usually summer is around 15 rounds - no finals for pro/rel groups but finals for those with mot.

starts around second week of october and finishes late feb / mid march.

around 6 weeks off for christmas.

pro/rel is usually for div 3 and below teams - there is no div 4-5-6 all.

a good div 3 team will nominate for pool A and i think it is based on previous results in the lowe age group as evidence.

a div 6 would say nominate for pool d or e.

each pool plays around 4-5 games (each other once) then the top 2 from teh pool move up - i.e from D to C pool and the bottom 2 move down - after several rounds the comp sorts itself out for winter gradings

should be pro / rel accross the board.

agreed with previous statement - some clubs are realistic and put their teams in relevant divisions.

more likely to get more from these kids long term

some others do not - get flogged and kids quit after one / two seasons.

pride before the fall

should be if a team gets lower than 33% - i.e one third of their opponents score and does win 10% of games 1 in 10(none by forfeit) - moved down a grade - no questions - just do it.

if a team wins 90% of their games and has % greater than 150 (ie 1.5 times opponents) in the division lower than this team they should be offered their place.

if the team does not have this strong record - they do not go up and the division above relegates the poor team and that comp plays with one less team.

So perhaps they shouldnt be in that grade.If they were in the appropriate grade it wouldnt happen.

WHy should Sturt pull back and stop trying when people like you would just bitch about them not trying and treatng them like jokes.

And if Sturt teams stopped trying each time they won by heaps they would create a habit of not trying and ont create the success they have.

Its an elite competition and if you dont like it you should drop down into a grade where you are ocmpetitive.

Well stated!

There are no mercy rules in District competition. If you want someone to stop scoring then put up some defense.

These lopsided contests happen in Div 1 because some teams clearly do not belong there. The top teams in Div 2 would be more competitive... Hang on - this is Pro/Rel.

, "some clubs are realistic and put their teams in relevant divisions. more likely to get more from these kids long term some others do not - get flogged and kids quit after one / two seasons. pride before the fall"

You are quite correct with that statement. Player turnover is a cancer at clubs. I looked at a group of kids from U12 to U16 and there was a strong correlation between success and retention. The top 3 teams had much higher retention rates (80%) than the next 3 and the bottom 4 teams basically had a 20% retention rate.

Some say it's chicken and egg scenario as well. Is player turnover a symptom, or an issue? The more success, the more motivated players are to continue, whereas the lack of success means lower motivation, breeds dis-interest, they quit and other players need to be found. New players need to catch up to teams that have been together since U10, they can't, a spiral of doom starts.

The best games are those close, tightly fought games. Players never learn by getting whipped by 50 points a game week in week out.

But with one club, it is "WAR"

This is the "elite" junior competition. These kids are representing our state at National championships. and if they under perform at these tournaments, coaches and players miss out on National opportunities.

The people at fault are the ones who not only nominate team for a division that they are not able to compete in. But then are deciding that the second dv 2 teams should move down to div 3 for home and away. Meaning there will be more blow outs.

If people want a low cost, friendly competition, they should go to a domestic competition, or nominat in an acceptable grade.

anon,

Pro/rel doesn't go to div 2 which is where the main problem exists.

I wouldn't be putting them into a grade they werent capable in, in the first place. No problem if they came bottom if they have a good games each week and won a couple here and there.

I would talk to my club about grading them reasonably, and not persisiting with a philosophy that obviously doesn't work.

I would explain to my child that sometimes there are winner and losers and that this shows they need to work harder on their game and do a better job at training of listening to their coach. and that obbviously the other teams does a better job of that.

and when does it end so we can get on with the competition that counts?

first or second weekend after the october long weekend

Phases r crap in men's comp. Doesn't matter where u come u r still asked to nominate. Can basically play where u like. BSA don't care as long as the $ role in. U basically play the crap phase system cause u enjoy playing. But competition wise, complete balls up! Will it ever change probably not. Will they ever listen. Probably not. Was there anything wrong with the old comp, no pools, no phases , a season just like winter and finals, few games shorter, no. So why change it? Cause it worked I guess.