Many apologies for the delay but we have been through quite a deal of wrangling with councils over ground and floodlight usage for this season's competition. We have been given the go-ahead today subject to the following:
- We will be playing at Leichhardt Park #3, which we last used for the 2007 competition (adjacent to La Montage function centre).
- We may not have use of the floodlights!!
Strangely the council has ordered that no park lights be switched on at night time, and we are still "in discussion" with them about this. Should the ridiculous prevail leaving us unable to use the lights, then we will be reducing the number of games played on each Tuesday and Thursday night to daylight hours and playing the overflow on Wednesday nights. This means a small number of your matches may be scheduled to play on a Wednesday night instead of your regular Tuesday or Thursday, but you would not be required to play Tuesday and Wednesday in the same week for example.
The competition will be starting on the week of Tuesday October 27. As usual, in the event that we receive more applications than we can accept, priority will be given to teams that have been with us in previous seasons, and who hold good disciplinary records. Please do not assume that your application has been approved until you hear from us.
The documents that you need are:
- Team entry form - to be filled out once per team (Word format so those of you with a doctor's handwriting please fill it out on a computer).
- Insurance disclaimer - to be printed out, read, and individually signed by every registered player.
You must fill out the form and attach a clearly legible photo identification for all players, otherwise your application will not be accepted. We suggest a photo copy of a drivers license or passport and not just a loose photo with no details on it.
Pretty much everything else remains the same as last year apart from one thing. All players are now required to nominate a shirt number on the team entry form and wear it in every game throughout the season. Despite all our pleading and warnings, it seems that teams last season were still trying to use unregistered "ring-in" players. This is a problem for a number of reasons including stipulations in our liability insurance, but most of all it is unfair to other teams who do the right thing, even playing short when required. This rule will be stringently enforced this season.
So to summarise:
- The competition will start on October 27 and will run into February next year.
- Matches will be played at Leichhardt Park #3, on Tuesday and Thursday nights between approximately 6:15 and 9pm (subject to lighting).
- You may enter a team on either Tuesday or Thursday nights. You may specify your preference on the entry form, although please be aware that we may not be able to accomodate you. This will depend on the number of teams wanting to play on each night. As mentioned earlier you may have to play on Wednesday nights from time to time should we have no access to floodlighting.
- Entry fees are $1100 per team and must be paid in full before the start of the competition.
- Teams may have a maximum of 10, and a minimum of 9 players. This allows you to play with a couple of substitutes and also makes sure you're not caught short on weeks when someone is unable to play.
- We require the name, address, and photo identification of all players to be supplied on the entry forms as part of our public liability insurance requirements. Also if a player plays in a winter competition please put their club and registration number on form. You will not be able to play unregistered players during the competition.
- Due to overwhelming numbers of entries each year, receipt of your entry form and fees by Balmain SC does not guarantee a position in the competition. Should there be too many entries your money will be refunded in full.
- Teams that are successful in gaining entry to the competition will have to download a waiver form which must be filled out by all players. Players will not be permitted to play without signing a waiver form. No exceptions!
- Click here for a full list of competition rules.
There will be a Captains meeting a week before the competition starts to address all queries on rules and regulations so please no phone calls on such matters until then.
Dave Grill
Competition Secretary
