Proposed New AFF/NFF Womens Championship

Detailed below from  AFF 's is a proposed new Womens Championship league.  Any member who wishes to comment on any aspect of this proposal should forward there thoughts to by email to idavidson@xtra.co.nz     by 20th January 2012.

PROPOSED NEW JOINT AFF/NORTHERN WOMENS CHAMPIONSHIP COMPETITION

During discussions with Northern Football over a joint Men’s Championship competition (see separate email) the possibility of a joint women’s Championship competition, merging the top women’s competitions within each Federation, also arose.

The concept is that in 2012 a wide division of a total of 16 or 18 or 20 teams could play either a single round robin, or play initially in two parallel divisions, before being split into top and bottom division for a second stage of competition according to position. The exact format of the competition would depend upon the number of teams and the constraints of the winter playing season dates.

For future years either the same format could be run, or 2012 placings could be used to form two divisions from the outset.

Below the top competition each Federation would continue to run further divisions of competition within their own geographical areas, for second and third teams of clubs in the joint competition, and for first teams of clubs not in the joint competition.

Forming a joint competition is seen as having benefits to raising the overall standards of all facets of the women’s game across the whole Auckland region, as well as providing a stepping stone for clubs not in the NRFL to achieve NRFL women’s premier status. The joint championship would also therefore be a competition in which new cluster-entities could compete with a view to preparation for NRFL competition, if they do not feel ready to take the step to NRFL by application immediately.

It should also be noted that the current NFF competition includes North Force (an existing cluster-entity) and under any possible format some teams would be required at some stage in the season therefore to travel away to Whangarei.

RESERVES

Clearly the numbers in the women’s game are not so deep as in the men’s competitions. A mirrored reserves may be an ideal scenario in which to provide a player pathway, possibly with regulations to encourage the step from upper end-youth football to senior women’s football. However, it is recognised that this may be a future aspiration rather than a current reality in other than the larger clubs. We would be interested to hear your views on whether a reserves competition, with or without age restrictions in full or in part (eg reserves need to have x players under 19 or under 17, in squads and on match day teamsheets), is a possibility at present in a joint Championship competition. We would also note that mirrored reserves are not yet implemented in NRFL Women’s Premier competition.

CONSULTATION

Can I ask each club with an interest in this proposal to come back to me asap but in any case before January 23^rd please with answers and any more detailed observations on the following questions? The timescale is intended to give the clubs time to consider the issue even over the holiday period, but if the answers are generally supportive we would implement for the 2012 season.

Is your club generally in favour of the proposal to form a joint NFF/AFF Women’s Championship ? Or not? (We’d like to hear your reasons for support or opposition).

1. Is your club in favour of and able to field a reserves team in addition to the first team in the joint NFF/AFF Championship? In 2012? In future seasons? Would you be in favour of some playing regulations to promote the transition from youth to senior football (eg a minimum number of under-age (u19 or 17) in squads and on match day team sheets)?
2. Do you foresee any pitfalls or fishhooks?
3. What questions arise that you would like to have clarified?

We look forward to hearing from you.

Regards

David

David Parker l CEO l Auckland Football Federation
Office: 09 579 0705 ex 806 l Mobile: 021 759 437 l Web: www.aucklandfootball.org.nz