ALM/W TV deal

[NoMates]

The main extra expenses come from coaches and tds which are mandated by fas licensing requirements. Fa also require minimum qualifications which drives youth coach and td wages up

I havent looked at grassroots clubs in the nrl but i doubt they set such a high threshold for qrl clubs

Nrl and afl governing bodies would also likely have money to subsidize rather than charge 333 per kid in license and rego

If the AFL and NRL as well as cricket and maybe basketball standards were poor you might be right, but it’s not. It’s not 3rd world as you suggest unlike football where only a small amount of good players come through but at a higher cost. Like I said the higher fees for jr football make no sense compared to other field ground sports in Australia. It’s a rout and that’s a fact.

 

[grazorblade]

If the AFL and NRL as well as cricket and maybe basketball standards were poor you might be right, but it’s not. It’s not 3rd world as you suggest unlike football where only a small amount of good players come through but at a higher cost. Like I said the higher fees for jr football make no sense compared to other field ground sports in Australia. It’s a rout and that’s a fact.

Im not disputing it is too expensive, i am just explaining what the budget is and what is driving up costs and offering solutions for how to lower costs. There is no way of telling the standards of nrl and afl since these arent international sports. Whats more important is where youth coach and td wages are an expense mandated by regulations from the governing body

 

[Monoethnic Social Club]

If the AFL and NRL as well as cricket and maybe basketball standards were poor you might be right, but it’s not. It’s not 3rd world as you suggest unlike football where only a small amount of good players come through but at a higher cost. Like I said the higher fees for jr football make no sense compared to other field ground sports in Australia. It’s a rout and that’s a fact.

I dont know about NRL but the cost breakdown for AFL licensing and accreditation in 2026 is as follows:

• Foundation Coach Accreditation (Level 1): Free. Registration and annual re-accreditation (required to be on game-day team sheets) carry zero fees as part of an ongoing community football investment. [1, 2, 3]
• Elevate Coaching Practices (Level 2):\(\$110\) to \(\$300\) AUD.
  • Individual Workshops: \(\$110\) AUD.
  • Full-day Course Bundle: Usually \(\$297\) to \(\$300\) AUD, which typically includes catering. [1, 2, 3, 4]
• Specialised Advanced Modules: Costs vary. For example, specific standalone practical and theory clinics range from \(\$60\) to \(\$100\) AUD depending on the state and provider. [1]

meanwhile for squads half the size .

1. Mandatory Coaching Accreditations
Requirements scale depending on whether you are coaching men's, women's, or youth squads: [1, 2]

• NPL Men’s (1st Grade): Head Coach requires an FA/AFC "A" Diploma; Assistant requires a "B" Diploma.
• NPL Men’s (U20): Head Coach requires a "B" Diploma; Assistant requires a "C" Diploma.
• NPL Women’s (1st Grade): Head Coach requires a "B" Diploma; Assistant generally requires a "C" Youth or Senior Diploma.
• NPL Youth (NPLY): Head Coach requires an FA/AFC "C" Diploma (Youth) as a minimum.
• Goalkeeping Coach: Mandatory FA/AFC Goalkeeping (GK) Level 1 License or GK B-Diploma. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Advanced Pathway (Performance/Professional)

• C Diploma: $960 – $1,050
• B Diploma: $2,330 – $2,530
• A Diploma: $4,862 – $5,800
• Goalkeeping B Diploma: $1,760 – $1,783
• Goalkeeping A Diploma: $2,563

It IS a rout and the FA is doing the rooting...

 

[LFC]

If the AFL and NRL as well as cricket and maybe basketball standards were poor you might be right, but it’s not. It’s not 3rd world as you suggest unlike football where only a small amount of good players come through but at a higher cost. Like I said the higher fees for jr football make no sense compared to other field ground sports in Australia. It’s a rout and that’s a fact.

I'm not sure you have any idea of grass roots history playing sockha here.
From the Syd experience.......
Guess what - apart from paying rego we have always had to pay for the club socks and shorts - to this feckin day ! ffs O55's we pay $450 rego and still have to pay of the shorts/socks.
As a teen I used to think WTF whereas all the rugby's registered players got full kits incl kit bags as you progressed to higher levels.
So the FA money grab and pre SA/FFA has been going on for decades long before many of you younger gens came to be.
Its a given, the NRL's even some Union teams had/have Clubs, pokies, alcohol sales and sponsers.
Long before what the great revenue comes from today.
Hence why they have always been ahead of our game supporting their grass roots whilst us/parents keep digging into our pockets to support out little Johnny's to play the game we and they luv.
At the same time I'm happy to support our local clubs rip off or not.
NPL's had to make some resource and the demand of academy's TD's and also private coaching came to be. This shows the mess FA/AL has driven downwards.
I agree its a DAM rip off - I have paid 2 sons to play NPL and this all goes back to the FA/Feds not having their finger on the pulse.
Its not the clubs below fault its been their source of survival in a floudering sporting system and governance <<< thats what the fact is more than anything and its current $ loss's back it right up with the apl carnts..

 

[grazorblade]

Youth coaches wages are driven up partly by the cost and level of qualifications, but part is supply and demand

My understanding is that football australia have waiting lists for their coaching courses and dont train enough. So if you dont have many qualified coaches compared to the number of positions wages are going to go up

Im surprised there are waiting lists for coaching courses. Given how expensive the courses are i would imagine it would be profitable for the fa to teach more?

In any case my solution is to acreddit clubs who want to teach their own coaching course. Would drive innovation, provide another revenue stream and make youth costs crash