Understanding Football in 2014 and the Acronyms – NPL, BPL, WBPL, BJL, SSF Football in Australia has changed! In 2013, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has introduced an Australia-wide elite program for juniors (male and female) and seniors (male and female). Football Brisbane (FB) has also changed the competition structure in 2014. This document attempts to simplify and clarify the acronyms and the football structure in Brisbane in 2014. National Premier League (NPL) The NPL is an FFA competition for elite players. The program will be rolled out over the next 3 or 4 years. The program is run in each state with the competition including both Capital and regional areas. The structure in all states is the same. There is a possibility of ‘National Championship’ style finals at the end of the season. The program in Qld is administered by Football Qld (FQ). There are 14 NPL Clubs in Qld: Brisbane City Football Club (The Gap FC partner with Brisbane City to run the NPL Girls/Womens) Brisbane Strikers (Souths United FC partner with Brisbane Strikers run the NPL Girls/Womens as Souths Strikers) CQFC Energy FNQ FC Mackay Crusaders Moreton Bay United Northern Fury Olympic FC Palm Beach Sharks Redlands United Football Club Sunshine Coast Fire SWQ Thunder Western Pride Football Club Wide Bay Revolution. Each of these clubs has an FQ determined Catchment Area. Clubs have therefore been allocated to a specific NPL Club (based on total number of players rather than pure geographical considerations for the Brisbane clubs). For Souths United, our NPL Club is Brisbane Strikers who operate from Meakin Park, Slacks Creek and Perry Park, Albion. Each of the 14 NPL Clubs must have the following teams: Male Female Senior Men’s Senior Women’s Youth Under 18s Under 17s Under 16s Under 15’s Under 15s Under 14s Under 13s Under 13s Under 12s For 2011 and 2012, Souths United was one of three Brisbane Clubs that conducted the then elite program for girls: Junior Premier League (JPL). The age groups were Under 14s and Under 16s. Souths United are very proud to continue to host the NPL Girls’/Women’s teams on behalf of and in partnership with Brisbane Strikers for the 2014 season. There are a number of rules imposed on NPL Clubs: The Director of Football is charged with overseeing the development of all players within their catchment area The Senior Mens and Youth teams will travel the State and compete against all of the other 13 clubs The juniors will compete on a geographic basis. For Souths Strikers and Brisbane Strikers, this is SEQ (Brisbane City, Moreton Bay, Olympic FC, Palm Beach Sharks, Redlands United, Sunshine Coast Fire, SW Qld Thunder, Western Pride and Wide Bay Revolution). Souths Strikers’ Women’s team will also compete only in SEQ. All teams must train three times a week There is only one team per club per age group Minimum coaching qualifications for each age group. The NPL Program is the ONLY pathway to representative football ie QAS, A-League and W-League, Socceroos and Matildas. Players from outside the NPL Program i.e. at a club within the catchment area, may have the opportunity of training with an NPL team and perhaps being borrowed to play for the NPL team if there have been injuries or school camps etc. This is the role of the NPL Director of Football – to identify players with the potential to play NPL who would benefit from further development. Also, catchment Clubs are able to recommend to the NPL Director of Football a player of interest and is considered to have the potential to develop further through this program. A list of Catchment Clubs is available on our website under the NPL tab. New rules govern junior selection trials for 2014. These are also detailed on our website under the NPL tab. Souths United has an excellent rapport with the Technical Director at Brisbane Strikers and will work very closely with him to identify talented players. MEN’S COMPETITIONS – FOOTBALL BRISBANE Brisbane Premier League (BPL) In 2013, Football Brisbane restructured the Premier League competition and re-badged others. There are 12 clubs in the new BPL: Albany Creek Brisbane Force Capalaba Eastern Suburbs Ipswich Knights Logan Lightning North Star Qld Lions Rochedale Rovers Peninsula Power UQFC Wolves FC Each of these clubs must field the following teams: Male Female Senior Mens Reserves Under 18 Under 16 No requirement for any female teams Under 15 Under 14 Under 13 Under 12 Whilst the BPL is the highest competition offered by Football Brisbane, it is NOT a pathway to the NPL Program. The junior component of the BPL structure will be removed in 2015. The new competition Structure for 2015 will be known as BPL for Senior age groups, U16 and older and; Super Youth League for Under 12 – Under 15. Other FB Competitions Capital League 2nd tier men’s competition (Previously known as Premier Divisions 1, 2 and 3) This competition also has a Reserves team in each division. Souths are in Capital League 1. This competition is the next level competition to the BPL and promotion to the BPL competition in 2015 is afforded as per the 2014 Rules of Competition when released by Football Brisbane. City League 3rd tier men’s competition (Previously known as Metro League) Souths United will field City League team/s dependent on player numbers. This competition is also NOT a pathway but considered a social community competition. WOMEN’S COMPETITIONS – FOOTBALL BRISBANE The SEQ Diamond League and the FB Sapphire League will not exist in 2014. Neither will an Under 18’s Girls competition. Brisbane Women’s Premier League (BWPL) This is the highest competition offered by Football Brisbane for women. There will be 12 teams in the competition. Clubs that were in the 2013 SEQ Diamond League or the 2013 FB Sapphire League will be invited to compete in this competition in 2014. Should vacancies occur, invitations will be offered to the 2013 City League Division 1 clubs in the order in which they finished the 2013 season. Whilst the BWPL is the highest competition offered by Football Brisbane, it is NOT a direct pathway to the NPL Program. NPL Women’s will commence 2014. City League 2nd tier women’s competition Clubs that were in both the 2013 SEQ Diamond League and the FB Sapphire League will be invited to compete in the 2014 City League Division 1. Vacancies will be filled by inviting clubs that were in the 2013 City League Division 1 competition. These invitations will be offered in the order in which they finished the 2013 season. Usually comprises of Divisions 1 to 6 depending on number of teams nominating to play. This competition is also NOT a pathway but offers promotion opportunity to the BWPL for top placed teams in Women’s City League Division 1. Women’s City League Divisions 2 – 6 is considered a social community competition. JUNIOR COMPETITIONS – FOOTBALL BRISBANE Brisbane Premier League (BPL) Refer to the information for the Men’s Brisbane Premier League competition. Brisbane Junior League (BJL) 2nd tier junior competition (male) NPL and BPL clubs are excluded from this level of competition. Encompasses Under 13s, Under 14s, Under 15s and Under 16s. Will include Under 12s from 2014. Team selection criteria for placement in the 2014 U12 BJL Competition will be announced in forthcoming weeks. Souths United will be fielding teams in the Under 13s, Under 14s, Under 15s and Under 16s in 2014. It is Souths United intention to also seek placement in the 2014 U12 BJL Competition. BJL Teams placed 1st or 2nd on the ladder in 2014, will be promoted to the Super Youth League commencing in 2015. Teams compete both north and south of the river. This competition is also NOT a direct pathway, however Souths United players identified for NPL potential will be referred to Brisbane Strikers’ Technical Director for consideration and recommended to participate in future trials. Divisional Juniors (Male) Encompasses Divisions 1 to 5 in all age groups from Under 12 to Under 16. The number of divisions is determined by the number of teams nominated. Teams compete on the southside of the river. This competition is also NOT a pathway or an elite competition. However Souths United players identified for NPL potential will be referred to Brisbane Strikers’ Technical Director for consideration and recommended to participate in future trials. Divisional Juniors (Female) Encompasses Divisions 1 to 3 in all age groups from Under 12 to Under 16. The number of divisions is determined by the number of teams nominated. Teams often comprise of composite age groups. Player age policies now offer flexibility for female players playing up two age groups. Teams compete on both the north and south of the river. This is being reviewed to see whether northside and southside competitions are viable. This competition is also NOT a pathway or an elite competition. However Souths United players identified for NPL potential will be referred to Brisbane Strikers’ Technical Director for consideration and recommended to participate in future trials. Small Sided Football (SSF) Encompasses the Under 6 to Under 11 age groups. Clubs have the option of running in-house competitions (rules regarding minimum player numbers) or inter-club competitions. The teams are non-competitive and it is against FFAs policy for results to be published or tables kept. Under 6 to Under 8 teams are generally selected on friendship groupings. There are three different competition levels for Under 9 to Under 11: Komodo Dragon Players are more competent requiring minimal/no direction from the Team Leader (Coach) Goanna Competent players requiring direction from the Team Leader (Coach) Gecko New players or players that need more time to learn the game An excellent FFA resource on SSF (philosophy, rules, drills etc) is www.smallsidedfootball.com.au All girls’ teams’ competitions are available for U10 and U11 age groups.