CAN BARLA SURVIVE?

It appears that the editor of the Rugby Leaguer & League Express is against us in this weeks editorial, do the rest of you agree with is article.

" CAN BARLA SURVIVE?"

Someone gave me a startling statistic the other day.

Apparently two-thirds of amateur clubs around the country are no longer full members of BARLA

Can you believe that?

It seems that many amateur and junior clubs and leagues are sick to the back teeth of the politicking that is all pervasive in the BARLA organisation, which seems unwilling to accept that it is no longer a governing body of its own accord, but now part of the RFL, which is the only governing body for Rugby League in this country.

BARLA has a seat on the Rugby League Council, and it is represented on the RFL Community Board, which administers the wider amateur game across all sectors.

When the 'merger' took place between the RFL and BARLA, the RFL took on all BARLA's liabilities, and the benefits that accrue from that move can be seen, for example, when qe note that every away team in the early rounds of the Challenge Cup is given a travel grant of £500.

The BARLA management needs to learn to work with, not against, the games governing body."


Now that us well and truly told and we should do as we are told by an autocratic organisation and be very good and thankful and grateful for our crumbs from our masters!!!

So what do you think as artyn Sadler says CAN BARLA SURVIVE?

Morning Steve,

I see that on Martyn Sadler's article, he states that away teams received a £500 travel grant in the early rounds of the challenge cup.

So that's where the £29,000,000 is going, on the buses.

I'm not aware of how many £500's were dealt out, but surely the money would be better used for junior development, or isn't that as glamourous as the challenge cup.

He also stated that with the merger, RFL took on all BARLA's liabilities ... what liabilities?

Can BARLA survive, lets have another post from Shadowman on that subject.

So when did 60% of the clubs that BARLA do represent become two thirds that they dont?

That article is laughable!

Look what we did!!!

A search of what BARLA is defined as by Wikipedia is below!

Maybe we should remeber why it was formed and what it has attained in the last 35 years. Just because it is having a difficult time we should not abandon it, we should help it get well again. I urge you not to listen to propaganda in the media or from the RFL.

History

BARLA was created in 1973 in Huddersfield by a group of enthusiasts concerned about the dramatic disappearance of many amateur leagues and clubs. Fewer than 150 amateur teams remained with a mere thirty youth rugby league teams. The 'breakaway' from the RFL was acrimonious and was strongly contested with a vote 29-1 against recognising BARLA. Thanks to Tom Mitchell, this changed to an unanimous vote of approval for BARLA within twelve months.
In 1977 BARLA toured Australia and New Zealand for the first time. In that year the BARLA Young Lions made their first inaugural tour setting a lasting trend by giving future stars of the game such as David Hobbs their first taste of international rugby league.
The BARLA National League first took place in the 1986/1987 season with 10 teams.
The association has always been a champion of the amateur ethos and in 1987 BARLA played a major role in the establishment of the 'free gangway' between the two codes at amateur level. The agreement allowed players to inter-change between rugby league and rugby union without fear of discrimination.
The BARLA National League added a second division in 1989.
On the 30th November 1990, BARLA's new headquarters at West Yorkshire House, Huddersfield was opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1993, BARLA provided the first Great Britain team to tour South Africa. The BARLA National League was rebranded the National Conference League and expanded to three divisions (now named premier, first and second) in 1993.
By 1999, there were more than 1,400 teams and 900 youth and junior teams. On an average weekend in the season, almost 23,000 players will be in action.
BARLA's work in the international expansion of the game was recognised by their inclusion as affiliate members of the International Federation (equivalent to the International Board at the time) in 1999 and by BARLA's inclusion in the Emerging Nations World Championship in 2000.

[edit] Role


BARLA runs many leagues, mainly based in the 'heartland' areas of the sport (Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria). The top division under their control is the National Conference League, with regional leagues including the North West Counties and Pennine leagues.
BARLA selects an international team consisting of amateur players, the BARLA Lions. This team tours many parts of the rugby league world, and have competed in the Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament. The association have made 31 tours to and from the Southern Hemisphere. These include pioneer visits to Fiji, Western Samoa, Tonga, the Cook Islands and South Africa. In the Northern Hemisphere games have been played against Moldavia, Russia, Morocco and the USA.

Service areas


BARLA divides itself into service areas which are defined by local authority or county sports partnership boundaries depending on their geographical location. Each service area is managed by a steering group at which all rugby league agencies in the area and other appropriate partners are represented.

Cumbria


North West Allerdale, Barrow & South Lakes, Copeland and Eden

North West


Halton, Lancashire, Rochdale, Oldham, Salford, St Helens, Warrington & Cheshire, Wigan & Leigh

Yorkshire


Bradford, Calderdale, Hull, Kirklees, Leeds, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Wakefield

Non-heartlands


London & South East, North East, Scotland, Wales

Good point Swordfish the problem is a large number of people forget or are unaware why BARLA was first formed and will say we get everything rom the Rugby League Services.

They also forget what they got before that dreaded day of unification and that basically BARLA employers became RFL employers continuing to do the same services that they did when they were employed by BARLA.

All the RFL has done is put their spin on those and also duplicated BARLA's awards and volunters system. They also took over the BARLA Bulletin and the spin doctors took over.

Everything the Rugby League Services do are what they have to do on behalf of BARLA, BARLA Leagues and BARLA clubs, but they wouldn't tell you that would they!!!!!

The only thing is that when they they send out any booklets, posters, literature or directives which are on behalf of us to promote the amateur game were it affects BARLA Leagues and clubs they don't put the BARLA logo on only the RFL with there slogan 'Its a whole new ball game'

It certainly is, we're not mentioned and we're not consulted at the initial stage on any matters that effect its partners BARLA its nomally just on BARLA's toes at the last minute before a Community Board meeting!!!

As sam says elsewere on the forum 'Its good to talk' are you listening RFL

Swordfish wrote:A search of what BARLA is defined as by Wikipedia is below!

Maybe we should remeber why it was formed and what it has attained in the last 35 years. Just because it is having a difficult time we should not abandon it, we should help it get well again. I urge you not to listen to propaganda in the media or from the RFL.

reading the piece on wikipedia, reminded me (and hopefully some other "oldies" out there) as to why BARLA was set up in the first place.
having the RFL in charge of the amateur game was an unmitigated disaster in the past.
too much was conceded to the RFL at "unification" and that is one of the reasons why the leadership of BARLA changed hands.
Allison and Co, have got the backs of the RFL up, but isn't that one of the reasons why he was voted into the chair position was because his predecessor gave too much away?
Didn't we all vote for a more hardline approach to stop unification from turning into devouring?

As shadowman said in his excellent article, BARLA is ours,
we don't have to like the king, but we all should rally around the throne when it's very existence is at stake.

This is a response Trevor made, which was to the questionare issued by Alistair Gray of genesis before Unification,

unfortunately I no longer have the questions, but the answers speak for themselves.



Response to the questionnaire issued by Alistair Gray





1 Vision to beat the Australians

Goals to gain control of all available public funding and sponsorship

Objectives to remove BARLA from the scene to give them unrestricted access to
All Funding



2 Vision to be the centrepiece of an Association of amateur clubs & leagues

Goals to develop the amateur came to the benefit of all amateur players
Whatever there ability

Objectives to retain their independence and control the amateur game to the benefit
of its members



3 Due to interference by sport England and the RFL the paid staff at
BARLA are between the devil & the deep blue sea but under the
Present Circumstances they work well



4 The RFL are hell bent on taking over the management of BARLA and imposing
There own brand of dictatorial management and giving no thought to the wishes
of the clubs & leagues which are BARLA



5 The concept based on the initial road shows to put the idea to the amateur clubs of
Being the way forward for Coach & Player development seamed at the time to be sound.
But it as now moved on to been the tool, which the RFL wishes to control the amateur game.
I have first hand knowledge being the Kiklees Service Area Volunteer Coordinator for Three Years
and only resigned when I became disgusted with the way we were being instructed not consulted
on the way things will be run by the RFL development department who have little or no knowledge
of the amateur game. They only cater for elite players and have no place for those that will never
make it into the professional ranks. Without these players the game will disappear



6 If the RFL & BARLA are to remain unified it is essential that the RFL stop trying to
Interfere in the running of BARLA and that BARLA retains its independence and any
changes that need making are made by mutual consent



7 For BARLA to retain its independence and continue to expand and prosper



8 I would be one of the first to agree that there needs to be changes. The clubs who are the lifeblood of the game need financial assistance. All of the public funding available at the moment is directed to governing bodies and never reaches the clubs perhaps a way could be found to fund them direct by annual grants to help with running costs



9 By the leagues doing what they do now providing the structure which makes the game accessible to all regardless of ability (self funding) The following is a quote from my own clubs constution The aim of the club is to help and educate boys & girls though their leisure time activities so to develop their physical, mental and spiritual capacities that they may grow to full maturity as individuals and members of society and that their conditions of life may be improved





Trevor C Land Administrator Treasurer Batley Boys & Girls ARLFC

Ex Secretary, management member Yorkshire Youth League

MemberYorkshireCounty management committee

Some great posts

Too much was conceded at time of unification, but it has to be said, the pressure on the Board of management at the time was clearly intense

If somebody from the RFL, would like to put their side of the debate across,

they are more than welcome to post.



I assure you that you will be respected on here, and indeed welcomed.



I

In reply to Steve Manning's initial question I fear the answer is "No".

I base this on the fact that, in our own League, in full view of the BARLA Chair & Youth Chair, nearly 50% of our Clubs (at our age-groups ... we cannot speak for older or younger ones) voted to leave the Association completely.

These coaches/players/parents are the future of the Association and that level of discontent should be a long needed wake up call for the Association to act before it's too late, discontented numbers increase and the balance finally tipped. I now note in "Latest News" that West Cumbria has also reflected a 50% level of discontent with Full Membership ... why can't those in charge show some reaction?

It's now over two weeks since our meeting and has anyone from the Board come back with anything positive?? Again, sadly not, instead we get the usual paranoid posts about "Big Brother" RFL trying to destroy the Association ... sorry guys, the problem is closer to home. Unfortunately, to external bodies and individuals, this response from some Board Members is merely seen as a paranoia fuelling smoke-screen put there in a vain attempt to simply try and deflect responsibility for their own failings whilst desperately trying to cling to their own positions.

People want positivity, not negativity, from the Board.