No and this is probably a big part of my frustration. The time is ripe to make a massive stride forward for RL here but we need help. Registrations in WA have gone up 15% this year in WA but that is inspite of rather than because of the ARL. Example: We have had a new jnr club start up in mandurah this year and hearing the challenges they have faced to get up and running is very frustrating. If it wasn't for a couple of dedicated individuals and parents digging deep in their own pockets they would have folded before they could start. As it is they are up and running and fielding teams from u6 to u15 already. A$20k start up grant from the ARL plus a national insurance scheme and equipment would have made a world of difference. The warl needs more funding to help the start up of new clubs, increase our high school program and grow the game. The time is now in WA not in 3 or 4 years.
You point to one new club and say "if we gave them 20 grand and insurance they would be viable"
And you know what, that is very apt of you. That is exactly what 1000+ other junior clubs want/need to be viable as well, and they are all asking the one big governing body for the same thing. The ARLC want to help i imagine, it would be a great way to improve junior leagues.
But here is the problem. You are just looking at this one club, the ARLC is looking at that one club and the 1000 others like it. what you want them to do is write that one junior club a check. What they want to do is create an efficient and well run governing system that would allow junior clubs to ask for these grants and for the money to be handed out when and where it is needed.
This is what people dont appreciate about big governments. You look at one small thing and ask why they havent done anything. The government looks at that same thing 1000 times over across the country and asks how can we help them all.
But that takes time and patients and you have to realise that you are not actually special.
