OT: PDJRL dramas

[Wise Old Eel]

:crazy:

I have said a number of times that I could see us slipping back into the mire that was the late 80's and early 90's - and people scoffed at my suggestions.

Things need to change - and fast. From the bottom right up to the top.

WOE

 

[Delboy]

Having some ionvolvement in the PDJRL, part of what is said is true and part not.

The real problem is that 3 to 4 big clubs have very strong teams and they dominate in age group, smaller suburban clubs can't compete, sometimes because of their demographics where bigger kids don't reside there.

Not all clubs want to play in Div 1, they just want to get their boys playing, and the gap between Div 1 and Div 2 for instance is huge, the committee appear to want say 8 teams in Div 1, the issue currently is that the smaller clubs get smashed each week and it is then difficult to get all then boys back. This year it is about clubs wanting to play in an appropriate division and being told they should play higher.

A club involved in this ( not mine ) wants to fold their age team and/or get a letter from the PDJRL taking responsibility should their players get injured playing higher than they believe they are ready for.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

I guess the only option is to move to one of the big clubs or run around in an inappropriate grade getting smashed each week.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Or just drop out and play something else.

 

[Delboy]

Play the big clubs in the appropriate division, and let the smaller clubs play in the lower divisions and not be blind about having a big Div 1

 

[Gronk]

Or just drop out and play something else.

AFL will have the kids.

 

[adamkungl]

I remember in u13-14s at Greystanes we won the second division comp but simply could not compete in 1sts. We got mercy ruled multiple times, I think we finished up with 1 win, 1 draw, and forfeited our last match. The gap is massive.

 

[hineyrulz]

AFL will have the kids.

Yep just ask Ricky Nixon and St Fiddler........

 

[Parra]

Or just drop out and play something else.

Which unfortunately is the result.

Junior rugby union faces the same issues and with, unfortunately, the same sort of results.

 

[IFR33K]

Having some ionvolvement in the PDJRL, part of what is said is true and part not.

The real problem is that 3 to 4 big clubs have very strong teams and they dominate in age group, smaller suburban clubs can't compete, sometimes because of their demographics where bigger kids don't reside there.

Not all clubs want to play in Div 1, they just want to get their boys playing, and the gap between Div 1 and Div 2 for instance is huge, the committee appear to want say 8 teams in Div 1, the issue currently is that the smaller clubs get smashed each week and it is then difficult to get all then boys back. This year it is about clubs wanting to play in an appropriate division and being told they should play higher.

A club involved in this ( not mine ) wants to fold their age team and/or get a letter from the PDJRL taking responsibility should their players get injured playing higher than they believe they are ready for.

The only reason why the strong clubs have a strangle hold over the other teams, is because they poach players from other clubs. They offer things the other clubs cant afford.

Its gotten that ridiculous, that somethings gotta give.

Believe it or not, the actual start to the season was delayed 2 weeks, because one of the strongest clubs, didn't have its jerseys and shorts ready in time. Funniest shit I ever heard.

And people wonder why I dislike eels management so much.

 

[planeteels]

The only reason why the strong clubs have a strangle hold over the other teams, is because they poach players from other clubs. They offer things the other clubs cant afford.

Its gotten that ridiculous, that somethings gotta give.

Believe it or not, the actual start to the season was delayed 2 weeks, because one of the strongest clubs, didn't have its jerseys and shorts ready in time. Funniest shit I ever heard.

And people wonder why I dislike eels management so much.

IFR33K, you are not exactly quoting all of the reasons for the delayed commencement of the season. It was a decision made for the benefit of a number of clubs. Some 70 teams were due to be without Jerseys for Round 1 (not just 1 club)- a majority of these teams had no apparel due to their supplier. There were also several grounds which due to inclement weather, the summer to winter sport conversions and scheduled works at a small number of grounds, would not have been completed appropriately. The other reason was due to the fact that School Holidays were on and due to Anzac day falling between Rounds 1 & 2, it would have meant stop-start for the first 3 weeks.

 

[planeteels]

My understanding on the matter, is that the all the clubs under the parramatta district, bar 2 of them, voted for each club to only field a maximum of 2 teams per age group.

Terry rose agreed, and this I believe was meant to start this year. Wenty and cabra appealed, and threatened with legal action, allowing for 1 paul osbourne to intervene and overturn the ruling, much to the disappointment of the remaining clubs.

It won't be long before our juniours merge comps with other districts. If SK is serious about stemming the flow of lost juniors, then it has to start from the very bottom.

Only 1 of the 2 clubs mentioned appealed! and I can assure you that the other was actually in full support of the edict to limit teams to 2 and so much so that they are actually already doing it themselves.

Attempts have already been made to hold join competitions in the Under 17 years competition which have been knocked back but a neighbouring district. This is now being considered at the Western Academy level as something which is a big issue for a number of districts.

 

[planeteels]

Having some ionvolvement in the PDJRL, part of what is said is true and part not.

The real problem is that 3 to 4 big clubs have very strong teams and they dominate in age group, smaller suburban clubs can't compete, sometimes because of their demographics where bigger kids don't reside there.

Not all clubs want to play in Div 1, they just want to get their boys playing, and the gap between Div 1 and Div 2 for instance is huge, the committee appear to want say 8 teams in Div 1, the issue currently is that the smaller clubs get smashed each week and it is then difficult to get all then boys back. This year it is about clubs wanting to play in an appropriate division and being told they should play higher.

A club involved in this ( not mine ) wants to fold their age team and/or get a letter from the PDJRL taking responsibility should their players get injured playing higher than they believe they are ready for.

Unfortunately the results can sway either way.. it's sadly not going to be a win/win situation either way..

Some of the regraded teams, whilst in the lower division were dishing out some pretty hefty thrashings to those of lower capabilities also and funnily enough for some - at the time they weren't complaining, that said, it doesn't necessarily make it right. It is hard to find a happy medium to satisfy all. There are plenty of factors in play when deciding where teams will be graded.

Last year and in 2009 the JRL board raised the option for clubs to forward any players who desired playing in a Western Academy trial Weight for Age competition - clubs were given time to go back to their members to see if anyone was interested - I cannot recall exact numbers but I am confident in saying participation from PDJRL players was minimal.

 

[Parra]

Are there any transfer limitation rules in place to stop the strong clubs poaching?

I know the mantra is that they can offer more. What this usually means is that some egotistical coach at one of these clubs believes he is better than he is. The accumulations tend to be of rep players with the carrot that playing with other rep players will assist with their development.

This is BS - playing against solid opposition each week will do far more for a player and a team than run up 50 point margins.

You can see why residency rules were applied back in the dark ages.

 

[Delboy]

If the PDJRL wants to do something abput it , I suggest that they assist the smaller cliubs by getting NRL players involved in training etc (rarely seen , if at all). Direct new players to the district to those that they feel can move higher, I agree it is not an exact science but the side I am involved with is not getting out their own half against the bigger sides, and we are a well coached, but small sized in player terms, suburban side.

I feel that the Exec has been been very inflexible about keeping numbers in say Div 1, and the "mission statement" of the Junior League is about encouraging boys to play , it is no fun getting 15 young boys to training twice a week in the cold and then watching them getting dispirited when they get smashed.

I was out of the PDJRL between my son and now my grandsons playing, and the communication between the Exec and clubs appears not as comfortable as it was. Just my thoughts as it is a difficult issue, co-operation between full time administrators and volunteers who have different ideas.

 

[planeteels]

Are there any transfer limitation rules in place to stop the strong clubs poaching?

I know the mantra is that they can offer more. What this usually means is that some egotistical coach at one of these clubs believes he is better than he is. The accumulations tend to be of rep players with the carrot that playing with other rep players will assist with their development.

This is BS - playing against solid opposition each week will do far more for a player and a team than run up 50 point margins.

You can see why residency rules were applied back in the dark ages.

There are strict rules in terms of the number of players that can transfer to 1 particular club at any 1 time i.e. say Team A weren't happy and their coach has a dummy spit and wishes to take them to Club B, there are strict rules in vogue which give the Junior League the discretion about allowing them to transfer.

With regard to Junior Rep players, yes there is a strict policy regarding the number of Junior Rep players that can transfer in to a new club. i.e. if Team A already has 5 players in SG Ball or Harold Matts for PARRA and player number 6 from Team B wanted to go and play there, it would need to go to Qualifications committee for assessment and unless the player could prove that he had no other option, he would in most cases be denied, HOWEVER, if he can prove a good reason as to why, sadly on appeal to the district club - this is overturned more often than not.

The whole reason we attempted to bring the rule about limiting the numbers of sides each club can have in a particular age group, is to give the smaller clubs a chance of holding onto or recruiting players to those age groups. There is sadly a preference for some parents who flock to the 'Have' Clubs as opposed to the 'Have not' Clubs.

 

[planeteels]

If the PDJRL wants to do something abput it , I suggest that they assist the smaller cliubs by getting NRL players involved in training etc (rarely seen , if at all). Direct new players to the district to those that they feel can move higher, I agree it is not an exact science but the side I am involved with is not getting out their own half against the bigger sides, and we are a well coached, but small sized in player terms, suburban side.

I feel that the Exec has been been very inflexible about keeping numbers in say Div 1, and the "mission statement" of the Junior League is about encouraging boys to play , it is no fun getting 15 young boys to training twice a week in the cold and then watching them getting dispirited when they get smashed.

I was out of the PDJRL between my son and now my grandsons playing, and the communication between the Exec and clubs appears not as comfortable as it was. Just my thoughts as it is a difficult issue, co-operation between full time administrators and volunteers who have different ideas.

Delboy, all Junior league clubs have the ability to use the NRL players at their clubs, all they need to do is contact the Junior League and request the attendance. Sure, players aren't always available due to Training / Club committments but with reasonable notice, the NRL players can be booked for club promotion / training clinics etc.

In regard to the Mercy rule and difficulties that some kids face about the shellackings they receive, again, there is an extremely fine line between wrong and right. on one side Team A could be smacking the bejesus out of Teams in a lower division and that same Team could be copping it from teams above. There is a large panel of Qualifications people who look at all results - this decision is not made by the Executive .

I used to be President and Coached for many years at a Parra district Junior Club and I know what you mean by the thrashing handed out to our boys.

 

[forward pass]

If the PDJRL wants to do something abput it , I suggest that they assist the smaller cliubs by getting NRL players involved in training etc (rarely seen , if at all).

I do know that the entire first grade side was at the Rouse Hill Rhinos home ground last season for a signing session and Hindy handed out the jumpers to the players before the game I recall. I took my son and it was a pretty well attended event.

 

[Delboy]

Planet. you and I know that generally the Exec direct things, but that is another story

Whilst I understand that requests can be made, I have never understood why an NRL player is not assigned to a club, and part of his KPIs for instance , is to engage that club. A number of players live within walking distance almost of my club , and I have seen more Panther players at the ground, as when asked they tend to make an effort.

The AFL has made more visits to my grandsons school than the Eels (read none), and I believe that is an area where the PDJRL needs to get on the front foot and make sure that they push for these things to happen.

 

[Delboy]

FP. that is my club, I was talking more about them attending on training nights, the kids would get such a buzz, I can't stress how important it has become for the club to interact with its own junior league.

You can bet the AFL will be out in force across the district in the comimg year or so