Football NSW Cancels 2021 National Premier Leagues Season

Football NSW have announced the difficult decision to Cancel all Football NSW Competitions for the remainder of the 2021 season.

Given the current Public Health Order will remain in force until at least midnight 28 August 2021, given our discussions and briefings with various Government agencies over recent days, the daily updates from the Premier, the Minister for Health and the Chief Medical Officer, and understandably, there being no Government sanctioned roadmap out of the lockdown for sport, the Football NSW Board was left with no option but to cancel our Competitions. This decision is consistent with those made recently by many of our Associations and by many other State sporting organisations.

The Football NSW Competitions affected by this decision are:

1. NPL NSW Men’s, NPL 2 NSW Men’s, NPL 3 NSW Men’s, NPL 4 NSW Men’s (U20 & 1^st Grade);
2. NPL NSW Women’s, NPL 2 NSW Women’s (U14, U15, U17, Res & 1^st Grade) and Girls’ Conference League (U14, U15, U17);
3. NPL NSW Youth (U13, U14, U15, U16 & U18) and Association Youth League (U13, U14, U15, U16); and
4. Skill Acquisition Program (U9, U10, U11, U12) & Girls’ Skill Acquisition Program (U10, U11, U12, U13).

No Premiers or Champions titles, trophies, medals or prize money will be awarded for any of the 2021 NSW Competitions.

Competition Structures – 2022 and beyond

NPL NSW Men’s Competitions (U20-1^st Grade) – 2022

In light of the decision to cancel the remainder of the 2021 season, it is important to confirm the Competition structures for the 2022 season so as to assist clubs with planning during the offseason.

As a result of the current lockdown period, only the first 17 of the 22 scheduled regular season matches were able to be played in the NPL 1 competition and only 16 of the 22 scheduled regular season matches were able to be played in each of the three remaining Senior Men’s Competitions. Clearly, the Premiership season has not been completed and as such, the sporting integrity associated with our various principles surrounding promotion/relegation have been severely compromised.

In consideration of the unique and extraordinary circumstances that have led to the NPL NSW Men’s Competitions not being able to be completed, the following will be implemented:

1. For the 2022 season, as was the case during the 2021 season, the Men’s Senior Competition will comprise four competitions (NPL, NPL 2, NPL 3 and NPL 4) with no more than 12 clubs participating in each.
2. The promotion and relegation structure as set out in Section 2, Article 12 of the 2021 Competition Regulations is to be deferred so as to apply for promotion and relegation from the 2022 to 2023 season rather than from the 2021 to 2022 season.

NPL NSW Youth (U13, U14, U15, U16 & U18) and Association Youth League (U13, U14, U15, U16) -2022

Continuing with the importance of confirming the Competition structures for the 2022 season, set out below are the principles that relate to Youth Boys’ Competitions.

• Phase One of the 2021 season was able to be successfully completed; and
• As a result of the current lockdown and subsequent cancellation of the remainder of the season, only five of the eleven rounds of Phase Two were able to be played.

Despite the latter part of the 2021 season being cancelled, in the best interests of developing talented football players, Football NSW confirms that it will still proceed with moving to the three-tiered structure for 2022 and with expanding the number rounds 30.

While Phase Two of the 2021 season could not be completed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the resultant cancellation of the season, Phase One was successfully completed and the Board therefore, resolved to allocate clubs across the three tiers of the Competition based on their standings at the conclusion of Phase One.

Football NSW recognises some clubs may feel disappointed and aggrieved that they did not have the opportunity to complete the season and improve their standings ahead of the 2022 season.  However, Football NSW believes that allocating clubs based on standings at the conclusion of Phase One is the fairer option rather than allocating clubs based on standings at the time that football was suspended (i.e. as at 26 June 2021).

Subject to all eligible clubs satisfactorily completing the necessary application documents to participate in the 2022 season, the allocation of clubs to the new three-tiered system is as follows for the 2022 season:

1. The top eight placed clubs from each of the two groups of NPL 1 Youth (based on standings at the end of Phase One) are allocated to NPL 1 Youth for the 2022 season;
2. The remaining four clubs from each of the two groups of NPL 1 Youth (based on standings at the end of Phase One) plus the top four clubs from each of the two groups of NPL 2 Youth (based standings at the end of Phase One) are allocated to NPL 2 Youth for 2022; and
3. The remaining clubs are allocated to NPL 3 Youth for 2022.

For ease of reference, the final standings at the end of Phase One can be accessed at the following links:

• NPL NSW Youth – Phase One Club Championship Tables – Click Here
• NPL 2 NSW Youth – Phase One Club Championship Tables – Click Here

An updated 2022 NPL NSW Youth Operational Structure Document to reflect the above will be communicated in due course.

For the 2022 season, as was the case during the 2021 season, the Association Youth League Competition will continue as per the same principles with no change to the age grades.

NPL NSW Women’s, NPL 2 NSW Women’s (U14, U15, U17, Res & 1st) and Girls’ Conference League (U14, U15, U17) – 2022

Continuing with the importance of confirming the Competition structures for the 2022 season, please find the following principles related to our Girls’ and Women’s Competitions.

As a result of the current lockdown, only the first 12 of the 22 scheduled regular season matches were able to be played in each of the two Senior Women’s Competitions. The Premiership season has not been completed and as with our Senior Men’s competitions, the sporting integrity associated with the promotion/relegation principles are similarly compromised.

In consideration of the circumstances associated with the NPL NSW Women’s Competitions not being completed, the following will be implemented:

1. For the 2022 season, the Women’s Competition will comprise two competitions (NPLW 1 and NPLW 2) with no more than 12 clubs participating in NPLW 1 and no more than 16 clubs participating in NPLW 2.
2. Subject to all eligible clubs satisfactorily completing the necessary application documents to participate in the 2022 season, the clubs competing in the 2022 NPLW 1 Competition will be each of the 12 clubs that participated in the NPLW 1 competition for the 2021 season.
3. Subject to all eligible clubs satisfactorily completing the necessary application documents to participate in the 2022 season, the clubs competing in the 2022 NPLW 2 Competition will comprise:
4. each of the 11 clubs that participated in the NPLW 2 Competition for the 2021 season; and
5. each of the five clubs that participated in the Girls’ Conference League competition for the 2021 season.
6. At the conclusion of the 2022 season, the top two clubs from the NPLW 2 Competition (based on Club Championship standings at the end of the 2022 season) will be eligible for promotion to the NPLW 1 Competition for the 2023 season, subject to any applicable competition regulations as well as any other criteria deemed appropriate by the Board.

For clarity, the age grade changes as previously communicated will continue to be applied. For ease of reference, these will be:

• NPL NSW Women’s (U14, U15, U16, U18, Res & 1st); and
• NPL 2 NSW Women’s (U14, U15, U16, U18* & 1^st).

* Denotes age grade currently under review, with a final confirmation to be made by 31 August 2021.

A 2022 NPL NSW Girls’ and Women’s Operational Structure Document to reflect the above will be communicated shortly.

Skill Acquisition Program (U9, U10, U11, U12) & Girls’ Skill Acquisition Program (U10, U11, U12, U13):

For the 2022 season, as was the case during the 2021 season, the Skill Acquisition Program and the Girls’ Skill Acquisition Program will continue as per the same principles with no change to the age grades.

A 2022 Skill Acquisition Program & Girls’ Skill Acquisition Program Operational Structure Document to reflect the above will be communicated shortly.

Football NSW would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank everyone – our players, coaches and technical staff, match officials and volunteers – for their contribution to our Competitions this season, and for your cooperation and assistance to the Football NSW staff during this difficult time.

We will be back bigger than ever, until then stay safe.