The move comes after a review of the competition conducted by NZF in consultation with its seven member federations.
The competition will still feature representative teams from each federation but a second team from Auckland Football – recognising the current depth in that region – will bring the competition to eight teams from the 2011 season.
In the first year as a Women’s Youth League, the competition will restrict squads largely to U-20 players, rising to U-21 in 2012 and U-23 in 2013, before removing the restrictions for the 2014 season.
In each of those three seasons as a youth league, five overage players will be allowed in each squad of 24, although no more than three may take the field at any one time.
Teams must select their age-restricted players from those who reside or play within their boundaries but will be able to draft their quota of overage players from any region.
Played from January to March, the League will be split into Northern and Southern conferences for the 2011 edition, although the viability of a national round robin format will be explored for future seasons.
NZF Women’s Football Development Manager Bev Priestman says the move to a Women’s Youth League reflects the reality of female football in New Zealand.
“The growth and the depth of women’s football in this country is currently at the youth level. These changes embrace that, giving our best young players a stage to develop and push for higher honours in front of national scouts, while learning from the cream of our overage talent.
“It also links into the development pathways we’ve set up for players and offers similar pathways for female coaches and referees to help build an infrastructure to support the growth in the game.”
The National Women’s League was launched in 2002, with Auckland Football winning six of the seven titles contested since then, and Capital Football claiming the other.
Story and photo courtesy of NZF Media.
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