Plan to spur competition

FOOTBALL

THE gap between social and competitive football may become more defined if an ambitious approach to fixtures is followed in 2020.

The coronavirus pandemic has forced administrators to think outside the box when it comes to formulating a season.

And it could lead to a new focus for football if one idea is approved.

FNQ Football officials have considered better separating players into competitive and social competitions as a way to improve participation rates.

Football is regarded as one of the country’s leading organised sports in terms of participation, but player numbers have stagnated in the Far North.

Officials are brainstorming concepts to increase the number of football players in FNQ, and a sharper focus on catering for the different reasons people play the sport could open the door to a new structure.

“The coronavirus has highlighted that we need to be smarter in our competition structures,” FNQ Football administrator Alex Srhoj said.

“There’s too many lopsided scorelines – 20-0 scorelines isn’t good for anybody.”

The audacious plan would call for prospective players to nominate the reason they play, whether it’s for competition and a dream of playing professionally, or if they want to play socially. Competitions would then be split into tiers.

For example, the under-13s could boast one competitive division, with a second dedicated to those who want to play more socially.

The audacious plan would depend on player numbers across several age groups and whether or not it’s sustainable, but it could fulfil two needs: providing the best possible competition and development of young players, and providing a space for those who want to play for fun.