The WorkSafe VCFL is pleased to see another ‘brick in the wall’ fall into place in the Castlemaine Kyneton Maryborough Junior Review (CKMJR) process with the acceptance by the Bendigo Junior Football League clubs to change their age groupings for the 2012 season.
This age group change rounds out a wide range of accepted recommendations into the structure of junior football in the region following a comprehensive review process.
WorkSafe VCFL CEO Steven Reaper said that the acceptance of all recommendations in the CKMJF review would see significant changes in junior football to the benefit of the sport into the future and the sustainability of leagues and clubs,
“The VCFL saw these fourteen recommended changes as being necessary to maintain effective and sustainable junior football structures in the region. These changes take a long term view into growing junior football in the Castlemaine, Kyneton and Maryborough regions.” said Reaper.
“The VCFL saw the need for competitions to move to an area wide age and league structure that we believed can better deliver a fluent pathway from Auskick to senior football. This was one measure to overcome barriers to growth and junior development that was hindering existing competitions.”
The highlights of the approved changes from the CKMJF Review included the creation of a new junior league with the merging of the Castlemaine District Junior Football League and the Kyneton District Junior Football League into the now named Midland Junior Football League.
The Midland JFL will field Under 9, Under 11 & Under 13 football grades and are looking to adopt principles from the Next Generation Australian Football Match Policy.
The MJFL will be administered by a 5 person independent commission with secretarial support from the Central Vic Football Hub.
The Bendigo Junior Football League has changed its age groupings to Under 9’s, 10’s, 12’s, 14’s and 16’s.
For the first time, the Castlemaine Football Netball Club will field sides in the Bendigo JFL both at Under 16 and Under 14 level, with Kyneton FNC also completing in these age groups.
The VCFL are also supporting the appointment of junior development co-ordinators at both clubs to assist with the pathways and support to junior footballers.
The Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League has agreed to play football at Under 15 and Under 17.5 level. This change allows for a stronger association and pathway for local clubs and junior players.
Reaper said it was a credit to all involved in the process to institute such wide ranging changes in one sweep,
“I would like to congratulate all stakeholders for the way they have approached the recommended changes to the structure in football in the region.
“Whilst it was a majority view during the interview period that change in some form was necessary to maintain effective and sustainable junior football structures in the region, it takes flexibility, courage and energy to actually make it happen.
“The groundwork has now been done and we look forward to working with all the stakeholders to ensure that the changes are implemented as smoothly as possible in the lead up to the 2012 season and beyond.
“The process has been a thorough one, with a number of VCFL staff and local administrators working on the project from early 2011 to this point. The support doesn’t stop there however, as we are committed to seeing this project through to a successful conclusion in the best interests of the sport in the region.”
For further Information:
Bruce Petering – VCFL Central North West Area Manager – 0439 474 114
Last Modified on 01/06/2014 16:08