Hills will enter teams in the Sydney Cup competition this season. Due to the Lockdown, time is against us as the Competition is scheduled to commence on Sunday 14th November, 2021

The Competitions are for 

• U12 (September 2009 - August 2011) 
• U15 (September 2007 - August, 2009) and 
• U16 (September 2005- August, 2007).

The first trial for U12 will be held at 9:00am on Saturday 23rd October at Castle Glen. Because of the time constraints there will be a maximum of two trials. Trials for Junior LL will also commence at  on 23rd October, commencing @ 1pm. 

Trials for the Senior LL team will be held on Sunday afternoon 24^th October, 2021 from 1pm  at a venue to be determined.

The trials will be conducted in accordance with the relevant Health Orders applicable at that time. At the moment the Health Orders require all adults attending must provide evidence of double vaccination. Restrictions will be updated as information becomes available.

Players MUST pre-register for all trials. Registration is to include player's name, DOB, Club and two preferred playing positions. The registrations are to be forwarded by email to johnyardhere@yahoo.com.au by Wednesday 20 October, 2021.

To be eligible players must be already registered with a Hills Club and not have changed Clubs or Associations since Season 2020/21, unless providing documented change of Residential Address. Those players who have formal acknowledgement of 'Friendship status' are exempt of this Rule. 

I am yet to see a draw for the Competition which will be played on Sundays at the same venue. It is hoped to play on November 14, 28, December 12th, 19th, January 16th, 30th  and February 13th. It is expected that the teams will train one evening a week.

John

SEASON 2021-22

The Lockdown is certainly frustrating, especially when you realize that next Saturday was the planned ‘Opening Day’ of 2021-22 Season.

We are probably four- weeks away from the State Government providing an idea how the lockdown will end, particularly Junior Community Sport. 

I am expecting that there will be a slow and somewhat cautious lifting of general restrictions from October. Here we want to share our thinking re the commencement of the 2021-22 Season. 

Clubs will need all of four weeks to obtain registrations and grade teams, that will take us into at least mid -November. If all Clubs were ready, say by, November 21^st and there are no Government restrictions, we could start then. If that date does not become possible, then I suggest we commence on December 5^th and conclude on 20th March. It would allow for a 12-week season with no Final Series.

We intend to offer as many Competitions as possible, there is no intention to restrict the Season to First Division Competitions only. That option, in our opinion, would be suicidal as it would cost us Clubs, grounds and players who we may never be able to attract back to the sport. That said, we are expecting a considerable loss of playing numbers. We will need to have a flexible approach as the smaller Clubs may well struggle for registrations with a smaller number of players to draw upon. 

I am told BNSW is considering that there will be a common commencement date for both Seniors and Juniors. I am not as certain of that as Seniors, especially SMBL could be ready to play much earlier than Juniors as their teams are somewhat constant. Seniors may also have the benefit of adults having double vaccination, whereas the ‘bulk’ of Junior numbers are players aged 12 years of age and younger, who have no vaccine.

Gala Days to provide additional games to would not be viable initially, players have not been training and as such there would be at risk of overuse injuries. The commencement of 'seniors' will also have a significant influence on the availability of grounds on Saturday afternoon.

This is by no means ‘set in stone’, should Clubs have other suggestions then by all means put them forward for consideration.

J Yard