Women’s League Structures 2017
Football South recognise that the Women’s League competitions need addressing due to the
competitions not currently catering for the competitiveness or the social and enjoyment factors that are
crucial in capturing the full potential of the growth and sustainability of women’s football. Through
player, coach and club feedback we have proposed what we believe to be a solution we would like to try
for the 2017 season.
The short term ‘fix’ that is perceived from the proposal for 2017, we believe will be the catalyst for a
viable and long term Women’s Premier League consisting of 1 team per club and the Women’s
Championship, potentially a mirrored reserve league which will ultimately promote a more stable player
development pathway within clubs.
For the 2017 winter season, Football South is supportive of the top 3 women’s premier league teams
combining with the appropriate youth grade to ensure that the level of competition that the players will
be exposed to in that league, provides them with the level of football and intensity to challenge them
and aid in their development both as individuals and as a team unit.
The formation of the Women’s Championship alongside the Division 1 is an exciting prospect which will
provide clubs an opportunity to strengthen their current player pathways and ultimately, provide a
much better experience for the players involved in both of these leagues.
Pre-Season ‘Grading/Festivals’ for Premier Women and Youth teams.
It is imperative that the Women’s Premier league teams are combined with Youth teams of the
appropriate ability both technically and physically to aid the playing experience. During the pre-season
we would urge clubs to organise their own friendly matches against youth teams from both Division 1
and Division 2 to gauge their competitiveness and appropriateness.
Football South will also run a more formal grading process over two weekends, 1 st and 8th of April, prior
to the winter season kicking off. This process will consist of 2 or 3 shorter games each weekend against a
mix of division 1 and division 2 youth sides. The shorter game formats (20-30 minute halves) are to allow
as many games as possible in a short time frame with a festival feel before the serious stuff kicks off.
Pre-Season for Championship and Division 1 Teams
Football South is open to two options for the Championship and Division 1 teams during pre-season and
would like clubs feedback on this.
Option 1
Kick off the season proper on April 1st. entries based off Football South/Club preference
Option 2
Arrange a pre-season for Women’s Championship and Division 1 teams on 1st and 8th of April using the
same festival format of the Youth and Premier Women.
Below are two examples of which leagues our women’s teams could be placed in for the 2017 season.
Women’s League Structures 2017
If teams entering Football South Women’s Leagues for 2017 are the same entries as the 2016 season:
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Top 3 women’s premier league teams join youth league to create 6-8 team league
Bottom 2 women’s premier league teams, Tech Maroon and Uni B combine with top 4 Division 1 teams
and Queenstown to form Women’s Championship. Queenstown has confirmed they will be competing in
the Otago League 2017
Teams that finished 5-10 in Division 1 would form Women’s Division 1
The make-up of these leagues with the teams involved from the 2016 season would make for a much better
competitive experience as the teams would be of closer and similar ability.
Youth/Women Combined League
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Highest placed women’s team in the combined youth league would secure the premier league trophy
Overall league winner would secure Youth/Women combined trophy
If 6 teams, three rounds to be played = 15 games
If 8 teams, two rounds to be played = 14 games
National knock out cup games 1-5 games depending on progress - 1 team entry per club
Women’s Championship
7 teams, two rounds to be played = 12 games + 2 byes (14weeks)
National knock out cup games 1-5 games depending on progress - 1 team entry per club
Women’s Division 1
6 teams, 3 rounds = 15 games
Women’s League Structures 2017
If there are more teams entering Football South Women’s Leagues for 2017 based on recent club feedback:
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Top 3 women’s premier league teams join youth league to create 6-8 team league
Bottom 2 women’s premier league teams, Tech Maroon and Uni B, combine with top 5 division 1 teams
and Queenstown to form ‘Women’s Championship’
Teams that finished 5-10 in Division 1, plus potential new Roslyn, University and Mosgiel entries based on
recent club feedback
The make-up of these leagues with the teams involved from the 2016 season and new entries would make for a
much better competitive experience as the teams would be of closer and similar ability.
Youth/Women Combined League


Highest placed women’s team in the combined youth league would secure the premier league trophy
Overall league winner would secure Youth/Women combined trophy
If 6 teams, three rounds to be played = 15 games
If 8 teams, two rounds to be played = 14 games
National knock out cup games 1-5 games depending on progress - 1 team entry per club
Women’s Championship
8 teams, two rounds to be played = 14 games
National knock out cup games 1-5 games depending on progress - 1 team entry per club
Women’s Division 1
8 teams, two rounds = 14 games
Women’s League Structures 2017
Where do we want the game to go?
Ultimately, Football South want to see a competitive and sustainable Women’s Premier League, Women’s
Championship and Women’s Division 1 established in the future. It has been clear that over the past 3-5 years,
the leagues have not adequately catered for the needs of our most competitive players, our social players and
everyone in between. This needs to change.
With New Zealand Football still to complete their national competitions review, this gives us an opportunity to try
a different format in an attempt to refine women’s football for our future. The completed competitions review
will also give Football South and its clubs the clarity needed to align our leagues to the national body with a sound
delivery mechanism promoting competition and player development, two key pillars of New Zealand Footballs
strategy.
A snap shot of what our leagues could look like in 2018 or 2019
Note*
Club teams may change, this is just an example of an ideal situation based off teams in 2017