‘Soft’: Legend coach erupts at common issue

An Aussie coaching legend has called out a common problem he believes is ruining Aussie weekends and making us “soft”.

A legendary Australian sprinting coach believes the constant closures of sporting grounds and postponement of fixtures across the country due to rain are seriously risking Australia’s lauded sporting prowess.

A search of the term “training cancelled” on Facebook yields a mass of recent notifications across multiple sports codes and locations.

The closure of ovals and fields are most commonly made by the councils or large sporting institutions.

Roger Fabri, the elite Sydney-based trainer behind some of the nation’s most elite competitive sprinters and sporting stars across numerous codes, has blasted mass nationwide field closures he feels are forcing kids indoors without good reason.

In recent years, his clients have included NRL stars James Tedesco and Josh Addo-Carr and Australian Test great David Warner.

Roger Fabri, a legendary Australian sprinting coach, believes the constant closures of sporting grounds and postponement of fixtures across the country due to rain are seriously risking Australia’s lauded sporting prowess. Picture: TikTok

“You know what? I do believe the councils have made the kids and parents soft now,” he declared in a social media video while standing in the rain on Saturday.

“Constantly closing the fields every single weekend has also conditioned the parents to think it’s actually not okay to play on or train in the rain.”

Fabri believes that excessive field closures are leading to kids being forced indoors unnecessarily. Picture: Adam Yip

Fabri argues that Australia is at risk of losing its sporting advantage by becoming less resilient compared to other countries. Picture: Adam Yip

“I’ll be honest with you. I don’t know where this world is going to go to.

“Yes, occasionally (close them) here and there, but every single week. The parents now think ‘Hey, you know what? You shouldn’t play in the rain’.”

The post went viral as rain wreaked havoc on Australia’s winter sport season, impacting codes including AFL, rugby league and union, and netball.

Fabri told news.com.au he felt that at an elite level, there’s a significant risk that Australia is “giving away our sporting advantage”.

“Most other countries would play and train (in this weather), but we’re no longer resilient,” he said.

“Was (the weather) not around when we were kids? What’s changed?”

Fabri believes that while there are legitimate concerns regarding damage to fields, there has been an excess of “red tape” lately, with ground closures becoming disproportionate.

He added that “we have the technologies” to curate sports grounds to mitigate damage. He cited the recent NRL Magic Round at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, which hosts eight first-grade fixtures over three days on the one ground.

He suggests that technology can be used to maintain sports grounds and mitigate weather damage, pointing to the immense strain put on Suncorp Stadium during the NRL’s Magic Round. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

Additionally, he worried parents were being “ripped off,” with many clubs having to pay ground administrators up front and little opportunity for reimbursement.

“I pay for a full season upfront – the hit on my business is significant,” he said, adding he feels for sporting clubs and organisations more grassroots than his.

Ultimately Fabri stated: “Not since Covid have I seen so many kids forced inside – let them play, let them be kids.”

Fabri’s post elicited a fervent response from his followers.

One parent told Fabri: “We are at a 30 per cent play rate. Why am I paying rates to council when we can’t use the asset we pay for?”

Another reminisced: “Used to love playing footy and soccer sliding around in the mud with muddy boots when get home”.

Legendary Australian sprinting coach Roger Fabri believes the constant closures of sporting grounds and postponement of fixtures are making kids and parents across the rain-soaked East Coast “soft.” Picture: Brendan Radke

Some praised their clubs and local sporting authorities for managing to avert the winter deluge experienced so far this year across much of eastern Australia.

“Fortunately, the Penrith comp have only missed one round to date,” one wrote.

“They have done an amazing job working with the council to keep our kids playing.”

Lengthy rain spells have been a staple for 2024, and reprieve appears unlikely for parts of the country.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s long-range forecast, published in late May, forecasts above-average rainfall for some southern central and western parts of Australia, while rainfall is likely to be more typical for the season elsewhere.