Benefits of the QCSA

Children
It has been said many times before that, keeping children occupied in wholesome activity keeps them off the streets and out of trouble. Our objective here is to provide a sporting environment that teaches the teamwork necessary to achieve goals in sport and that these skills are also skills for life. The consultants asked this question in their final report:

Does the Queensland Christian Soccer Association exist to witness and play football or does it exist to play football and witness?

If the Queensland Christian Soccer Association exists to witness but plays football badly and unsportingly, then immediately its witness comes into question. If on the other hand it exists to play football and its witness is inconsistent and contradictory to its standard of play then it becomes a contradiction of itself. The balancing of these potentially countervailing forces is essential to the strength of the QCSA.

This factor will always be a cross it must bear. It, of course must try for both, but to do one at the expense of the other or to compromise in both to please everybody, will ultimately be self defeating.

Young people play football for the fun of it. if the football they play is clean and fair and well organized, they will soon see the justice of it. If hooliganism and unnecessary aggression are demonstrated to be less than desirable, they will learn to respect it. The first witness is therefore how the sport is played and administered, if these things are attended to first then the witness of your 'walk' is consistent with your 'talk'.

Women
The impact of any project by the Association has special implications when one considers the composition of the Association membership. In fact the overall percentage of female participation on the QCSA soccer fields has reached 12% of the membership. Higher level competition will undoubtedly enhance their experience of involvement in the competitions organised by the Association. All indications point to further growth of this aspect in the coming years.

Cultural Community
As stated earlier, many people come to Australia from a cultural background that places a high priority on their religious beliefs. In addition participation in soccer is a major part of their lives. When they see an opportunity to combine both passions, it provides a comforting link to their cultural past. Such members of the Association can be found in two clubs with El Salvadorian background, El Salvador and Cuscatlan. Abruzzo (Italian), Serbia United (Serbian) and St. George (Greek) are other culturally based clubs. Likewise, improving facilities and making services more accessible to members will in turn raise the level of competition which is a factor in the decision to participate in the activities of the Association.

Members
Of course all the members of the Association, children, parents, coaches, club officials and even the interested onlookers (siblings, grandparents, aunts and uncles etc.) will benefit from any project undertaken by the Association. The number of these beneficiaries could conceivably reach about 20,000 per week when all relevant family interests are considered.