Northern NSW Football has undergone a comprehensive review of its Junior Development League to ensure an effective structure that includes clubs outside the current premier clubs, integrate regional clubs and assess the appropriateness of the current criteria.
The Junior Development League is the pathway competition for girls and boys in the under-9s to under-12s age groups, or the skill acquisition phase, of their development.
Northern NSW Football transitioned from a zone-based SAP model several years ago to a club-based league based on the direction that clubs should be at the heart of player development.
While we firmly believe that a league is a vital component in developing players, Northern NSW Football was not satisfied with our implementation. So, we committed to improving the environment for our next generation of talented players.
Northern NSW Football formed a 12-person JDL working group to provide a recommended path forward with a focus on three elements:
- A new three-tiered merit-based structure
- A criteria for excellence
- Clarification of the JDL’s position on the Talented Player Pathway.
JDL Structure
A new three-tiered merit-based structure of gold, silver and bronze programs, will focus on quality learning environments, improved coaching standards, team numbers linked to program delivery and building off-field capacity of clubs.
This will create a more transparent structure where clubs can provide boys and girls with equal opportunities to develop and progress through the Talented Player Pathway.
Criteria for Excellence
The bronze criteria outlines the minimum requirements to be part of the JDL, while the gold program criteria is set to represent a club working at what Northern NSW Football believes to be national best practice.
This criteria is intended to raise the bar in our collective delivery of football for talented players aged 9 to 12 and covers areas such as:
- Club personnel requirements
- Youth development plans
- Coach education
- Player retention
- Program length
- Facilities
- Player feedback
- Child protection.
Detailed information regarding the number of teams per age group per club, coaching qualifications, player and coach development, development plans, talent development and operations are available below.
Evolution of the JDL
The JDL’s evolution aims to:
- Clarify its position on the Talented Pathways
- Enable parity between boys and girls within the JDL
- Align with Football Australia’s Talent Development Scheme
Transition
A number of coach and technical support elements have started to roll out. NNSWF will start to transition to the new gold, silver, bronze program status implementation from 2025.
These include:
- A minimum of one team in every age group, with a maximum of two teams per age group only if the previous age group had two teams in 2024
- All age groups at a club must contain the same number of teams. This will apply to all programs regardless of status.
There will be more opportunities for girls in for clubs that have existing girls programs in 2025 and for all clubs wishing to enter girls programs who have the support of their member zone in 2026.
In 2026, gold programs will be permitted to have a maximum of two teams per age group. While silver and bronze programs can enter one team in every age group.
JDL for Girls
The JDL Review made it clear that there was a gap in the girls program. We are committed to providing a level playing field and, with this in mind, we will expand the JDL program for girls.
We will provide opportunities for existing premier clubs that have girls players registered in community competitions to apply for a JDL licence for the 2025 season.
All other clubs will be invited to apply for a JDL girls licence for the 2026 season onward.
This approach was taken to help ensure community football clubs would not be cannibalised and lose large numbers of players.
Application Process
June 2024 – Applications to open for the 2025 season
September 2024 – NNSWF to confirm clubs’ status
September/October 2024 - Once a program has been approved, it will be added to the JDL page on the NNSWF website. This page will include a list of approved clubs, their status (gold/silver/bronze) and the registration fee for the program at each age level.
Applications will open to new clubs in 2026, with the ongoing application process for new clubs to run between June and August in the year preceding the year the club would enter the JDL program.
Clubs already accredited to participate in the JDL will not be required to apply annually. Their status will be monitored and maintained annually.
Annual confirmation of JDL status will occur between July and August from 2025 onwards.
FAQ
Got a question? Let us know at reception@northernnswfootball.com.au and we will add the answer to the FAQs section.
While the criteria was designed to be applied equally to boys and girls, there were notable differences in the program prior to the review.
This new proposal will allow JDL girls programs to enter under-9s teams for the first time and up to two teams in each age group for the first time.
Several clubs were also looking to enter JDL girls teams in the future. To ensure an appropriate transition time while growing the number of girls in the program, 2025 will be open to current premier clubs that already have girls teams within their club structure. This will allow clubs to enter the girls JDL without diluting player numbers, with new clubs invited to apply for a JDL licence for 2026.
From season 2026, any community club that has the approval of their respective member zone can apply for entry into the JDL. Clubs will be included in the JDL provided they meet the minimum standards set out for the bronze level.
To bridge the gap in playing level and coaching between community and premier football, there are several initiatives that can benefit member zones and football generally.
There are opportunities to partner with member zones to provide further coaching resources, which can benefit local community clubs and JDL clubs within their zone boundary.
These coaches could implement an underpinning Skill Acquisition talent support model similar to the current TSP for under-13s to 16s.
The potential introduction of a skill acquisition phase tournament for zones/community teams will allow players outside the JDL to have access to more playing opportunities and play more fixtures against children of a similar level.
NNSWF will support clubs through technical advisor club visits. On behalf of NNSWF, technical advisors will provide written feedback to the appropriate technical directors on these visits and devise an action plan in conjunction with the club in preparation for the next visit.
NNSWF will provide technical and administrative support through templates for yearly plans, player and coach feedback forms and individual session plans.
NNSWF will support coach education by delivering free coaching workshops, providing in-house, tailored coach education programs in partnership with technical directors and working closely with these technical directors at specific JDL TD seminars.
Regional JDL gala days, organised by NNSWF, allow NNSWF technical staff to identify talented players and coaches and spend focused time with clubs, providing support on their matchday protocols and behaviour.