MEDIA RELEASE
THE retention of footballers making the sometimes daunting transition from junior to
senior level has been the driving force behind the Casey Cardinia Football League’s
decision to change its format starting in 2014.
Currently all teams, except Keysborough, field under 18’s and six of the 10 CCFNL clubs
are represented in the DEVELS combined competition with the Peninsula and Nepean
Football Leagues. This is a great starting base for Casey Cardinia in the development of a
stand-alone 17’s and 19’s competition format that will make the pathway to senior
football a smooth and seamless process for junior footballers.
At present the jump from the top age bracket of a junior club (under 16) to the bottom
age bracket of a senior club (the Devels and under 18) is a daunting prospect for some
footballers. They advance two age groups in one hit, meaning they are forced to play
against bigger bodies and this has impacted on the retention rate of players in recent
years.
The change was initiated by the 10 Casey Cardinia league clubs, whose top-level
administrators have been working closely over the last few months to look at issues
affecting the game.
Keysborough president Manny Scata encapsulated the feeling within the leadership
group.
“From a Keysborough perspective, we are convinced that this structure is more likely to
increase the retention rate of juniors when they transition through to senior football than
the current structure,” Scata said.
“There are two main concerns that juniors and their parents have. The first is advancing
two age groups and the second is the move to a new club. In the proposed model, there
is only one issue to deal with at a time. In the first year, there is the transition to a
senior club, whilst only moving up one age group from U16s to U17s. Then, in the
second year at the club they move up two age groups, at this point they are in familiar
surroundings and also more mature.”
Casey Cardinia is one of three leagues, along with Nepean and Peninsula, run under the
auspice of PCN Sports Alliance, PCN Chief Executive Officer Jeff Jones is fully supportive
of the direction that the Casey Cardinia league clubs are taking.
“Casey Cardinia Football Netball League is committed to a new age group format (17’s
and 19’s) within the CCFNL for season 2014,” Jones said. “We are working closely with our existing clubs and teams (eg U/18’s and u/18’s Development competition) to achieve this.
“These changes have been brought about by the Casey Cardinia football clubs working
together and collaborating for the betterment of the competition as a whole and junior
development. We believe that an under 17, under 19 format will provide the most
suitable pathway for players to continue their football and enter into a senior
competition.
“This format will provide opportunities for players at all levels and abilities to stay in
football, and hopefully keep more young men playing the game.”
Every club was unanimous in their support of the new defined junior pathway within the
CCFNL and this has helped speed up the process, according to Jones.
“I congratulate the 10 club presidents, their committees and all people who were
involved in this decision.”
Last Modified on 24/07/2013 10:38