Football West release comprehensive Junior Football Review

Avatar
Image credit: PxHere website

Football West confirmed the final outcomes of its Junior Football Review, along with the proposed implementation plans for the 2025 season.

The extensive review, which was initiated in early 2023, was led by independent consultants in collaboration with Football West’s Game Development Committee and technical football staff.

According to the infographic breakdown, the review had an initial focus of boys and girls junior competition pathways for u13-u18 including the Junior NPL Boys competition.

Overall, the review covered a broad scope, including competition structure, player development, opportunities and pathways, and standards for club youth development.

Recommendations were shared late last year, paving the way for Phase Two of the review, which took place this year and included a series of workshops with technical staff from across the state, as well as input from clubs, coaches, and the public.

After consultation and a strenuous reviewing process, Football West pledge to make six changes that will be implemented as soon as possible.

Changes:

– A unified Junior Development League for both Junior Boys and Girls U13-U16 competitions, replacing the current Junior NPL structure for boys.

– Two top tier divisions will be created with multiple feeder divisions below, similar to the Football Victoria structure (Introduction of a promotion and relegation system for juniors).

– Creation of a Junior Development Cup and a Junior Community Cup to replace the existing Junior Cup tournaments.

– A strong emphasis on coach education and development across all competitions.

– Establishing of a Junior Community League for teams and players who prefer to participate in local football, replacing the current community junior leagues.

– Separate Boys and Girls Youth Club Championships, open to clubs that excel in youth development and whole-of-club criteria.

The objectives of the new format are to:

– Enhance player growth.

– Guarantee equal competition.

– Offer well-defined and organised competition pathways for junior footballers in WA.

– Motivate, acknowledge, and reward clubs for comprehensive player development, well-being, and fostering a positive club culture.

– Support regions and enable their participation

Conclusion:

This new combined system will help flow the separate divisions and finally create a clear pathway for junior clubs and players to move up based on league results.

The Junior Development League now becomes the premier league for youth players in WA, with a purpose to enhance player development and promote long-term success. It also requires coaches to get a C-Licence minimum in coaching to take over one of the teams, encouraging more people to become licenced coaches and get involved.

Whilst the Community League focuses more on inclusivity, engagement and participation with less of a focus on the player or coach development.

In the consultation report, Football West also confirmed that they will conduct a comprehensive review of the league competition and Youth Club Championship structure at the conclusion of the 2025 season and implement any changes needed to improve the competition for future seasons.

It’s a great, modernised structure that combines coaching education and the higher and lower leagues with a new relegation and promotion system, which gives Football West a chance to target both a serious and more laid back audience that wants football to be their number one sport in WA.

Previous ArticleNext Article

Victory unites with Roasting Warehouse in culture-led partnership

Avatar
Image credit: Melbourne Victory

The Melbourne-based anf family-owned business will join the Victory family, uniting two institutions which represent the city’s culture and identity.

A partnership with local roots

As the newest partner of Melbourne Victory, Roasting Warehouse joins forces with a vital part of the city’s sporting landscape.

The club’s Managing Director, Caroline Carnegie, outlined why the partnership bears so much value to both parties.

“We are excited to collaborate with Roasting Warehouse, a community-oriented destination for high-quality coffee, proud of its foundations in Melbourne,” said Carnegie via official media release.

“Football and coffee sit at the epicentre of Melbourne’s culture. The two go hand-in-hand, consistently at the centre of the conversation that stirs Melburnians, which is no different to the conversation sport and Melbourne Victory stir in the State.”

Indeed, this is a partnership which combines the identity, passions and culture of an entire city, therefore giving it the foundations required for long-term, mutual success.

Representing the best of Melbourne

Both Victory and Roasting Warehouse are hugely successful in their respective industries. They are institutions with community-oriented philosphies, who pride themselves on craft and quality.

“We’re incredibly proud to partner with Melbourne Victory, a club that represents the heart, passion, and ambition of Melbourne,” revealed Roasting Warehouse Head of Brand, Alexander Paraskevopoulos.

“As a Melbourne-founded, family-run business, supporting a team that means so much to the local community feels very natural for us.”

Furthermore, through their high-quality blends, Roasting Warehouse will look to prepare Victory’s players and staff for high performances on the pitch as the seasons nears completion.

But this is about far more than just fueling athletes.

This is a partnership which embodies and unites two of Melbourne’s greatest strengths and cultural markers – a connection forged from the city’s very own DNA.

 

For more information about Roasting Warehouse, click here.

Marie-Louise Eta makes history as new Union Berlin head coach

Avatar
Image credit: FC Union Berlin

In an historic appointment, Eta will take over as head coach of Union Berlin until the end of the season.

History in the making

Previously the first female assistant coach in Bundesliga history with Union Berlin, Eta will now take the reigns of the men’s first team on an interim basis.

Currently, the club sit in 11th place in the Bundesliga table, but with only two wins so far in 2026, relegation appears an all-too-real prospect, and one which the club is desperate to avoid.

“Given the points gap in the lower half of the table, our place in the Bundesliga is not yet secure,” said Eta via official media release.

‘I am delighted that the club has entrusted me with this challenging task. One of Union’s strengths has always been, and remains, the ability to pull together in such situations.”

Eta will begin as Union’s new head coach with immediate effect, and will be in the dugout for the club’s matchup against Wolfsburg this weekend.

 

A step into an equal future

Eta’s appointment signals a major step towards a more level playing field in the football landscape.

Furthermore, Eta joins other coaches including Sabrinna Wittmann, Hannah Dingley and Corinne Diacre who, in recent years, have blazed a trail for female coaches to step into the men’s game.

Wittmann currently manages FC Ingolstadt in Germany’s third division, and was the first female head coach in Germany’s top three divisions.

In 2023, Dingley became caretaker manager of Forest Green Rovers, and thus the first woman to lead a men’s professional team in England.

Diacre, now head coach of France’s women’s national team, managed Ligue 2’s Clerment Foot between 2014 and 2017.

 

Final thoughts

The impact therefore, is that Eta’s appointment will show future generations of aspiring female coaches that men’s football is an equally viable and possible pathway as the women’s game.

The time is now to level the playing field.

And while it may be a short-term role, its effect on attitudes towards equality and fair opportunities in the game will hopefully resonate long after the season ends.

Most Popular Topics

Editor Picks

Send this to a friend