Age Rules Strengthen Womens Pathway
Words: Staff Writers
Image: Albert Perez
Football Queensland has confirmed changes to the squad rules in PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland female competitions for the 2016 season.
The announced changes will see the previous Senior Women’s and Youth Women’s squads effectively merged at all PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland clubs for the upcoming season.
The format of the Under 13 Girls and Under 15 Girls age groups will remain unchanged for the 2016 season.
The new squad rules are designed to further concentrate the talent in Queensland’s elite Women’s club competition and further strengthen the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland’s role as a development pathway to the Westfield W-League.
Under the new rules, the PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Women’s Competition will comprise 12 Clubs, with each squad predominantly constituting players aged under 20. Five players aged 20 or over will be allowed in each squad, ensuring that the player development pathway continues for those on the verge of the Westfield W-League.
In 2015, 70 per cent of PlayStation 4 NPL Queensland Senior and Youth Women’s players were aged 20 years or younger while 50 per cent of Senior and Youth Women’s players were 18 years or younger.
The new age rules will ensure that 75 per cent of players in Women’s squads will be reserved for players in the crucial stages of their development.
Football Queensland Chief Operating Officer Graham Lee said the decision was a positive step in the continuing evolution of female football under the PlayStation 4 National Premier Leagues structure.
“This outcome offers the best of both worlds. It continues the development pathway for players coming out of the junior divisions but also allows for older players on the verge of the W-League to continue playing at the highest level,” Mr Lee explained.
“There is still significant scope for players aged 20 and over to continue on the pathway, and it is envisioned that many will take on important mentoring roles within squads for the benefit of the younger players coming through.”
“Football Queensland believes these rules will ensure a highly quality, vibrant and youthful NPL Women’s competition in 2016 and beyond with increased competition for places at all clubs,” Mr Lee concluded.
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