Over 35's 2011 Season

Happy New Year to all. Those teams and players interested in participating in an O35 PCYC Football competition in 2011 have no doubt been waiting on confirmation of format, venue and arrangements for this year.

Sorry for my delay in conveying all this information.

This year we had plans to implement some further changes with the overriding and general aim of making this competition social, simple and more achievable. 2010 changes to the competition including the 5 metre offside rule and non use of linesmen proved extremely successful. They will be continued.

We had thoughts of changing the format to incorporate a 9 a side competition, however this plan will be put on hold.

We will maintain an 11 side competition and look for one or possibly 2 more teams. 1 extra team will then incorporate a bye, 2 will see an additional fixture.

Games will still have 2 x 35 minute halves. Depending on the number of fixtures per night, the first games will start at 6.30pm now and the second games at 8.00pm.

The venue will start at the PCYC (pending PCYC Football Committee approval) with the Redcliffe Showgrounds being set up as well for use as a secondary venue, if as we fear we have a very wet year and we are having to cancel too many fixtures at the PCYC.

Given the predictions of a very wet year, we were very concerned that there will be too many cancellations of Friday night games at the PCYC, and was tempted to just stay at the high, and well drained showgrounds - however the general consensus from players last year and now is a wish to play at the pcyc so we can use the clubhouse and facilities.

The other obvious advantage is that we can support the canteen and partners and children may be more likely to attend.

Please be very aware of the following concerns and issues, in case we do end up having to move back to the showgrounds temporarily or permanently at some stage during the year:
1. The extremely wet weather conditions this year and the strong likelihood of a continuation of this, which if this occurs a significant amount of cancelled fixtures due to inclement weather and wet field conditions

2. The showgrounds is probably the best drained field on the Peninsula, we share it with no one and therefore to an extent have some discretion in relation to its use in wet conditions

3. Playing at the Redcliffe PCYC fields would mean that we are at the liberty of the football committee and club in terms of them not wanting the overuse of fields when the playing conditions are "marginal" which would mean additional fixtures being lost throughout the season in all likelihood, even where the fields are in theory playable

4. The general level of disappointment in past years when fixtures are cancelled particularly when weather improves in the afternoon/evening after the fixtures are cancelled

5. The ongoing capacity for us to liaise with council, arrange our own working B's and ensure that the fields at the showgrounds are in the best state they can be

6. An outside risk that without significant use of the showground fields by the PCYC some other sporting organisation may be able to assume use which will be generally detrimental to the PCYC as a whole, given the reasonably limited other fields available to the club

7. Some preliminary discussions between this competition and the council in relation to co/shared use of the old hockey fields clubhouse and also fields

8. Significant issues concerning lack of historical involvement by players in the organisational and running side of the competition leading to the view that there will be limited efforts of support to man and service and clean the canteen and clubhouse if this is made available to our competition, or assist in relation to field maintenance, marking and general cleanup (it is recognised, more by way of observation than criticism that 99% of participants play and leave and is unlikely that that this predicament will change)

9. Reasonably limited scope for profit making from the PCYC canteen given the likely need to pay for a volunteer to man, find such a person and the reasonably limited amount of expenditure that historically we have seen when products were available at games, plus the BYO component present in some teams historically, which obviously not must stop.