Junior footy players won’t play for premiership points, goalkickers not recorded under SANFL rules
SOME junior footballers will no longer play for premiership points and goalkickers will not be recorded in under-11 from next year, under SANFL rules. HAVE YOUR SAY
SOME junior footballers will no longer play for premiership points and goalkickers will not be recorded in under-11 from next year, under SANFL rules.
The under-6 competition will also be scrapped and team sizes reduced under new league rules aimed at aligning all junior competitions run by the SANFL.
The changes affect 21 clubs that were previously run by the now-defunct North Eastern Metro Junior Football Association and moved under the SANFL’s banner in 2017.
Clubs formally run by the North Eastern Metro Junior Football Association only agreed to a SANFL takeover if they could keep some of their rules.
After a review, the SANFL decided to ensure those were in line with the other 31 junior clubs it will look after as of 2019.
Teams in under-11 can still keep score, although individual goalkickers’ names will not be recorded. Best and fairest awards will also no longer be handed out.
SANFL game development manager Ben Hopkins said the changes would create “consistent match conditions across its junior competition”.
Hopkins said the SANFL involved the clubs in the review process and the rule changes were also based on an AFL junior match-day guide.
“It has been shown the introduction of premierships and individual recognition can negatively impact the experience for juniors and lead them to discontinue their involvement,” Hopkins said.
“The focus at these age groups should be on skill development and enjoyment.”
Children turning five or six next year will now be encouraged to participate in Auskick.
Other changes included capping the number of players in under-7 and under-8 teams to nine, down from 12.
Under-9 and under-10 teams would also be reduced from 15 to 12 players.
Hopkins said team numbers were being reduced to give players “greater opportunity” to get their hands on the ball.
He said it would also allow youngsters more space and time to develop their skills.
Angle Vale Football Club junior co-ordinator Troy Treverton was opposed to stopping under-11s from playing for premiership points.
He said reducing the number of players allowed on each team would put pressure on the club to find more volunteers and could lead youngsters being turned away.
Treverton’s son Logan, 8, will move into the club’s under-11s next year.
“The clubs are going to have to create more sides to accommodate the numbers and obviously having more sides means more coaches, more volunteers,” Treverton said.
“It’s not ideal and it will cause a bit of chaos over the next few months as we try and plan for that.
“Under-11s has always been scored for us.
“I think there should be a winner and a loser in that age group and I also believe it should be implemented earlier.”
Tea Tree Gully junior president Paul Rucioch said the club would lose money following the axing of its under-6 teams.
“The premiership points I’m not so fussed about, but I know some of the kids and parents aren’t too happy about transitioning into that,” Rucioch said.
“It does make it more consistent, so I understand that.
“My concern is more with the removal of the under-6 competition and we are forced to go into Auskick.
“We have two under-6 teams made up of 20 kids and they usually pay about $200 a head.
“The club won’t see any of that money.”
Unley’s under-11s have never played for premiership points. Junior co-ordinator Brenton Milewski said it made sense the SANFL was aligning the remaining clubs with the rest of the competition.