New Zealand Football have updated the regulations for U-20 players in the men’s National League ahead of the 2023 season. 

From next year, at least 10% of available playing minutes from each team, calculated across the season, must be afforded to U-20 players (players aged under 20 on 1st January of that season). This replaces the previous regulations which stated that two U-20 players had to start every National League game in both the regional and national phases of the competition. The updated regulations still means that, on average, two U-20 players will play in each game of the National League.

The change comes following recommendations from the National League Technical Working Group, a group made up of representatives from across football in Aotearoa, and allows for teams to have greater flexibility whilst still championing youth development.

New Zealand Football Technical Director Andy Boyens sees the change as a positive move for the league:

“The National League system has been successful in providing opportunities for young talent to play at the highest level of domestic football in New Zealand.

“This change allows for clubs to have greater flexibility on how they integrate their young talent into their teams and simplifies the process for participants.

“There was strong sentiment from the working group that New Zealand Football should place a high level of trust in the National League clubs to bring to life the principles of the competition and to support the development of young New Zealand players. The new rule places that trust in the clubs to compete in the spirit of the competition whilst having more autonomy to use their squads as they see fit.” 

Alongside the changes to the way U-20 player opportunities are regulated, an U-20 player transfer window will be established at the end of the National League regional phase. This will provide an opportunity for National League Championship sides to register up to two additional U-20 players from sides that did not qualify for the Championship ahead of the start of the national phase of the competition. 

The National League was launched in 2021 following New Zealand Football’s Delivery and Sustainability Project which examined many of the challenges facing football in Aotearoa. 

The men’s National League system is made up of three regional leagues (Northern League, Central League and Southern League) with the top sides from each qualifying for national competition in the National League Championship. 

The fully club-based men’s National League replaced the previous franchise-based model allowing for a much more sustainable structure where regional rivalries have national significance. 

Article added: Tuesday 08 November 2022