For coaches of Mixed JDL (Under 9 to Under 12) and Girls JDL (Under 10 to Under 13) teams in Football NSW's 2026 Junior Development Leagues, which replaced the Skill Acquisition Program. Covers eligibility, formats, match length, no ladders, training load, coach rules and the four core skills.
The Junior Development Leagues (JDL) were introduced by Football NSW in 2025, replacing the Skill Acquisition Program (SAP) and the Girls Skill Acquisition Program (GSAP). They are known as the Mixed JDL and the Girls JDL.
The age groups remain consistent with the old program. JDL teams compete in modified playing formats of traditional football, with modified field size, player numbers, rules and ball sizes. Players in the JDL fit within Football Australia's Skill Acquisition Phase of the player development pathway.
Football NSW introduced the Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework during the 2024 season, and each season clubs are assessed against it and given a score and rating badge. Football NSW says it will not directly coach JDL teams.
Sources: Football NSW Junior Development Leagues page (footballnsw.com.au/competitions/skill-acquisition-program/); Football NSW JDL Parent Information, March 2025.
Age groups (2026): Mixed JDL covers Under 9, 10, 11 and 12. Girls' JDL covers Under 10, 11, 12 and 13.
Registration: all players must be registered on the National Registration System.
Player boundaries: a licensee may only register players from the Football NSW JDL Player Boundary in which its home ground is located (North, East, West, South, Riverina, Southern or Western). Clubs may be required to show evidence of a player's residential address. A child can still play for a licensee from outside its boundary if they are the child of a person who is a Life Member of the licensee (or has been for at least 10 years a combination of registered player, director or management committee member), or if they were registered with that GJDL/MJDL club in 2025 (a returning player). Football NSW may also grant out-of-area exemptions. Breaches of the eligibility criteria carry a $2,000 fine per breach to the licensee.
Relative Age Effect (RAE): each applicable age grade is limited to two RAE players unless Football NSW grants a special exemption. RAE players count within the permitted squad totals. Clubs must ask Football NSW to assess any player seeking RAE status.
Source: Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026, Schedules 1 and 2 and the RAE article.
JDL match formats reflect the Football Australia Small Sided Football formula.
Mixed JDL (2026):
| Age group | Players per team on field | Recommended formation | Players per team (squad) | Licensee squad total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 9 | 7v7 | 1-3-3 or 1-2-3-1 | 10 | 20 (16 boys + 4 girls) |
| Under 10, 11, 12 | 9v9 | 1-3-2-3 or 1-3-3-2 | 12 | 24 (20 boys + 4 girls) |
Licensees may select more than 4 girls per team, which proportionately reduces the number of boys. They cannot replace girls' registrations with boys' registrations. Breaching the permissible players per team criteria is a $2,000 fine per breach to the licensee.
Girls' JDL (2026): Under 10, 11, 12 and 13 all play 9v9 (1-3-2-3 or 1-3-3-2), with 12 to 14 players per team and a licensee squad total of 14.
Source: Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026, Schedule 1 (Mixed JDL) sections 3 and 4, and Schedule 2 (Girls' JDL) sections 3 and 4.
Under the 2026 Football NSW Competitions Regulations:
Mixed JDL matches are scheduled over four time slots (Under 9 and Under 10 matches, then Under 11 and Under 12 matches, each on a half field). Girls' JDL matches are scheduled over two time slots.
Source: Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026, Section 2 (Duration of Match) and Schedules 1 and 2.
No. The 2026 Football NSW Competitions Regulations state that no results, points and league tables will be kept during the game phase of the 2026 Mixed JDL, and the same for the 2026 Girls' JDL (which also has no championship series). There will be no Championship Matches at the conclusion of the 2026 game phase in either league.
Source: Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026, Schedule 1 (Mixed JDL) and Schedule 2 (Girls' JDL).
The 2026 Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework sets these JDL league compliance requirements:
The 2025 JDL Parent Information describes the recommended program as a 36-week training and competition program (for example, 4 to 6 weeks in October/November to December plus 30 to 36 weeks from January to August), with three training sessions per week plus one game a week in the competition phase. It says clubs are not permitted to charge players an extra fee for training during the November to March period, and that trial weeks do not count towards the 36 to 40 weeks.
Sources: Football NSW Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework 2026 (JDL league compliance); Football NSW JDL Parent Information, March 2025 (sections 3, 9 and 10).
The 2026 Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework lists these JDL league compliance requirements, each with a sanction of minus two points on the club's overall assessment score (to a maximum of minus 10):
The 2025 JDL Parent Information adds that clubs must not make additional training opportunities mandatory, and that all coaching, training and game costs must be included within the capped Player Registration Fee.
Sources: Football NSW Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework 2026 (JDL league compliance); Football NSW JDL Parent Information, March 2025.
The 2025 Football NSW JDL Parent Information lists these minimum and recommended qualifications for the Junior Development Leagues:
| Role | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Head of JDL | B Diploma | A Diploma |
| Head Coach | C Diploma | C/B Diploma + |
| Goalkeeper Coach | Foundation of GK | GK C Diploma |
| Assistant Coach | Foundation of Football | C Diploma |
The 2026 Football NSW Competitions Regulations (Minimum Coaching Qualifications article) say the minimum coaching qualifications for each league and grade are set out in a separate Minimum Coaching Qualifications document, which also covers coach registration and fines for a breach. The 2026 Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework requires all JDL coaches to be registered on PlayFootball, and the club to appoint a Technical Director.
Sources: Football NSW JDL Parent Information, March 2025 (section 8); Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026; Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework 2026.
Players in the JDL fit within Football Australia's Skill Acquisition Phase of the player development pathway. That phase focuses on individual player development, and performance is assessed on player involvement, technical advancement, mental engagement and enjoyment of the game.
Football NSW says the philosophy, behaviours and structures it recommends are consistent with the Football Australia National Curriculum and centre on four core skills:
Football NSW Technical Advisors attend club meetings, training sessions and matchdays each season to support and evaluate clubs. Football NSW's stated aim is for all JDL programs to reach Silver status as a minimum under its Club Standards and Benchmarking Framework.
Sources: Football NSW Junior Development Leagues page (footballnsw.com.au/competitions/skill-acquisition-program/); Football NSW JDL Parent Information, March 2025.
The home licensee (club) is responsible for appointing instructing referees or Game Leaders to its home JDL matches. A Game Leader can be a club official, a capable parent, an older child or player, or a beginner referee.
Football NSW encourages clubs to make sure Game Leaders wear club or consistent attire, including closed runners or boots, appropriate fitness gear, a wristwatch and a whistle.
Source: Football NSW Competitions Regulations 2026, Schedule 1 (Mixed JDL) and Schedule 2 (Girls' JDL), Referees (Game Leader).