Eelementary
Post Whore
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Is the issue with gressroots soccer that the players are mainly B-grade athletes with the better athletes still going to other sports
Definitely an issue.
Participation rates at grassroots football is very high.
I'd also say that the earning potential not being competitive is a big factor - how much can the top A-League payer earn?
How much can an Australian cricketer, AFL, or NRL player earn?
We also have it indoctrinated that certain play styles are not to be exhibited - when I was playing under 17s for my local comp, one of my teammates was a very skilful solo striker - he'd find space, beat his man with speed, and dribbling, and take a shot at goal.
He didn't go any further than that level, because the coach told him that he needed to play "team-first football".
One of my other teammates made the reserve grade Sydney FC side many years later - he was a Matt Leckie-type (fast, hoof it into the box at every opportunity by instinct).
We need to invest in the sport more, in order to be competitive.
It's painful watching our men's national side play with barely any skill with the ball.