A question not on NPL but definitely about NPL club junior development structure. How is it possible that two of the Northern NPL clubs are not able to field U/18 teams this season? An excuse I have heard circulating of one of the clubs is that many have gone to Uni. Not sure how many 16/17 year olds are off to uni these days, but I doubt this is a genuine reason. What is happening at the grassroots level, SAP programs, junior age group squads at these big clubs to not be able to retain players for this age group? I have one possible reason - player registration costs. Maybe parents have had enough of paying out hundreds, if not thousands with multiple children, each season, merely to fund these big clubs’ senior playing budgets and not getting much back in return.
A question not on NPL but definitely about NPL club junior development structure. How is it possible that two of the Northern NPL clubs are not able to field U/18 teams this season? An excuse I have heard circulating of one of the clubs is that many have gone to Uni. Not sure how many 16/17 year olds are off to uni these days, but I doubt this is a genuine reason. What is happening at the grassroots level, SAP programs, junior age group squads at these big clubs to not be able to retain players for this age group? I have one possible reason - player registration costs. Maybe parents have had enough of paying out hundreds, if not thousands with multiple children, each season, merely to fund these big clubs’ senior playing budgets and not getting much back in return.
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