Junior Footy Rules- U/9's

[mypaddock]

Just wondering if anyone could enlighten me on the following- i have a nephew who plays for payneham in the u/9's comp, i think its the NEJMFL?? I went to watch his game the other Friday night at Modbury and was very disheartened by some of the rules which have/haven't been implemented.
Why is there tackling in U/9's?! Why are there not zones set up so there isnt 20 players around the ball at all times?? These would be my main two issues.
Shouldnt junior footy be about kids developing their skills?? How can this happen when as soon as they get the ball there is 20 other kids within 2 metres of them? It just seems farcical. Some kids at this level are still learning how to kick FFS!
I remember when i played jnr footy their was no tackling up until U/11's and you had to bump the kid twice to get holding the ball. And there was 3 seperate zones on the oval- Forward /Centre/Back and the kids playing in each of these zones were restricted to these playing areas. Much better concept in my opinion. Gave all the kids a chance, and gave them time to dispose of the ball.
The way it is setup currently is a joke and whoever heads this association needs to reassess the rules because the development of these kids is at jeapordy.

[Bluedemon]

MyPaddock in the Metro South competition there is not tackling, what is happening this year is it is a grab and release. what we are also doing in the comp this year, is for U/9's and U/8's they are playing zones where the ground is split up into thirds, there is markers across each third to define the area. So far it has worked well, the Metro South comp is the "crash test dummy" for this zoning, if it works, the other junior comps might take it up.

[Ian]

School (Eagles Zone) footy has no tackling until year 6/7 level, prior to that getted bumped twice and it's holding the ball.
I've seen club jnr footy with tackling allowed.
I'm not sure that either is right or wrong. If they are tackling at a younger age it is against kids their own age/size, and they will learn to tackle properly, and how to ride tackles at a younger age. I think leave it as it is, tackling is a big part of footy and the earlier kids are taught to do it properly the more chance of them executing good fair taqckles.

[bayman]

that isn't quite right kookas as the first week little bayman played (u/9's) they had full on tackling & ALL the kids loved it, no one was hurt, no one cried, the next week the rules changed to you can grab the jumper for 3 seconds & then let go all it does is confuse the boys & girls imho they should be learning to tackle because when they get to 12,13,14 they then all of a sudden find out it hurts & haven't learnt how to avoid a tackle or to tackle properly & some will give up without doubt, also if they are going the way they are they are better off having no tackling like they do in the u/8's rather than the nonsense that is happening because everyone is confused

i'll bet if you asked every child whether they want tackling or not it would be overwhelming they do, it is unfortuneate that the do gooders have no concept in reality just like they haven't with the other things the do gooders argue against

the zones work fairly well, the umpires are letting (correctly) the midfield (who wear armbands) to go back or forward when chasing & contesting the ball but as soon as there is a stoppage they have to go back to the centre

get rid of the do gooders i say

[Pearcey]

Yeah, in NEMJFA tackling is allowed from Under 9's and older.
Since the Under 6's were introduced in 2004 they have had 3 specific zones in which 5 players from each team can play, obviously forward, centre and back. To be honest I rarely see the umpires enforcing the zones anyway. They play 15-a-side and there's no tackling, only light bumping. The Under 8's are the same but there are no zones. Players are allowed only 1 bounce before desposing of the ball, up to Under 11's, and the ruckmen can't take possession of the ball after a throw-up or bounce.

[bayman]

Yeah, in NEMJFA tackling is allowed from Under 9's and older.
Since the Under 6's were introduced in 2004 they have had 3 specific zones in which 5 players from each team can play, obviously forward, centre and back. To be honest I rarely see the umpires enforcing the zones anyway. They play 15-a-side and there's no tackling, only light bumping. The Under 8's are the same but there are no zones. Players are allowed only 1 bounce before desposing of the ball, up to Under 11's, and the ruckmen can't take possession of the ball after a throw-up or bounce.

which means the left hand doesn't know what right hand is doing, 1 league does the other half does & another doesn't, if it wasn't serious with the kids developement it would be laughable

[bazza1]

My lad plays for North Haven in the U8's, and im the manager, and trying to teach these kids rules that change from umpire to umpire is very confusing for the kids. For example, there is a no smothering rule, but some umpys allow it and others dont, the same with playing on from a mark or a free kick, by the letter of the law its not allowed but it changes from week to week. Its very frustrating from a parents and coaches point of view, imagine how the kids feel.

[Ian]

My lad plays for North Haven in the U8's, and im the manager, and trying to teach these kids rules that change from umpire to umpire is very confusing for the kids. For example, there is a no smothering rule, but some umpys allow it and others dont, the same with playing on from a mark or a free kick, by the letter of the law its not allowed but it changes from week to week. Its very frustrating from a parents and coaches point of view, imagine how the kids feel.

That highlights the biggest issue with having "modified rules" for younger grades, the umpires officiate throughout all junior grades and different rules from one age group to the next can also make their job that much harder. If the younger kids are taught to tackle, evade or ride tackles, smother etc. properly from day one the umps only have to worry about one set of rules and the kids learn those skills required for footy at a much earlier age.

[smac]

I get the point about consistency with umpires, but I thought it was up to the coaches to teach these skills? Coaches with a focus on winning instead of the development of EVERY player in their squad is a much bigger problem, IMHO.

I have been involved with Development footy for the last 12 years at SANFL level and the number of kids who turn up that can't even kick properly, let alone tackle, bump, smother, fall etc is appalling.

Coaches should also be speaking with umpires before the game to confirm they will be umpiring according to the rules for that grade, not assuming (because let's face it, the umps are there to help and cop enough cr@p over decisions when everyone knows what rules have been modified - if the umps are confused the game will be in big trouble).

[bayman]

My lad plays for North Haven in the U8's, and im the manager, and trying to teach these kids rules that change from umpire to umpire is very confusing for the kids. For example, there is a no smothering rule, but some umpys allow it and others dont, the same with playing on from a mark or a free kick, by the letter of the law its not allowed but it changes from week to week. Its very frustrating from a parents and coaches point of view, imagine how the kids feel.

That highlights the biggest issue with having "modified rules" for younger grades, the umpires officiate throughout all junior grades and different rules from one age group to the next can also make their job that much harder. If the younger kids are taught to tackle, evade or ride tackles, smother etc. properly from day one the umps only have to worry about one set of rules and the kids learn those skills required for footy at a much earlier age.

SPOT ON