Local soccer comp redrawn

THE Bendigo Amateur Soccer League has revealed its new senior competition structure, allowing for clubs that can only enter one team to still play in the league.

BASL will introduce a two-tier structure for its men’s and women’s comps for the 2022 season, which it hopes will foster “long-term opportunity for growth whilst supporting the needs of the current senior clubs.”

The new structure removes the three-team minimum requirement for clubs and replaces it with a two-team requirement for League 1, while League 2 is designed for single team entries.

The women’s competition will feature a single-team requirement for both tiers.

BASL president Aaron Shooter said one goal is to attract new teams and competitors.

“The outcome is significant for Football in the region, the board and I truly believe the structure sets us up for both short term stability and future growth,” he said.

“The immediate benefit to current clubs and their members will be improved fixturing, meaning more football more often and addresses the clear feedback from both clubs and players alike over recent years.

“Excitingly it also allows for new or existing regional clubs to apply for entry to the competition without the pressure to develop a three-team senior setup in their first year, in turn allowing a path for growth.”

There are now five competitions in BASL, all sponsored by ANT1GK, with the Central Victorian League 1 men and reserves, League 1 women, League 2 men, League 2 women and Youth.

The senior competitions kick off on 2 and 3 April and the junior competition starts 23 April.