2025 Premier Youth Leagues

[Taffy]

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

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.

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

And where do the 13s start?

[sapdad]

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.

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.

[WOW2.0]

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?

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

[Taffy]

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.

[WOW2.0]

...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

[Addios]

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.

[Taffy]

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

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.

[Addios]

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.

[sapdad]

A bit of tongue in cheet 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 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.

[Izzy]

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.

[prawnhead]

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.

[Dreamtime Yowie]

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.

[Taffy]

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.

Their coach has played over 100 1st grade games for Edgeworth, and has coached their youth teams for many years, including last year's 15s.

[sapdad]

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.

Other than the biological maturation rule what loopholes are you talking about?

[Izzy]

Their coach has played over 100 1st grade games for Edgeworth, and has coached their youth teams for many years, including last year's 15s.

Good to know, thanks. He certainly has them playing well and would have to be one of the favourites at this early stage.

[Dreamtime Yowie]

Other than the biological maturation rule what loopholes are you talking about?

Biological my ass, the kids don?t struggle in own age don?t worry about that. One is the captain of the above age and only just came back from the Jets system and more then holds his own in 16s. Plays full games vs the top sides in that age.

[Taffy]

Biological my ass, the kids don?t struggle in own age don?t worry about that. One is the captain of the above age and only just came back from the Jets system and more then holds his own in 16s. Plays full games vs the top sides in that age.

So his he playing his age?

[Taffy]

Other than the biological maturation rule what loopholes are you talking about?

You can play keepers down an age group if your keeper is injured. Gets used all the time, one team is playing their 16s keeper in the 15s because their 15s keeper is out long term. Should just be the 14s keeper they play but Northern have approved it.

[Dreamtime Yowie]

No he’s playing both ages. Normally gets dropped back to play the stronger teams. More than holds his own in own age group and played at Jets. Yes exactly give the younger keeper some experience. This older keeper garbage is a joke. And I know several clubs do it. Shouldn’t be allowed. It’s plain old cheating.

[Addios]

So his he playing his age?

Playing down an age on the "maturation rule" & own age. His old man is the arrogant fool who holds a club position & is making the descisions.