Prizemoney, playing down division and revised grading rules.
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That's some of the changes coming to Bathurst District Football (BDF) in 2020, as the countdown to the kick-off the senior competition gets closer.
BDF met for its annual general meeting on Tuesday, January 21, at the Proctor Park clubhouse, addressing some changes it will introduce to competition's this season.
One of the proposed changes was the introduction of a $500 cash prize for all grades in men's and women's, while the grand final winners in first grade for men's and women's will remain slightly higher at $1000.
BDF president Andrew Speed said the decision to introduce prizemoney for all grades was because of an increase in sponsorship over the past couple of years.
"Prizemoney came in a couple of years ago men's and women's first grade, but we've been getting more sponsorship so the $500 prizemoney is more of a incentive for the lower grades," he said.
One of the biggest changes for the 2020 BDF season is players won't be able to play down a grade, after previously being allowed to play down a grade.
The grading system will also have a shake up, with the BDF to make sure the right players and teams are graded to the correct team and competition.
"What we want to do is make sure capable first grade players aren't dropping down to third or fourth grade," Speed said.
Clubs will be required to provide details of new players, detailing their registration from recent seasons.
Clubs registering players to their club who played in a higher grade in BDF competition last year will have to provide a reasoning for the drop in grade.
Some players can be rejected from lower grades and be required to play in a higher team and, if that club has one team, that player may be told to find a new team.
Considerations will be taken, however, in regards to situations such as age and player loyalty.
BDF will also do away with the rule that restricted players from playing finals if they hadn't played enough games.
Players were previously required to play 50 per cent of the total matches in a season to qualify for finals, but in 2020, a footballer could play just one game and still qualify for finals.
Footballers playing up from their grade will have to play 50 per cent of the season to qualify for finals.
Speed explained the rule change came about because of the amount of players suffering long term injuries that ruled them out of finals.
"Players who'd got hurt or injured and missed out on 10 weeks of playing wouldn't be allow to play finals," he said.
"The theory is, that if you're graded to your correct grade and you've paid your money, who can't you play finals?"
Players that a registered in a grade but only plays in a higher one will be allocated to the higher one and ineligible to play in the lower grade.
A proposed start date for the senior competitions is the final weekend of March, however, it won't be finalised until draws are locked in.