have faced threats of legal action for raising these issues. We believe this approach discourages constructive dialogue and is detrimental to the sport.

Field Access and Management:
As the SSFA has control over council-owned fields, including club training grounds, there are concerns that this control may be used to exert undue influence over clubs. Reports suggest that clubs raising operational concerns have experienced restricted access to fields, which could hinder the development of the sport in our region.

Plans to Limit Competition:
We are aware of plans to change, and potentially limit the local Premier League and representative competitions further limiting player opportunities despite soccer in the Shire having the second highest participation of any area in Australia.  Calls by other clubs to expand representative programs to accommodate more pathways for players have reportedly been blocked by the association. We believe that a more inclusive approach is needed to support the growth of soccer in our area.

High Player Fees and Lack of Support:
Families are required to pay the highest allowable fees for representative programs (up to $1,830 per player) yet there are concerns that the quality of the programs does not match these high costs. Coaches are treated as volunteers and only reimbursed for expenses at the end of the season, despite the coaches in nearby areas being paid up to $12k. There are also concerns about the lack of development opportunities for coaches and a continual lack of day to day support. All of which may make it difficult to attract and retain high-quality coaching staff.

Field Allocation Issues:
This year, representative programs were moved from Kareela’s synthetic turfed grounds to Barden Ridge, where constant field closures have impacted training. Teams paying substantial fees have had to arrange and pay for alternative training venues, leading to frustration and disappointment among players and parents.

Rain also played havoc in local grass roots competitions with a lot of games left unplayed due to field closures. Its troubling to learn that alternative synthetic turf venues were not considered due to what we understand to be 'internal issues'. 

Exodus and Concerns About Retaliation:
In 2023, an entire Women’s First Grade team and multiple coaches left the SSFA due to leadership concerns. Reports suggest that when these issues were raised, there were retaliation measures taken to hand back the  license for girls' and women’s programs, which could have left the Shire without representative teams for female players. This move made headlines as it was taken during the Womens' World Cup. This decision was reportedly reversed only after significant pressure from Football NSW.

A Call for Positive Change:
Sadly, these concerns are not new and many in our community have experienced them firsthand. We believe that with the right leadership, we can overcome these challenges and create a positive environment for current and future generations of soccer players in the Sutherland Shire.

Sign Now to Support Change!

This petition is created and submitted by a group of passionate parents, players, coaches, officials, and supporters who are deeply concerned about the future of soccer in our area. We believe that change is necessary to ensure the sport we love can thrive in the Sutherland Shire.


Emails should be directed to parentsforapathway@gmail.com