How many clubs were in the NWC say 3 years ago?

There are 80+ clubs in our setup. I'll be honest, I have no idea if there's an alternative Summer league for my club (for our level) to go to in the area or not. I think Leeds Akkies are the closest Summer Club but not sure what league they're in.

Quote ="Neville Bartos"How many clubs were in the NWC say 3 years ago? There are 80+ clubs in our setup. I'll be honest, I have no idea if there's an alternative Summer league for my club (for our level) to go to in the area or not. I think Leeds Akkies are the closest Summer Club but not sure what league they're in.'" similar to Pennine. Premier and six divisions below that last winter. there is a Yorkshire summer league also - think this is the link www.yorkshirerl.co.uk/article/fi ... clubs.html - from what's been said, you were all dead set against summer on that side of Pennines .

Quote ="Neville Bartos"How many clubs were in the NWC say 3 years ago? There are 80+ clubs in our setup. I'll be honest, I have no idea if there's an alternative Summer league for my club (for our level) to go to in the area or not. I think Leeds Akkies are the closest Summer Club but not sure what league they're in.'" similar to Pennine. Premier and six divisions below that last winter. there is a Yorkshire summer league also - think this is the link www.yorkshirerl.co.uk/article/fi ... clubs.html - from what's been said, you were all dead set against summer on that side of Pennines .

Main plus point that I can see is just having less games called off, saving clubs valuable money. Younger plays also have the chance to develop better skills from a younger age.

Fans can watch in decent weather
Flexibility in scheduling games
Training in decent weather
Doesn't clash all season with football or RU

Just what is needed

I reckon within 3 years there will only be a handful of teams left playing in the winter.

11 now Higginshaw switched to summer last minute.

From what I hear some of the 11 might go to the Pennine League and some will struggle to raise a team.

North Western Counties League (one division struggling)
Barrow and District League (probably will switch to summer)
Hull and District League (2 small divisions)
Yorkshire League (unlikely to survive much longer, possibly could scrape one division together next season but losing clubs to summer and the Pennine League at the rate of a division a year)

The Pennine League will have more clubs than the rest of winter put together in 2012/13

In the long run I think you're right but 3 years is a bit soon as Under 16s, Under 17s and most Under 18s are still winter in Yorkshire. Think it will switch to summer a year at a time though. Within 3 years the Pennine League and Hull League will be the only winter leagues though albeit Pennine will still be huge til juniors who've grown up on summer come through.

Last I heard the Yorkshire Men's League has 3 divisions (mostly NCL reserve teams but not entirely) then there's a short season league the Akkies are in. There may also be a merit league if enough teams want it. Apparently there's some late entrants to the summer leagues though so can't give you the final lineups just yet.

BARLA has held back the game for decades. It has fostered an intimidating and aggressive atmosphere at many clubs and leagues that has restricted participation to a huge degree. Whether through incompetence, collusion or the organisation simply couldn't be bothered or didnt care about the issue BARLA's lasting legacy will be the huge amounts of kids who have been put off rugby league.

I don't normally advocate following the Dark Side, but in the amateur game Union are miles ahead of League and have been for decades.

Cheers Bowes

The kids switching is the key part of this as it should hopefully help skills development (and increase numbers!). weather today is great - and the season is just about to start! far more conducive to developing skills...

And, from harsh experience, more likelihood of parents taking kids to 2 training sessions plus a match every week, if they don't have to stand around in a freezing cold, muddy field for extended periods of time.

Is the general feeling that by playing in the summer on firmer pitches, it should produce more athletic players especially outside backs.
It would be great if British RL could start producing Inglis or Folau type players.

Not really. I guess it might help as participation levels will increase and so there would be more chance of unearthing top athletes, but that sort of natural athleticism is genetic and can't really be taught. What it should do is produce far more skillful players, especially in the backs.

Would have to disagree with that to a degree.

Us old'uns joke that a good thick muddy surface brings the young flyers down to our level in the winter - and that's true. On some of the surfaces you find dotted around the amateur leagues you'd be lucky to break into anything above a serious jog. Some pitches have no drainage to speak of and remain boggy throughout the winter season. Many others have permanently boggy patches dotted around.

It's hard for the better athletes or more skilful players to show anything in those conditions. Too often it's "ball up the jumper" and "slog it out" time. Short, simple passes and heavy underfoot. Certainly not conducive to developing skilful, athletic players.

Our 3 summer seasons have seen excellent surfaces (not a single bone-hard surface contrary to some fears), fast rugby, the chance to throw the ball around, wonderful training conditions and increased numbers. Our better lads can perform to their best levels in summer conditions.

I agree completely, I think you've got the wrong end of the stick because that's pretty much the exact point I was trying to make.

It's been a long day.

FWIW, I love muddy battles. The kids can run around all day, that sort of stuff is years behind me.

anyone who went to the BBC event at Media City a few months would have heard McDermott talking about how Jon Wilkin (also on the panel) would have had to comepte with 10 - 20 others youngsters to get to 'the top' in RL. He then said an elite level Aussies will comepte with 100 - 200 youngsters to get to the top... teh pool of quality is therefore bigger, and the best of the best tend to be that bit better.

maximising participation is key! it also means we can broaden the net and give 'athletes' from sports like football and Union an opportunity to try league and see if they are more suited.

As promised:

Premier Division:
Siddal A
Bradford Dudley Hill A
Hunslet Warriors A
Fryston Warriors
Cutsyke Raiders
Dewsbury Moor
West Hull A
Skirlaugh A

Group 1:
Elland A
Ovenden A
Milford Marlins A
Stanningley A
East Leeds A

Group 2:
North Yorkshire Stallions
Heworth A
Oulton Raiders A
Shaw Cross Sharks A
Featherstone Lions A

Group 3:
York Lokomotive
York Acorn A
Hull Dockers A
East Hull A
Holderness Vikings

These are all a full season I'll give you the short season leagues later.

Short season divisions

Group 4:
Leeds Akkies
West Bradford Barbarians
Walton Warriors
Scarborough Pirates
Shorpe Barbarians

Group 5:
Stanley Rangers A
Normanton Knights A
Westgate Wolves
Knottingley Rockware Stolze
Rotherham Giants
Sheffield Hillsborough Hawks

Group 6:
Bradford Dudley Hill B
Siddal B
Greetland Allrounders
Slaithwaite Saracens
Dewsbury Celtic A

Merit League:
Last I heard this only had 4 teams in: South Humber Rabbitohs, Heavy Woollen Donkeys, Haworth Park and Barnsley Broncos. They might have found more.

Do you mean Rotherham Roosters?

Not sure which name they're playing under but could be. Used to be Giants in summer and Roosters in winter.

I am one of those parents with 2 kids that play, train on diff nights of the week, add in service area, muddy windswept rainy fields are my 2nd home. To be perfectly honest and admit my selfishness, I BLOODY LOVE the move to summer rugby!

A couple of other benefits we know from the deep south, which only plays summer (apart from the student game):

It's cheaper. No need for floodlights from April to August. No need to hire all-weather training facilities. Indeed, at 'pub-level', no need to hire any training facilities... We just rock up at the council park where our pitch is;

Evening games. We've staged cup finals in July on a Wednesday night. No need for lights. No need for wrapping up. Gives a sense of occasion, and the odd free weekend.

Double headers. Play the 18s or the A team at 1 on a Saturday, and the first team at 3. Make the upcoming players feel part of the club, stop the gap that can appear between firsts and seconds.

Festivals. We've run all-day events with several teams playing 13 a side, 20m each way, round robin games. Show me a pitch that can reliably take 3 hours' gameplay in December!

Likewise, the juniors can play on the main pitch. One of the reasons the Medway Dragons have a club mark gold side in Kent, with teams at every age group, is that the first priority on the no. 1 pitch are the under 8s. Then the u9s. Then the u10s... Etc. if its still playable (which it always is), the open age use it last. The kids in Kent are used to union clubs, where the littleuns are on the far paddock in the mud, and even the colts never play on the precious first team pitch.

Add these together, and the 18s can play Friday or Saturday, so stop being treated like kids on Sunday morning. Many are out on the pop on the weekend. Change the day and less drop out.

Last, you'll get those all round athletes who chose soccer, or even kick n clap, in winter, back in the game . Maybe for a short season only, but now at least they have a choice to play both.