Eglinton DFC's summer competition to return in November

All sport was cancelled back in August due to the COVID-19 lockdown in regional NSW, bringing a temporary end to local Bathurst District Football competitions.

The competitions never resumed, which saw the leading teams in each grade awarded the minor premiership.

But with vaccination rates on the rise, community sport will be able to commence later this month, meaning Eglinton DFC has been able to organise its Friday afternoon summer competition at Police Paddock once again.

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This year, the club will be expanding to cater for junior age groups, which will nine-a-side, while the normal mixed senior competition will be the usual seven-a-side.

The junior competition will have two age groups - 8-10 years and 11-13 years.

Children and parents are encouraged to the use the age that they turned in 2021, but Eglinton DFC is happy to work with players on this if they have a friend or sibling they were hoping to play with or were aged seven this year.

Games will be played on under 10s sized fields, with no offisde. All other soccer rules apply, except that there are no slide tackles allowed.

Other details include 15 minute halves, 8-10s will kick-off at 4.40pm and 11-13s at 5.15pm.

There'll be no referees, with each team to provide a game leader with an approved Working With Children Check.

There'll be no finals, but games will continue to run until the senior draw is completed and the competition will run for around 8-10 weeks depending on the senior draw.

Teams will need to wear the same or similar coloured shirts but senior teams often source sponsorship to offset the team fee, so juniors are welcome to do so as well.

The junior competition is limited in size due to field spaces so players are encouraged to get their teams in as soon as they can.

For players who are struggling to find a team, they can contact Eglinton DFC, who in turn can find a team for them to play in.

A senior team costs $660, while a junior team is $300, with money to cover insurance for Football NSW and ground fees.

The Eglinton DFC competition is one of two summer competitions that will run, with Panorama FC running a senior men's and a senior mixed competition on Wednesday afternoons at Police Paddock.

Panorama FC is also hoping to run an all-ability competition on Monday afternoons at Morse Park.

For more information or to submit a team, email eglintondfc@gmail.com.

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