JUNIOR SOCCER

Mr ODENWALDER (Little Para) (15:44): I just want to talk a little today about something that is close to my heart and that is junior soccer and junior soccer development. On the weekend I was really pleased to attend the inaugural National Training Centre of South Australia gala presentation fundraising dinner and auction at the Hungarian Club in Norwood on behalf of the Minister for Sport. I did not wear a culturally-appropriate Hungarian top—

Ms Chapman: Why not?

Mr ODENWALDER: Why not?

The Hon. M.J. Atkinson interjecting:

Mr ODENWALDER: I know. It would have been in the back of the member for Croydon's car. I want to thank minister Kenyon, though, for the opportunity because it was a great night and, as I said, it is a cause close to the my own heart. Just by way of background, the National Training Centre (NTC) program is a national elite development program of the Football Federation of Australia. The program operates in all states and targets the best young soccer players in each state with the potential to represent Australia in the Joeys (under 17s), the Olyroos or ultimately the Socceroos.

The South Australian National Training Centre program was a joint South Australian Sports Institute program from its inception in April 1995 until July 2011. The NTC program in South Australia is now run completely by the FFSA (Football Federation of South Australia), but it does receive grant funding from the Office of Rec and Sport through the Sport and Recreation and Sustainability Program.

This event was basically to raise funds to enable a group of young South Australian soccer players to participate in the upcoming Institute Challenge in Canberra in December. This challenge is the final chance that most of these boys have to be selected in the Australian Under 17 World Cup Squad and also to gain a contract, perhaps, to attend the Australian Institute of Sport. I should mention that the South Australian team won this challenge in 2010 and 2011, so they are expecting big things this year.

In the area that I represent—Elizabeth, parts of Salisbury and parts of the north-eastern suburbs—soccer, and particularly junior soccer, is taken pretty seriously, and most of the clubs are friendly, family affairs, and I have seen this myself. The kids make friends from across the state and learn a lot of valuable life skills as well through their involvement with these clubs along the way.

I was also really pleased to bring my son, Jimmy, along, and he was starstruck to be seated at the same table with such South Australian soccer stars as Ian Fife, Daniel Mullen (who, like Jimmy, played for the mighty Para Hills Knights), Jason Spagnuolo and Lucas Pantelis. These players spoke to the NTC boys and gave them tips on what to expect from a career in soccer and, of course, Jimmy was transfixed by the whole thing.

The dinner was also attended by Mr Dave Hewitson from the FFSA, Mr Carl Veart who is the head coach at the NTC and Mr John Kosmina who is, of course, the head coach of Adelaide United. John Kosmina also addressed the crowd ahead of Sunday's Adelaide v Perth game at Hindmarsh. As always with these events, and with kids' sports generally, the whole thing was supported by the many parents, family members, coaches and supporters who make up the soccer community in South Australia. I am not entirely sure how much money was raised but I did see a lot of money changing hands and a lot promised in the auction process, including $1,100 for a signed soccer shirt from Sydney FC's recent star signing, Del Piero.

In South Australia soccer ranks as the second most popular organised sport behind aerobics and fitness activities, with 4.4 per cent of the community participating in either indoor or outdoor soccer compared with 4.2 per cent who play netball, 3.8 per cent who play Aussie Rules, 3.3 per cent who play basketball and 2.6 per cent for indoor and outdoor cricket combined. From 2001 to 2009 the sport experienced a 52 per cent increase in participation rates. Soccer also continues to grow in popularity at the national level in terms of club-based activities, with 7.7 per cent growth over a six-year period from 2001 to 2007. This is the highest growth in all structured competitive sports in Australia.

I want to take this opportunity, again, to wish the boys from the National Training Centre program the best of luck in Canberra. It is kids like these and programs like this which mean that South Australia will continue to punch above its weight in the very, very competitive world of soccer.