AFL Townsville sustainability measures announced.
A raft of exciting new sustainability measures have today been announced by AFL Queensland to ensure footy in Townsville continues to go from strength to strength.
The new measures will see all senior clubs in Townsville fielding a team in every age group by season 2024.
Club leaders, AFL Queensland officials, and the AFLT Advisory Board have developed a strategy that will ensure the long-term health and sustainability of the competition and clubs over the next three years.
The strategy encompasses:
a) addressing the current imbalance in junior and youth competitions,
b) building a sustainable youth girls and colts competition,
c) developing clear participation pathways at all clubs,
d) reducing the vulnerability of the men’s reserve grade competition during times of adversity, particularly when clubs do not have an underpinning youth boys’ structure; and
e) ensuring every club has an Auskick program.
AFL Queensland Community Football Manager, Barry Gibson, said it was fantastic the competition now had a clear plan to lead the game forward.
“The group determined that the equalisation of players across all clubs was critical to achieving the objective of all clubs having a team in every age group by 2024,” he said.
“It was agreed that clubs wishing to participate in senior competitions must be accountable for investing in junior and youth football to ensure a flow of players into senior football.”
To achieve this objective all senior clubs will be subject to the following licence conditions:
1) In season 2021 and beyond, no club can field a second team in any competitive youth age competition until all clubs have a full complement of teams.
2) In season 2021 and beyond, team registration numbers will be capped at 28 per club for all competitive age groups.
3) In season 2021, all senior clubs must have a club Auskick program, U9s, U11s, U13s and U15s team.
4) In season 2022, all senior clubs must have a club Auskick program, U9s, U11s, U13s, U15s and a youth girls’ team.
5) By 2024 and for every season thereafter, all senior clubs must have a team in every age group and a club Auskick program.
To compliment the new sustainability measures, several other key initiatives will be implemented for the 2021 season, including a significant change for women’s football.
“After a sustained period of building and growing women’s football through a mid-week competition, the next evolution of women’s football will see the current six teams bookend the traditional Saturday football schedule,” said Mr Gibson.
“The move of women to Saturday provides countless benefits to clubs, whilst the late afternoon timeslot provides even greater awareness to the strength of female football in Townsville.”
Colts football for players in the male under 17 age group, will move to Wednesday night where they will be aligned with youth girls football.
“Understanding the challenges with 16+ youth age retention across all sports, the Wednesday night offering will be different to the traditional Saturday offering of two nights of training and a full season of Saturday commitments,” said Mr Gibson.
“The new offering, which will feature a shorter season and 60-minute games, will focus on eliminating the barriers to participation by lessening the time commitment required and freeing up weekends.”
“Similarly, the mid-week offering provides opportunities for athletes from other sports to play mid-week footy.”
Anyone player, parent or coach wanting further information is encouraged to contact their club President.
Ends:
AFL Queensland
Cansdale Street, Yeronga QLD 4104 Telephone: 61 7 3033 5400 visit aflq.com.au
All correspondence to P O Box 3132 Yeronga LPO QLD 4104 ABN: 66 090 629 342
