Dear Victorian Football Family,

The Victorian Champions League continues to grow from strength to strength and it is exciting to be embarking on our fifth season!

Please find herewith some important information relating to the 2012/13 Victorian Champions League Season.

National Competition Review

This year’s VCL will be an exciting step towards the Victorian implementation of the National Competition Review. For those interested in the progress of the National Competition Review, we anticipate releasing a framework for discussion among all football stakeholder groups in the coming weeks at a series of forums. Feedback garnered from these meetings will then help to develop the model that will then be rolled out state-wide.

Length of Season

In preparation for the new competition structure, the VCL will commence in mid-October and conclude on the weekend of 15/16 December. It is felt that these dates meet the objectives of keeping our talented players playing football for 11 months of the year, and providing them an opportunity to play alongside and against good quality opponents. Further, this 10 week period will provide sufficient talent scouting opportunity for FFV selectors to choose their state squads.

Although the season will finish up by Christmas, we will continue to refer to the season as the 2012/13 season as this year’s VCL will be where our state squads are identified and selected from once again, meaning that these players will form the 2013 Victorian teams. Those selected will be required to train with their state squad through the remainder of the summer, beyond the conclusion of the formal season.

Season Dates and Galas

In order to ensure all teams play each other once, there will be a number of gala weekends in the condensed season. All teams will be required to play in two regional and at least one metropolitan gala round over the 10 week period, with other games to be played as home and away fixtures. Further details of the fixture will be forthcoming over the next few weeks, however at this stage we anticipate 4 regions will host galas of up to 6-8 teams, and two metro venues will host galas of up to 6-8 teams.

Every endeavour will be made, as always, within the fixturing process to minimise travel. For example, we hope to be able to play the farthest reaching teams in a metro gala, meaning these Zones effectively ‘meet half way’.

Championship Series

As in 2011/12, there will not be a Championship Series, with those teams finishing on top of the League tables at the conclusion of the awarded with the Premiership.

Technical & Respect Points

Technical & Respect Points will once again be awarded to teams throughout the 2012/13 season, with points designed to reward those coaches and players who work hard to understand and implement the National Coaching Curriculum and its principals, regardless of whether that results in wins on the board, and also reward excellent behaviour. All VCL stakeholders should note that poor behaviour from players, coaches and spectators will not be tolerated, with point penalties likely to apply.

Age Categories

The 2012/13 Age Categories will be as per last season, with Zones required to enter teams in the 13, 14, 15 & 17 Boys and 13, 15 & 17 Girls.

Age determinations will be as follows:

Anticipated Changes to Zones

In preparation for the implementation of changes anticipated under the National Competition Review, FFV has offered the Wimmera South Coast and Goulburn North East Zones an opportunity to divide into two regions each for the coming VCL Season. Whilst these details are yet to be finalised/confirmed, should both regions agree the VCL competition will expand to 14-team Leagues, with teams competing from Geelong & surrounding areas, Ballarat & surrounds, Shepparton & surrounds and Albury-Wodonga & surrounds.

We will be working with the relevant committees and Regional Associations to ascertain whether these changes are both desired and achievable and will continue to keep other VCL stakeholders informed of progress.

2012/13 Committee Appointments

Involvement in a Zone Committee is a wonderful way to support the Victorian Champions League and the growth of football and talented player development in Victoria. It’s your chance to make a difference, have a voice within the Zone and apply your skills whatever they may be... management, administration, operations, logistics, book keeping, marketing and more!

The Directors of each of the VCL Zones will once again appoint a ‘Working Committee’ to undertake the operational functions within each Zone. The term of these appointments will be 1 August, 2011 to 30 June, 2012 and members of each Committee will be required to sign a ‘Delegation of Authority’ document confirming their operational responsibilities for the Zone in accordance with the Zone’s Constitution and By-Laws.

Those who have previously been appointed to a Zone Committee will need to re-apply if they wish to continue, by completing a nomination form.

Those who have not been previously involved in a Zone Committee but wish to do so will need to complete a nomination form.

Nomination forms will be posted on the FFV website.

All committee members should have a current Working with Children Check.

For noting, the Directors are striving for, and expect that all Committees will comprise a mix of personnel from a number of Clubs within each Zone. All appointments are made at the discretion of the Directors and Zones must operate with a minimum Committee size of three (3) people.

For queries regarding Working Committees, please contact Lachlan Alexander on lalexander@footballfedvic.com.au or 9474 1812.

2012/13 Head Zone Coach Appointments

FFV will begin to re-appoint and appoint appropriate Head Zone Coaches throughout July. Although a voluntary role, a levy will be struck across all Zones to provide appointed HZCs a stipend to cover travel and other VCL-related expenses.

To be considered for a Head Zone Coach position, please provide an expression of interest to the Talented Player Development Department, addressed to Technical Director, Sean Douglas, via email: talentedplayer@footballfedvic.com.au, noting in the subject VCL Head Zone Coach.

2012/13 Team Coach Appointments

With more than 90 coaches in the Victorian Champions League each season, there’s a real focus on ensuring that we get our greatest coaches involved and work hard with them to develop their skills. By our greatest coaches, we very much mean the ones that demonstrate 100% commitment to implementing the National Curriculum in each and every way and those that exhibit all the right behaviours that make a top development coach! Those who are willing to embrace the concept of the VCL and its objectives, and who want to develop their own coaching careers are the ones we’re keen to hear from.

Any of the coaches who we’ve had in the past who haven’t demonstrated these attributes will find themselves somewhere other than pitch-side this summer! We’ve been monitoring behaviours closely, assessing understanding of and commitment to the National Curriculum and listening intently to the feedback of the players and parents who were asked to rate various aspects of their coach’s performance last season.

Any coach that has previously been involved in the VCL will need to provide evidence of their support for the implementation of the National Curriculum in order to be re-appointed. Others who have not demonstrated their support (through their behaviour, coaching method or style of play) will not be reappointed or, if otherwise appropriate, be required to undertake a mentoring/development planning process.

A collaborative approach from FFV, the Head Zone Coach (having been appointed by, and representing FFV) and the Working Committee to making coach appointments will help ensure that all Zones have a group of terrific coaches heading up their teams in 2012/13.

An advertisement for all coaching positions inclusive of selection criteria will be posted on the FFV website and emailed to registered coaches in coming weeks.

Further information regarding the 2012/13 Victorian Champions League will be made available in the next few weeks.

We look forward to another successful season of VCL.

For Swan Hill players please contact Dave Coward, FFV Zone Development Officer 0400266571 dcoward@footballfedvic.com.au or Paul Smith 0427805443 pkmssmith@bigpond.com