Junior NPL to reach more players
Football West News
Seven clubs will be accepted into an expanded Junior National Premier Leagues WA competition for the 2016 season.
Ellenbrook United, Fremantle City, Mandurah City, Melville City, Quinns, Rockingham City and South West Phoenix were successful in their applications to join the elite junior tier, subject to meeting all criteria by February 29, 2016.
These clubs will field a Junior NPL team in each of five age groups from U12 to U16 alongside the existing 12 NPL clubs.
Increasing the Junior NPL from 12 to 19 teams is designed to improve the game’s elite level with particular emphasis on youth development, and in doing so, meet the long-term strategic aim of improving Australian football’s position on the world stage.
A key objective was to provide players in outlying metropolitan and regional areas access to the development pathway, and also to create more opportunities for players in areas currently not adequately serviced by the NPL structure.
Football West will include the new Junior NPL teams in a revised fixture framework for the 2016 season.
Football West Chief Executive Peter Hugg said the latest expansion was an important step in the ongoing development of the structure of WA’s top football competition.
“The aim of the NPL is to improve the standard of coaching, playing and the administration of football across the board,” Hugg said.
“The successful applicants have bought into the NPL philosophy and we expect they will contribute greatly to our game’s bright future.
“In 2016, an extra 560 players will benefit from the NPL and its aims. There will be 35 more positions for accredited coaches and seven technical directors and all will be following FFA’s National Curriculum and, therefore, will be contributing to the advancement of WA football.
“Those clubs unsuccessful in their application should not be discouraged from continuing to push towards NPL standards to ensure they are in the best possible position to achieve top-tier status when applications reopen in future years.”
Click here to read more about NPL Junior expansion.
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