Dude, I get it, I understand what the issues are surrounding referee retention. And yes my son is a ref.Originally Posted by sapdad
It is just a bit hard to take when one of the AR has no shoes on and has literally no idea what he is doing or where he should be standing. We should be able to do better than this.
I dont think any from this particular team left but there was another example of a team that did well in the first phase but the club went down and a few of their better players left.Not an idea outcome at all.
This is a great point and hopefully something that can be built upon.Theres some clubs out there with really good JDL programs that are starting to translate into good 13s and 14s teams.The hope is always to have those kids stay all the way through so if there are some incentives or rules around retention it might push all clubs to develop rather than recruit.But I understand its always a balance and sometimes kids just want to move clubs.Obviously theres no foolproof solution.
Clubs mandated to having 'x' amount of their registered players made to do the course and be active refs or at the very least have incentives for clubs that do have a lot of refs on their books.Nothing is going to change until we get a lot more kids (or parents) signing up to do the job.Its a simple equation at the moment.Not enough refs=more gamedays like what you just experienced.Everyone agrees no one wants that.
There are neglected teams and players in a lot of clubs, including tier 1.
How does a club grow out of div 2 or 3...best players constantly poached, attraction of lower division to bring in good footballers (lack of), team success that an individual can impact drowned away by a collectivised under performance
However, putting through a good batch of say, 13s from your JDL can attract more success...and this is how clubs can improve as a whole
As for how it would work for the next year, simple, lower team in each grade is relegated, other promoted into their place...it's not hard
My understanding is that most of the PYLB games were set down for Saturday. With many youth referees also playing PYLB, that would mean there were not enough available refs to handle all the games. Then on Sunday, with far fewer PYLB games, there were apparently new and young refs wanting to officiate and not enough young age games to give them. If this is true, a more equitable split of fixtures would help to get more games covered with official refs. And attracting new refs from outside those that play youth football would also assist.
That’s a poor reflection on Northern & the home club (assuming they knew there were no refs appointed) than the guy who jumped in and had a go. He’s likely rocked up to watch his kid & got thrown in the deep end. Good on him for having a crack, but it’s the club & association that have to be better here
That again is a poor reflection on Northern. They need to balance the schedule better
Focus on all your teams, put in a good culture that makes most players want to stay. A lot of Div 2 clubs are no longer losing all the best players every year under this new model and are strengthing, look at how Charlestown, Southy and Kahibah are now going. Other clubs showing strong improvement and getting stronger.
And where do the 13s start?As for how it would work for the next year, simple, lower team in each grade is relegated, other promoted into their place...it's not hard
I think clubs are given the sheet of referee appointments when they come out on Tuesdays.Clubs should know at that stage if they have refs or not but to be fair to northern and the clubs there are a lot of changes made between the original allocation and who turns up on gamedays.This is down to referees getting their availabilities wrong,the ongoing issue with registering referees and last minute transport/sickness issues.In regards to your other comment about the schedule,I am certain grounds and games are allocated around November/December for the season but referees cant be locked in til pretty much the Monday of each game week.Theres not much anyone can do to plan any further out.I join you in applauding the referee who stepped up.
I don't think that is accurate at all
Kids have still moved in to tier 1, and those who haven't are often dreaming about it (obviously hard to squeeze someone out in a division above you (a number of those clubs don't even have trials for those kids to be looked at)
I think we'll find again, that the same 4 clubs going down, will again come back up. Just like last season.
I don't believe any of the clubs you mentioned are improving at a rate that will see them enter tier 1...just like last year, they will have a tough time overcoming the bottom 4 of tier 1s when they go down (the longer phase2 might improve their chances though, more time to acclimatise to a higher pace of play, nerves, etc)...Having said that, it would be exciting if they did. The best chance of that would be individual teams being judged on their own merit
No one is saying kids don't move, just that all the best ones aren't leaving every year. I know of players that were approached by Div 1 clubs that have decided to stay, before they would've gone. Div 1 kids also happy to leave for the League B teams.
We shouldn't be expecting clubs to improve overnight, the U16s and U18s started before the new system, even the u15s were the first year of this system. The gap did close from the first year to the second year.
Considering teams can and do change it should be a club thing, that way clubs are held responsible for going up and down and not just focusing on one team or ignoring others. Want to be promoted or stay up? The clubs need to work on it.
Still like to know how the U13s would start each year if it is done at a team level.
First...does Edgeworth not care about their 13s and 18s? Because they are both pointless?
Second, u13s can be graded based on either U12s form...or, a grading mini comp at the beginning of the 13s season...doesn't seem an insurmountable problem, TBH
Heard the Club doesnt know how to retain players. Coaches do their own if they care. JDL has little idea about recruiting. I think they still send letters.
I don't know about Edgeworth, but if what the other poster said is true, then it shows why it should be a whole club thing. Clubs need to look at ways they can improve, not just say we have some good teams and some bad teams and it doesn't matter. Perhaps look at why they lose players (the two groups that would be in 18s were very good, why have a lot of those players all left the club?) and what they can do to retain and attract.
As for your 13s idea, considering a lot of clubs have 2 12s which team are we basing form on? Some clubs have an A and B, others make the teams even. A grading mini comp, when? January? February? Then get the fixtures out? You're making it more complicated.
A bit of tongue in cheek but recruitment isnt as good as it could or should be. A current div 1 club should be a bit more diligent to ensure all grades can have a crack. Most other areas are ok.
I can understand that div C clubs will struggle to retain kids regardless of how well they do it. Nature of the beast.
Last edited by Addios; 29-04-2025 at 12:31 PM.
I wonder if the fact that Stags/Lakes/Westy and Southy are all stronger in youth than they were a few years back.Maybe theres kids who live out that way either going to or staying with those clubs instead of going to Edgeworth.
Edgeworth 16s are a very good side who are well drilled and playing quality football. Their coach who I believe is new this season has certainly made a huge difference, but OMG he wouldn't be every parent's (or players) cup of tea. Very aggressive to his players and opposition coaches etc.
Absolutely well coached, which is conducive to quality football. He?s just doing the right thing by these boys at a critical stage, as they transition to senior football.
You don’t need to be a great coach to win these days, just play older players in your age group and find loopholes and expose them like valentine do. Some teams have 2 players that are older playing down. What happened to giving younger kids a shot and developing? Oh no no it’s about coaches ego these days. It’s plain old cheating that’s what it is.
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