Riddell District Football League is looking at ways to counter the growing problem of under-16 and under-18.5 players leaving the game.
Operations manager Toby Boyle says the problem, a statewide issue, is something the RDFL wants to address.
Several clubs are short of numbers for under-18.5 sides,
with other clubs struggling at the under-16 level.
“It’s not ideal,” Boyle said. “We’re still four weeks from the start of the season and a lot of kids have been playing cricket.
“Lancefield is the only club that has told us they won’t have an under-18.5 side, but three or four other clubs have spoken to me about a shortage of numbers, though they’re still looking at fielding a side.”
Boyle says there has also been a drop in the number of under-16 teams, with clubs filling one full team first then looking to fill a second side.
“We would like every club to have at least one side and the aim is for every club to have two teams.
“At the moment, only Gisborne Rookies and Rupertswood will field two teams.”
Boyle says there needs to be a change in approach at the junior level to try to get players to stay in the game.
“We’ve identified that players need to be developed better at a younger level.
“They need to play all positions and develop in all areas, not just focus on five or six players to win games through them.
“If they’re pigeonholed in one position, they aren’t going to enjoy it and [will] want to walk away.
Lancefield and Rockbank are two clubs that have put massive work in over the pre-season to get junior and under-18.5 teams up and running, but with little success.
Tigers president Tony McKay said they had done everything they could to get an under-18.5 team this season after not being able to field one last year.
“We thought we had it off the ground and had the players across the line, but it hasn’t happened.
“We notified the league two weeks ago we wouldn’t have an under-18.5 side as we didn’t want the embarrassment of pulling out two weeks in.
“We tried everything. We spoke with the league, schools and other clubs.”
The Tigers are hopeful of having an under-16 side.
Rams coach Gavin Sporale says his club will again be without junior sides.
“We tried everything and we couldn’t get the numbers needed. We flirted with having under-16s and under-12s but couldn’t get it over the line.
“We put so much time into it, it’s disappointing to see it fail,” he said.
Sporale says his club is one of the three-four clubs struggling for numbers at the under-18.5 level.
“We’ve put in a couple of exemption requests and if they go through we should have 19-20 players.”
Romsey is another club struggling for numbers for its under-18.5.
Redbacks president Wayne Milburn says he’s confident his club will get the required players in coming weeks.
