Junior age group profile: Under 11
With the Junior Competition set to get underway in just over a week and a half (Sunday 18 April) we’ll profile two age groups per week to look at how Junior footy is continuing to grow and develop across the region.
In this first edition we take a look at the entry point into competitive footy – the Under 11 age group.
How is 2021 shaping up?
The Under 11 age group will be strong once again in 2021 with eight teams set to take to the field. This provides our competition with a great platform to launch into the older age groups with excellent numbers.
A large proportion of players will be going into their second year of club footy and will be looking to have a bigger influence on matches now that they’re established players at the top end of the age group. They’ll be joined by the next wave of Auskick graduates who will be making their debut in club footy and will be looking forward to playing against teams and players that they haven’t met before.
The teams
- Bellingen Bulldogs
- Coffs Harbour Breakers
- Nambucca Valley Lions
- Northern Beaches Blues
- Port Macquarie Flyers
- Port Macquarie Swoopers
- Sawtell Toormina Saints
- South West Rocks Dockers
Team changes in 2021
The Camden Haven Bombers have been unable to field a team in the Under 11 competition this year, however a number of their former players have moved to Port Macquarie. This has given the Magpies enough players to field two teams in this age group, which means that the Flyers and Swoopers are back for 2021!
Rule changes in 2021
All Junior age groups, including Under 11, will play the last disposal rule when the ball goes out of bounds. This means that the opposing team will be awarded a free kick to return the ball to play after the ball goes out of bounds from a kick or handball but not a smother or spoil (rule 2.10.14).
Girls playing in the Under 11 competition can choose to wear a coloured sleeve which will then mean that they can only be tackled with a reduced intensity (rule 5.7).
Finals format will see the top four teams play two elimination semi finals (1 v 4, and 2 v 3) with the two winners progressing straight to the Grand Final (rule 10.1).
For more details see the 2021 version of the AFL North Coast Rules.
Key dates
- Sunday 18 April – round 1
- Sunday 25 April – general bye (ANZAC Day)
- Sunday 13 June – general bye (Queen’s Birthday long weekend)
- Sunday 4 July – general bye (school holidays)
- Sunday 1 August – round 13 (last round of home and away)
- Sunday 8 August – Semi Finals
- Sunday 15 August – Grand Final
