Women and Girls' Premier Competitions
Northern NSW Football is delighted to announce a plan to evolve its NPL Women’s NNSW and Premier Youth League Girls competitions as part of the broader progression of its premier competitions across northern NSW.
NNSWF will decouple its NPLW NNSW and PYLG competitions from 2026 to enable increased accessibility to the highest level of football for aspirational clubs as well as targeted improvements at each level. Applications for clubs to seek entry into these competitions for the 2026 season will open on 8 March 2025.
Phase One – Laying the Foundations
Phase one will focus on four distinct action items that will set the stage for the successful expansion and evolution of the NPLW NNSW and PYLG competitions in the future while fostering an inclusive environment for metro and regional clubs.
Phase one will consist of four key action items including:
- Decoupling of youth and senior football
Decoupling the NPLW NNSW and PYLG competitions will allow NNSWF and clubs to make youth-focused decisions to prioritise nurturing talent across the region in isolation of senior football. - Opening applications for entry into PYLG
Applications for the PYLG 2026 season will open to all clubs across northern NSW in March 2025. By mid-2025, the league’s structure will be confirmed. The application process will remain consistent for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. - Opening applications for entry into NPLW NNSW
Applications for the NPLW 2026 season will open to all clubs across northern NSW in March 2025. By mid-2025, the league’s structure will be confirmed. The application process will remain consistent for the 2027 and 2028 seasons. - Communication of the evolution plan
A comprehensive communication strategy will articulate the goals of phase one and provide a clear vision for future growth in female football competitions.
Phase Two – Competition Evolution
Phase two is a long-term strategy that builds on the foundations laid in phase one and focuses on improving the competitive structure of female premier competitions in the future.
Phase two will consist of three key action items including:
- Exploring the introduction of promotion and relegation within senior women’s competitions.
- A PYLG league structure that mirrors the one already in place in the PYL Boys competition.
- Connecting NPLW NNSW to zone community competitions to create a seamless competition pyramid.
Key Dates
- Applications open for NPL Women's NNSW, PYL (Girls and Boys) and JDL (Girls and Boys): 8 March 2025
- Applications close: 31 May 2025
- Assessment period: 2 June to 22 June 2025
- Confirmation of new clubs for 2026: By 31 July 2025
Complete NPL Women's NNSW application HERE