THE controversial player-points system to be introduced in Northern NSW State League next season will be set at 250 points and scaled back to 200 by 2017.
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The points system, which is mandatory for inclusion in the National Premier League, was endorsed by the NNSWF board on Monday night after consultation with clubs through the National Competition Review implementation committee.
Each club will have 250 points to spread over their top 20 players. Each player is initially assigned 10 points before points are added or subtracted to favour under-25, home-grown and loyal talent.
"If we want to be part of the NPL, which we do, the player points system is mandatory," NNSW chief executive David Eland said.
"FFA have allowed a transition period to get to 200 points, which is being done in the majority of federations.
"Based on the benchmarking exercise we conducted, clubs will have a cap of 250 points next year. In the second year, 2015, it will go down to 230, then 210 in 2016.
"By the time of the next licence in 2017, it will be back to the core 200 points.
"Football Victoria are starting their clubs at 270, then going to 250 and 225," he said.
"When we averaged out where state league clubs were positioned this year, the average was 238."
The aim of the player points system is to promote youth development and curb excessive player payments.
Promoted clubs will receive an extra 30 points and do not incur "switching" penalties for players who join them for their maiden campaign.
There is also a provision for marquee players.
Opinion has been divided among the current state league clubs over the system.
"The most contentious issue has been prioritisation of players under the age of 25 as opposed to those over the age of 25," Eland said.
"I don't think that any player over 25 will be forced out of our game purely because of the player points system over the next three years, given there is a buffer.
"At the end of the three years, FFA have agreed to reassess whether or not 25 is the appropriate point to start penalising. Even a 30-year-old player who has come through a club system is not going to be worth more points, because of the home-grown and loyalty points."
Eland said a spreadsheet detailing player points would be distributed to the clubs.
To compete in the NPL, clubs must be licensed.
Clubs must also meet criteria including submitting three-year business plans, budget forecasts, appointing a technical director, coaching accreditation levels and junior teams in under 13s, 14s and 15s.
The promotion and relegation system with first division remains.
But first division clubs must have an NPL licence to gain promotion.
"If premiers of first division are unlicensed, there will be no promotion or relegation," Eland said.
"At the start of 2014 season clubs will need to declare if they will be licensed.
"We have negotiated a significant amount of compromise with FFA to the point where we don't consider any element of the criteria to be unnecessary or onerous."
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Licence applications will be forwarded to clubs this week and close on August 9.
Eland said clubs would always hold different opinions, but they were proud that the region was recognised as an Australian football heartland.
"I don't think for one minute they will not want our State League to be part of the NPL."
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