2024 Premier Youth Leagues

[sapdad]

Just to clarify, was this NNSW not even appointing refs for games and leaving it up to the clubs to try and organise officials? if thats the case NNSW should be ashamed

NNSW fixture people scheduled a double header this weekend for most of the youth clubs (even though there is a spare weekend next weekend).With the vast majority of referees being players in the youth system it meant a huge amount of refs were unavailable all weekend.So you had no refs and double the fixtures.I think they appointed official referees to as many fixtures as possible but where there just werent any available clubs were told they had to organise their own.Some clubs used parents,some used official NNSW refs but they were associated with the club so it cause some issues.Cant blame the referees,the referees department or the clubs for this it is squarely on NNSW fixtures.

[Taffy]

One ground I was at had qualified refs sitting in the stands and all the players wanting them to ref,but due to others stepping in and being afraid of a conflict they would rather a parent do it.By the time refs get to 15-18 they have been playing with and against kids across the whole spectrum for years.They are friends with them and sometimes teammates/ex-teammates(and soon to be teammates).To automatically think because 'this kid knows that kid' that they would cheat their way through a game is a very sad reflection on the adults in the stands.If there was a little more support for our refs instead of just openly accusing them of being cheats it would go a long way to getting more kids to want to ref,and keep current refs in the system so they get more experience and confidence.But after weekends like this people are just not going to want to do it and the same whingers will be there next week complaining there arent any good refs anymore.

I did hear from a player in one team that the pre-game talk the coach was telling them already the ref was going to cheat, so of course the players already have that in their mind. No doubt parents also thinking the same thing and accusing them of cheating even when the correct decision is made.

[Taffy]

Just to clarify, was this NNSW not even appointing refs for games and leaving it up to the clubs to try and organise officials? if thats the case NNSW should be ashamed

Yes and refs not appointed because a lot of refs were playing on both days, something the referee association warned them would happen if they went ahead with it.

[sapdad]

I've heard anecdotally of lots of trained refs sitting in stands watching while that game goes without

My eldest and a majority of his mates that he referees with were not scheduled on any games at all over the weekend due to their own playing situation.Some stepped in and did games but were accused of being cheats,others were held out (by parents/coaches concerned with blowback) and then parents and club officials did the games and were also called cheats.I would rather a proper trained official call games every week regardless of his/her club allegiance than some parent who hasnt read a rule book.It made no sense.

[sapdad]

I did hear from a player in one team that the pre-game talk the coach was telling them already the ref was going to cheat, so of course the players already have that in their mind. No doubt parents also thinking the same thing and accusing them of cheating even when the correct decision is made.

I heard the same story and I trust the person that told me 100%.Pathetic from the coaches and parents if even half of their behavior is true.

[WOW2.0]

Agree, SAPDAD...better to at least have someone familiar with the rules


On a side note, the exciting promotion battle in Div 2 (current standings)


Div 2

1. New Lambton ~ 46Pts (23MP)
2. Weston ~ 37Pts (16MP)
3. MidCoast ~ 36Pts (22MP)
4. Charlestown ~ 29Pts (21MP)
5. South Cardiff ~ 26Pts (21MP)
6. Cooks Hill ~ 22Pts (12MP)
7. Rosebuds ~ 21Pts (18MP)
8. Belswans ~ 17Pts (21MP)

Total matches will be 34/club
(7Rds x 5Ages ? u15s bye round): Noting Rosebuds will have 28 games total)

Cardiff has climbed the table significantly to be so close to the 4th "golden ticket"...just 3 points behind Charlestown

The real dark horse that might spoil those hopes for either is Cooks Hill, who simply seem to have not had any games played recently and stuck in just 12 matches played (Weston too, but they seem pretty safe even with just the 16 games played)

[Game_over]

Agree, SAPDAD...better to at least have someone familiar with the rules


On a side note, the exciting promotion battle in Div 2 (current standings)


Div 2

1. New Lambton ~ 46Pts (23MP)
2. Weston ~ 37Pts (16MP)
3. MidCoast ~ 36Pts (22MP)
4. Charlestown ~ 29Pts (21MP)
5. South Cardiff ~ 26Pts (21MP)
6. Cooks Hill ~ 22Pts (12MP)
7. Rosebuds ~ 21Pts (18MP)
8. Belswans ~ 17Pts (21MP)

Total matches will be 34/club
(7Rds x 5Ages ? u15s bye round): Noting Rosebuds will have 28 games total)

Cardiff has climbed the table significantly to be so close to the 4th "golden ticket"...just 3 points behind Charlestown

The real dark horse that might spoil those hopes for either is Cooks Hill, who simply seem to have not had any games played recently and stuck in just 12 matches played (Weston too, but they seem pretty safe even with just the 16 games played)

Great effort by New Lambton to collect 25 out of a possible 30 points over the weekend to sky rocket into first place. Especially the 13s who have had a tough season, getting 2 big wins. The double header weekend seemed to work in their favour.

[sapdad]

Great effort by New Lambton to collect 25 out of a possible 30 points over the weekend to sky rocket into first place. Especially the 13s who have had a tough season, getting 2 big wins. The double header weekend seemed to work in their favour.

I think New Lambton have been the best example of the split competition so far.Not quite top 8 club but better than bottom 8.Where they are right in the middle but getting exposure to the top has worked for them and its been a steady improvement across the years.Im not saying keep it this way just to benefit them but its seems like theres a few strong programs in that middle group that can be the next one to do the same over the next few years.

[Taffy]

I think New Lambton have been the best example of the split competition so far.Not quite top 8 club but better than bottom 8.Where they are right in the middle but getting exposure to the top has worked for them and its been a steady improvement across the years.Im not saying keep it this way just to benefit them but its seems like theres a few strong programs in that middle group that can be the next one to do the same over the next few years.

It does show the split does works quite well, and again games are closer rather than having big blow outs because the benefits aren't just for NL. I heard NL13s dropped a player from U14s this weekend (correct age) who scored almost all the goals for the 13s this weekend. Plenty of clubs have done it and it is well within the rules to do so and if they needed the 13s to get six points this weekend to secure promotion to Div1 then fair play to them.

[sapdad]

I heard NL13s dropped a player from U14s this weekend (correct age) who scored almost all the goals for the 13s this weekend. Plenty of clubs have done it and it is well within the rules to do so and if they needed the 13s to get six points this weekend to secure promotion to Div1 then fair play to them.

It can be viewed as a bad thing as well as clubs chase results over development but its damned if you do damned if you dont isnt it.I have no problem whatsoever with players who have been playing higher ages all year getting put back in for finals as clubs should be encouraged and rewarded for having players who are able to play up a year.It can backfire though so clubs need to manage these types of situations carefully.Its crazy to think that theres only a game or two left for a lot of the kids this season (apart from making finals) after the first half of the season seemed to drag on.Plenty on here have called for it but a home and away 2nd half of the year seems a no brainer for future years.

[Taffy]

It can be viewed as a bad thing as well as clubs chase results over development but its damned if you do damned if you dont isnt it.I have no problem whatsoever with players who have been playing higher ages all year getting put back in for finals as clubs should be encouraged and rewarded for having players who are able to play up a year

Well won't be eligible for finals as per rules, but anyone who tries to tell me that coaches and clubs only care about results now because there is promotion and relegation are kidding themselves.

6.10. Youth Finals Eligibility
(a) The grade a Player has played the highest percentage of their Matches in is the lowest grade in
which they are eligible to participate in the Final’s Series.

[sapdad]

Well won't be eligible for finals as per rules, but anyone who tries to tell me that coaches and clubs only care about results now because there is promotion and relegation are kidding themselves.

Thanks for that info,I had no idea that was the requirement.

[Gman]

What I find frustrating is clubs playing goalkeepers down purely to secure points when a younger keeper is available to play up. I have no idea why NNSWF allow this to continually happen.

[Taffy]

What I find frustrating is clubs playing goalkeepers down purely to secure points when a younger keeper is available to play up. I have no idea why NNSWF allow this to continually happen.

It is odd that Northern do allow an overage keeper to play down an age, when they have a keeper in the age below. Not allowed to be done for outfield players, why keepers?

[The Hacker]

It is odd that Northern do allow an overage keeper to play down an age, when they have a keeper in the age below. Not allowed to be done for outfield players, why keepers?

I know a club that was denied the request when the correct age child and the age below were injured so instead of a kid playing down 1 age they had to bring a kid up 2 ages guess what the result was.
The kid playing down was only 2 months from being qualified. Double standards Northern

[Imyourhero]

Northern has been a mess this year with policies and processes such as these not well thought out & no pragmatism to support safe and competitive football each weekend. Should policies such as these not be clear & thoughtful? Furthermore, greater structure to outline suspensions etc for u18s & senior football needs to be a focal point. I've heard many examples of u18s players copping suspensions via red cards or yellow card accumulated in seniors without being allowed to serve suspensions in those grades, but also not being able to safely play without fear of northern changing rules. Many examples of inconsistent application with many times young players missing the chance to play up, or down, & ultimately missing more potential games than the suspension actually indicated.

Policies should be aimed at maximising games. Of course players need to take punishment for incidences however over-punishing due to inconsistent understanding or development of policy is not a supportive environment for the development of young footballers.

[Addios]

Northern has been a mess this year with policies and processes such as these not well thought out & no pragmatism to support safe and competitive football each weekend. Should policies such as these not be clear & thoughtful? Furthermore, greater structure to outline suspensions etc for u18s & senior football needs to be a focal point. I've heard many examples of u18s players copping suspensions via red cards or yellow card accumulated in seniors without being allowed to serve suspensions in those grades, but also not being able to safely play without fear of northern changing rules. Many examples of inconsistent application with many times young players missing the chance to play up, or down, & ultimately missing more potential games than the suspension actually indicated.

Policies should be aimed at maximising games. Of course players need to take punishment for incidences however over-punishing due to inconsistent understanding or development of policy is not a supportive environment for the development of young footballers.

Notwithstanding many younger refs are not totally familiar with the rules and are extrememly underdeveloped for the role that NNSW have placed them in.
They are too scared to control the game. Then the players take the suspension through frustration.

I agree with zero tolerance/abuse but this needs to be balanced with knowledgeable & competent match control.

[sapdad]

Notwithstanding many younger refs are not totally familiar with the rules and are extrememly underdeveloped for the role that NNSW have placed them in.

I cant disagree with your post more.I would overwhelmingly back any NNSW qualified referee to know more about the current laws and interpretations in a quiz with current coaches and players.You are so wrong and its not even close.Most major rules have changed in the last 10 years and the overwhelming majority of players,coaches and especially spectators have no idea they are now different.NNSW refs are coached to apply the current rules not how they were back in the day.Stop blaming refs for poor behaviour from players and officials.

[sapdad]

It is odd that Northern do allow an overage keeper to play down an age, when they have a keeper in the age below. Not allowed to be done for outfield players, why keepers?

Id say its because its a specialised position and most age groups would not keep 2 keepers in their squad (where other positions can be filled easier).I dont think its a massive issue in the 15s to 18s if a keeper plays down,but ive seen clubs having to play JDL keepers in 13s which doesnt seem like the best idea if a keeper is legitimately injured.I have seen clubs be granted permission to play keepers down in the case of broken bones and longer term injuries which has never really presented an issue.For sure they seem to judge it on a case by case issue though which makes it hard to look consistent.

[Izzy]

Well won't be eligible for finals as per rules, but anyone who tries to tell me that coaches and clubs only care about results now because there is promotion and relegation are kidding themselves.

Highest percentage is a pretty rubbery term in my opinion. If a kid is on the team sheet but doesn't step on the pitch does that mean they have 'played'? I suspect there are plenty of examples of players playing up that also have their name on their correct age team sheet with no intention of playing. I am always surprised by how many upsets there are in the finals series, and I suspect this issue has a bit to do with it.