Quote Originally Posted by sapdad View Post
So this is where your system falls apart.Theres (hopefully) 24 under 13s teams each year.11 games,no matter how you assign them isnt an even playing field.Making an assessment based on the previous years 13s is essentially what they do now and you dont think the current system is fair.Judging off JDL results is pointless and undermines the point of JDL.Plus most clubs have 22/24 kids in 12s JDL they will get whittled down to 15/16 for under 13s.You just got finished telling us that Weston lost a few players and were way worse off but cutting between 6-8 kids per club is a bigger drop in numbers how do we know they will be the same level as JDL 12s?The answer is we dont,and it shows again that while the pursuit of ultimate fairness should be praised,this system by team every year just doesnt make things any fairer that the current one while adding just as many problems if not more.

Firstly, they are all just suggestions mate
(Rest assured I have no influence with Northern)

But to your points, it is not impossible to grade like for like out of the season of SAP/JDL games, without ruining what is the purpose of this existing system (I have read through the entire curriculum, and spoken to Ron Smith who ran the much loved AIS system, and was instrumental in the documentation of the curriculum?this will not impact in any meaningful way, I assure you).

I don?t think most teams have 2 JDL teams.
I think you'll find even fewer clubs have 2 JDL teams moving forward due to the new rating system that is landing next season. I know one ?large? club has already advised their parents that they will only be in a position to carry through 1 JDL team now, as they won't be able to meet the requirements for gold status of their program (the status that allows two JDL teams per age/gender group).

I don?t get your point re: Weston?so now any talented kids they have will have to run away earlier, because those coming into 13s know there is a risk they?ll spend half the year in tier 2 (through absolutely no fault of their own)?so just fodder for poaching!

It absolutely makes things fairer, and ensures the best possible standard of matches at the various levels, like for like. Your criticism that it is unfair for 13s (because, ?how do you judge their appropriate level?), but right now we have a system that is unfair for many age groups who have found themselves shifted into Division 2 and 3, and indeed for the very poor performers in Div 1 who have had an absolutely terrible year!