NEWS

Hopefully this latest update from WaiBoP finds you all well and still raring to go for an eventual kick-off to the football season.

 

Hi Club Administrators

Hope you are all keeping safe and well.

We have had requests from some clubs regarding likely playing scenarios with the shortened season, so it seems timely to update all clubs.  We have been doing extensive work behind the scenes on this and looking at how our leagues would work with a variety of different start dates.

I have included below the likely scenarios, should our leagues be able to start on the 30^th May and there being no travel restrictions in place.

We have had a lot of discussions around scenarios involving travel restrictions (both within our federation and with the other federations that would also be affected by travel restrictions), but I feel that these are very difficult to outline without a clear indication from the Government, Sport NZ and NZ Football as to what those travel restrictions would look like.  However, please be assured that we will be working with clubs to ensure that we can include all possible teams in our leagues, should travel restrictions be in place.

 

PROPOSED LEAGUE FORMATS WITH A START DATE OF 30^TH MAY

(Note: these are all subject to change, no start date is yet confirmed)

PREMIERSHIP AND CHAMPIONSHIP

12 team leagues

Start date Saturday 30^th May, finish date Saturday 12^th September

16 weeks

Play one full round, plus a split into top six, bottom six

 

WAIBOP W-LEAGUE

7 team league

Start date Sunday 31st May, finish date Sunday 30^th August

14 weeks

Play two full rounds

 

MENS WAIKATO DIVISION 1, 2 AND 3

10 team leagues

Start date Saturday 30^th May, finish date Saturday 29^th August/5^th September

14/15 weeks

Play one full round, plus a split into top four, bottom six

 

WAIKATO MENS DIVISION 4

12 team league

Start date Saturday 30^th May, finish date Saturday 12^th September

16 weeks

Play one full round, plus a split into top six, bottom six

 

ALTERNATIVE OPTION FOR ALL WAIKATO MENS DIVISIONS

Change divisions to be 4 x 8 team divisions and 1 x 10 team division (Clubs to be placed in divisions based on 2020 requests, and 2019 finishing placings)

Start date Saturday 30^th May, finish date Saturday 29^th August/5^th September

14/15 weeks

8 team leagues play two full rounds; 10 team league plays one full round plus a split into top four, bottom six

 

WAIKATO WOMENS LEAGUES

Division 1 – 8 team league, Division 2 – 10 team league

Start date Sunday 31st May, finish date Sunday 30^th August/Sunday 6^th September

14/15 weeks

Division 1 – two full rounds

Division 2 – one full round plus a split into top four, bottom six

 

The Waikato Cup and Plate for Men and Women, will not be going ahead in 2020 to allow us to focus on getting the leagues completed, and all teams playing as many games as possible.

 

NOTE: In all leagues, there will be no postponements accepted from clubs unless games can be played mid-week, to allow any catch-up Saturdays or Sundays for weather cancellations.

 

YOUTH LEAGUES

As there are a large number of different scenarios within all of these leagues, and some uncertainty still around AIMS Games, and a revised format for NZ Secondary Schools tournament week, then we will confirm individual league formats once we have a confirmed start date and a clearer idea on tournaments.

 

JUNIORS

Start date Saturday 6^th June (Saturday after Queens Birthday), extend the finish date to Saturday 5^th September

Round 1 – 6 team divisions where possible (home or away); Round 2 – 8 team divisions where possible (home or away)

 

We will keep clubs updated as soon as we have any further information to hand on likely start dates.

 

For further information on what sport can take place in Alert Level 3, please see the Sport NZ website:

https://sportnz.org.nz/assets/Uploads/Play-Active-Recreation-and-Sport-at-Alert-Levels-4-4.pdf

 

Regards, Catherine

Catherine Clark
Competitions Manager, WaiBOP Football Federation