should we start a program for future father sons?

[bashar]

this is related to the article on the afl website
and i think richmond are on to something.
we have tallented players coming through from the father sons selections, what if they started abit earlier. on school holidays they come down to the club, get a feel for it, develop skills and get training programs that will no doubt help them develop even further.
think of tommy hawkins without the baby fat....i know he dominates already but he would be ready made if he was more tonned.
i dunno if were employing this technique but if we arent we should...father son picks could end up being bargins and could give us a competitie edge.
besides we know our hard work wont go to waste as father sons will go to the club. whilst a tallented geelong falcons player will b picked up by someone else.
thoughts?

 

[JUBJUB]

Nope

 

[Turbocat]

Its sort of funny that that this should come up at the same time as this board has some threads on Adam Donohue , I suppose if you wait long enough all subjects will be raised yet again on a discussion board like this.

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?t=129429

For what its worth my opinion hasn’t changed . I still think with careful management we could maximize the chances of kids attached to us without the negative effects of burnout. Rather than pressure them, it could be a schoolarship of sorts that enriched the kids in area more than just football. The AFL have introduce a scheme for NSW kids which I certainly think has potential and Id say something like that for Aboriginal kids from poor areas could also work.
The thing is that we are yet to see what changes will be made to the FatherSons rule and if this change would reduce the advantage and balance the financial drain it would have on a club

 

[Partridge]

The thing is that we are yet to see what changes will be made to the FatherSons rule and if this change would reduce the advantage and balance the financial drain it would have on a club

Good point. Knowing the AFL it could be ditched tomorrow as well. Besides, when you consider Scarlett, G.Ablett jnr, Mark Yeates and Michael Turner - we've already done pretty good with it over the years. Hopefully Hawkins, N.Ablett, Blake and Callan can continue the trend.

 

[Rosso]

I don't think so. It puts higher expectations on the sons and also puts the club in a tough situation (much like Carlton and the 3 father/son picks they had a choice of this year).

As for getting boys at 10 years of age to the club as Terry Wallace has touted, I think it'll end up in tears. Can you imagine how Richo would carry on when he didn't get hit on the cheast lace out by a 10 year old kid. The youngster would be scarred for life.

 

[Partridge]

As for getting boys at 10 years of age to the club as Terry Wallace has touted, I think it'll end up in tears. Can you imagine how Richo would carry on when he didn't get hit on the cheast lace out by a 10 year old kid. The youngster would be scarred for life.

Seeing as we haven't had a key forward in 10 years, a guy who kicks 700 career goals could do what he wanted as far as I'm concerned.

As for the "problem" of having 3 father/sons the same year - tough. It's the same for any other player. If you're good enough you get selected, if you're not you don't. Bad luck.

 

[Rustybugles]

this is related to the article on the afl website
and i think richmond are on to something.
we have tallented players coming through from the father sons selections, what if they started abit earlier. on school holidays they come down to the club, get a feel for it, develop skills and get training programs that will no doubt help them develop even further.
think of tommy hawkins without the baby fat....i know he dominates already but he would be ready made if he was more tonned.
i dunno if were employing this technique but if we arent we should...father son picks could end up being bargins and could give us a competitie edge.
besides we know our hard work wont go to waste as father sons will go to the club. whilst a tallented geelong falcons player will b picked up by someone else.
thoughts?

Gives me nightmares at the thought of another David Clarke!!!

 

[rickster]

this is related to the article on the afl website
and i think richmond are on to something.
we have tallented players coming through from the father sons selections, what if they started abit earlier. on school holidays they come down to the club, get a feel for it, develop skills and get training programs that will no doubt help them develop even further.

thoughts?

Do you know any 10 year olds? I don't think they are quite ready for training programs and weights circuits. Just let them enjoy themselves and try different sports.

 

[cats2rise]

When i read the title I thought you meant some sort of stud farm.

 

[bashar]

When i read the title I thought you meant some sort of stud farm.

thats the funniest one.
u guys miss understoond, if we get the kids to come down to the cattery get those proper mentoring it might make the decision easy for them.
seeing the players it might get them star struck and might encourage them to work that tinny bit harder.
for those that think its harsh for kids to do proper training at the tender age of 10...um have u ever seen soccer players, ur considerd a no hoper if ur starting to get seriose at 10. they usually have that decision to become a soccer player at 5. and start hitting it hard from then on, if they were ever to make it into becoming elite players. u look at messi, robinho etc, those guys live and breath thier game since they could walk...and thier stars.
i know were not hardcore, and im not saying put the kids on a gruling 5 hr a day training program, just tactical study...more skills some athletics and a fair bit of encouragement can end up giving the kid condfidence to go on. im sure they would get more out of thier holidays being fit and determined and focused then sitting infront of an xbox or hanging out with friends at the pool.
it was just a suggestion fellas u dont need to take it so damn seriouse

 

[mckinale]

thats the funniest one.
u guys miss understoond, if we get the kids to come down to the cattery get those proper mentoring it might make the decision easy for them.
seeing the players it might get them star struck and might encourage them to work that tinny bit harder.
for those that think its harsh for kids to do proper training at the tender age of 10...um have u ever seen soccer players, ur considerd a no hoper if ur starting to get seriose at 10. they usually have that decision to become a soccer player at 5. and start hitting it hard from then on, if they were ever to make it into becoming elite players. u look at messi, robinho etc, those guys live and breath thier game since they could walk...and thier stars.
i know were not hardcore, and im not saying put the kids on a gruling 5 hr a day training program, just tactical study...more skills some athletics and a fair bit of encouragement can end up giving the kid condfidence to go on. im sure they would get more out of thier holidays being fit and determined and focused then sitting infront of an xbox or hanging out with friends at the pool.
it was just a suggestion fellas u dont need to take it so damn seriouse

i like the idea
but this could make them feel that they missed out on a childhood and we could end up with a whole bunch of michael jacksons playing
which would be bad coz they may end up more interested in the 1/2 time auskick game

 

[cats2rise]

Its a good idea to make them elite athletes, but let them be kids and grow up. We shouldnt have to condition or brain wash them to play football at the age of 10.

 

[bashar]

Its a good idea to make them elite athletes, but let them be kids and grow up. We shouldnt have to condition or brain wash them to play football at the age of 10.

your right, it should be completly volintry but some kids never like school and want some direction in thier lives, its optional for those father sons selections to attend this so called academy.i dunno i think its a good idea...i wish i had more direction in my life at 10 then procnastinate with the free time i had, when the kids go back to school theyll be absalut guns on the footy field and will have that cocky arrogant look about them when they rip up thier local competition and all thier mates think there absalut guns. plus im sure their social lives will improve lol as girls tend to like the jocks . meh for what its worth i can see where everyones coming from but there really shouldnt be a need to b soo critical. i mean how many of us have spent our holidays doing jack? whats wrong with these kids picking up some skills that could end up in them having a career in footy (a career path that most wouldnt mind having) i simply cant see the harm and im sure the coachs will train them to the appropriate work load

 

[TheTimeCometh]

no offence bashar but if it means they come out spelling like you then maybe not...


and this aint the former USSR or modern day china.

 

[Turbocat]

Its a good idea to make them elite athletes, but let them be kids and grow up. We shouldnt have to condition or brain wash them to play football at the age of 10.

C2R , I understand the concerns but really I think most are underestimating the power of being involved in something that a kid enjoys , thinks he is good at and wants be better . The old saying about horses and water certainly applies , kids that are not onboard with it would be detrimental to the program and would not advance themselves.

As far as brainwashing them goes this a fairly evocative term. Just what is "Brainwashing". Is it brainwashing to make all kids go to school and learn maths , is it brainwashing to bring kids up to follow their parents religion or to take them along to their favourite sport and encourage them to follow their team. For mine brainwashing is a term to be associated with the formatting a shaped personality , to perhaps be programmed to do things against your will or better judgement not the building of character in a positive manner.

What I have and I’m sure TigerTerry has in mind is only giving kids the absolute maximum chance to explore their natural talent ,obvious and hidden. To hone skills needed on the ground and off , that not only are good for the football club but enrich these kids with skill that make them more complete, that give them focus and teach them what it takes to be better than just naturally good. Not every kid that would be apart of a program like this would make it to the AFL just as not every kid who goes to Primary School goes onto University , what is important is that every kid that participates is given all the input , all the assistance, all the amenities to be his best how ever good that best may be .

 

[Mooney_d'King]

C2R , I understand the concerns but really I think most are underestimating the power of being involved in something that a kid enjoys , thinks he is good at and wants be better . The old saying about horses and water certainly applies , kids that are not onboard with it would be detrimental to the program and would not advance themselves.

As far as brainwashing them goes this a fairly evocative term. Just what is "Brainwashing". Is it brainwashing to make all kids go to school and learn maths , is it brainwashing to bring kids up to follow their parents religion or to take them along to their favourite sport and encourage them to follow their team. For mine brainwashing is a term to be associated with the formatting a shaped personality , to perhaps be programmed to do things against your will or better judgement not the building of character in a positive manner.

What I have and I’m sure TigerTerry has in mind is only giving kids the absolute maximum chance to explore their natural talent ,obvious and hidden. To hone skills needed on the ground and off , that not only are good for the football club but enrich these kids with skill that make them more complete, that give them focus and teach them what it takes to be better than just naturally good. Not every kid that would be apart of a program like this would make it to the AFL just as not every kid who goes to Primary School goes onto University , what is important is that every kid that participates is given all the input , all the assistance, all the amenities to be his best how ever good that best may be .

Good points, well thought through. To simplify it further, what kid TRULY knows what he/she wants to do at the age of 10? How many of you out there made a plan at age 10 and are living it now? To start things off - me. Had no idea, still have no idea, despite being in a good job now.

Therefore my position on the topic has to be - not a good idea, too early for the vast majority of kids to commit themselves.

 

[Rosella]

Good points, well thought through. To simplify it further, what kid TRULY knows what he/she wants to do at the age of 10? How many of you out there made a plan at age 10 and are living it now? To start things off - me. Had no idea, still have no idea, despite being in a good job now.

Therefore my position on the topic has to be - not a good idea, too early for the vast majority of kids to commit themselves.

Absolutely. They should be just left to be kids.

Geelong actually watched Gary Ablett playing little league, so they are aware of them. But it would be foolish to take a kid at 10 to a club. It would either kill off their interest altogether or give them unrealistic expectations.

 

[jim boy]

I don't see why people have a problem with it. The idea isn't to get them in for intensive training or anything like that, it's more about getting the basic skills developed so that that if they later on, should they decide to pursue an AFL career, they actually possess skills that don't have to be re-taught.

Once a player gets to the age of being drafted, things like kicking style, are so in-grained that they just can't be rectified. If David Clarke had been taken under the clubs wing at the age of 10 and shown how to kick correctly, then he would be have been a far better footballer than he was.

At best, only 1 in 10 of these young kids would even be considered for selection, so really failure to get an AFL spot really won't attract much of a stigma and kids who miss out will know that there talents lie elsewhere rather than fretting about opportunities lost.

 

[Mr Sensitive]

if we're gonna set up a father-son program, why not go the whole hog? I say we hire eugenics experts from 1930's Berlin and institute a selective breeding program on a mass scale. With the proper guidelines we could assemble a super team of uber men within 1000 years that would march and/or goose step all over the other clubs with their inferior bloodlines...
Or I could just be taking the piss...

 

[cats2rise]

C2R , I understand the concerns... etc

Turbo, I am all for kids exploring their potential at a young age, and enjoying but what happened when pushy parents find out their kid has talent, and uses it against them. I have seem to many unhappy children at schools trying to live up to their parents expectations which leads to them not enjoying it!

 

[Gazzajr is god]

This may of been mentioned on another forum (curious if it has been mentioed b4) but its something that Ive thought about for awhile that may happen one day. It may happen in China or somewhere already. Whos knows. Hopefully we wont see it in my lifetime lifetime.

Maybe clubs will take a further view of setting up current players with female atheletes that maybe one day if they hit it off they would have offspring that could be super atheletes.
What if we crossed Gazz jr with Liz Ellis. We would get something like Nathan.
Maybe we need to start looking at who these players are going out with.

 

[Asty]

This may of been mentioned on another forum (curious if it has been mentioed b4) but its something that Ive thought about for awhile that may happen one day. It may happen in China or somewhere already. Whos knows. Hopefully we wont see it in my lifetime lifetime.

Maybe clubs will take a further view of setting up current players with female atheletes that maybe one day if they hit it off they would have offspring that could be super atheletes.
What if we crossed Gazz jr with Liz Ellis. We would get something like Nathan.
Maybe we need to start looking at who these players are going out with.

I've had ideas like that myself (never voiced on BF by me I dont think). But along the lines of mixed functions geelong footy club (aimed at single players) and the womens U23 netball or basketball or hockey or swimming or ... teams. The aim is of course to produce some sporting DNA powerhouses. We could also try to get them after some ex-afl stars daughters and try to double down on the afl skills??

 

[Mooney_d'King]

This may of been mentioned on another forum (curious if it has been mentioed b4) but its something that Ive thought about for awhile that may happen one day. It may happen in China or somewhere already. Whos knows. Hopefully we wont see it in my lifetime lifetime.

Maybe clubs will take a further view of setting up current players with female atheletes that maybe one day if they hit it off they would have offspring that could be super atheletes.
What if we crossed Gazz jr with Liz Ellis. We would get something like Nathan.
Maybe we need to start looking at who these players are going out with.

Interesting thoughts, but they have been done before. Between about 1930 and 1945 in a quiet little place known as "Germany". They even thought it would be a good idea to remove the people that wouldn't mix well, so I suppose they were quite thorough. But it flew in the face of various international agreements and some fundamental human-rights stuff so it ended up getting shut down by the Americans. And the Poms. And the Russians...

I wonder what Plough will be able to make of it - apparently he's quite thorough too...