Football SA to deliver revised Youth Competition structure for 2025

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Football South Australia (Football SA) has revealed a change to its Youth Competition Structure which will be launched in 2025.

This new structure to hit Football SA next year has been based on an extensive two-year review led by Football SA Technical Director Michael Cooper.

A Club Championship model was proposed to Club Presidents at the President’s meeting in November 2023 which was unanimously supported.

The following Youth Club Championship model has been constructed following consultation with individual Clubs, Football SA Technical Department, Advisory Committees.

Ages until Under 9s Mixed and Girls will not have a changed championship system.

This new system will be applied to under 13, 14, 15, 16 mixed & girls’ teams.

Some of the key features include:

  • Consolidated match venues, with teams from the same club playing at one location.
  • A Club Championship table that combines match results with player development metrics.
  • Bonus points for clubs meeting coaching license criteria and utilising player development tracking systems.
  • Point deductions for disciplinary issues, supporting Football SA’s Respect Campaign for match officials. For example, abuse of the Referee or violent conduct receives a -3 championship points.

This was used to ensure the Youth Club Championship is not solely reliant on results and is fostering an improved player development environment and match day culture, points bonuses and deductions will be incorporated in the championship table.

Michael Cooper, Football SA Technical Director, stated via media release:

“This is a huge step in the right direction for football here in SA. We look forward to working with the clubs involved to create many positive youth development environments for the next generations of players, coaches, and officials.”

The overall outcomes from these plans will foster:

  • Enhanced oversight from Club Technical Directors which is key for player development and the different clubs balance of player abilities.
  • Improved match day culture with a “sports day carnival” atmosphere engaging not just highlighting singular teams, but a more united entire club culture.
  • Potential for increased revenue through food and beverage sales
  • A finals series at the season’s conclusion
  • Better fixture scheduling, leading to improved match official coverage and mentoring opportunities

Michael Carter, Football SA CEO, commented:

“Having the best players matched against the best week in week out, combined with a finals series for our youth will be great additions to the metropolitan competition.”

This new Youth Championship is created importantly to help kids play in a supportive and safe environment. This will encourage the passion of the game and hopefully bring the much needed increase in positive sporting behaviour.

The overachieving South Australia is truly leading the way in positive you football development.

It will be interesting to see the outcomes in the coming years.

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Senix and Newcastle Jets unveil exciting multi-year deal

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Image Credit: Shutterstock - IOIO Images

The Newcastle Jets have announced a multi-year partnership with power tool and equipment company Senix.

Through the deal, Senix branding will feature on Newcastle Jets Women’s and Men’s teams’ shorts across the 24/25 and 25/26 seasons.

This grants Senix with extremely visible advertising, highlighting the Jet’s dedication to the collaboration and providing a significant marketing opportunity for Senix as the company seeks to grow its new portfolio in Australia.

As a rapid developer within its industry, Senix has grown to operate in American, Southeast Asian, and recent Australian markets, with plans to move into New Zealand, Japan, Korea, India and the Middle East.

Vice President of Senix Australia & New Zealand, Tim Paton, described his pride and excitement for the partnership between Senix and the Jets.

“We are excited to partner with the Newcastle Jets as they embark on their new journey,” he said via press release.

“Senix is the fastest growing power tool company in the world and the Australian market is a key focus area, so it was a natural fit to partner with the Jets given their footprint in New South Wales.

“Jets fans and people of the broader Newcastle region will love our products. We create powerful but affordable products that remain eco-minded with low-to-no-emissions. Bottom line, we deliver premium performance at an exceptional value.”

Newcastle Jets CEO, Maurice Bisetto, outlined the benefits of the deal.

“Senix are a global powerhouse in the power tool and equipment category so for the Jets to be able to partner with them is a real coup for us,” he said in a press release.

“Senix are supporting the club as a whole with branding on our A-League and W-League teams and we are excited to work with them to grow their footprint in the Australian market and give Jets fans the opportunity to win some of their tools.”

 

Signality: Revolutionising Sports Data with AI Technology

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Image credit: Signality

Signality was founded in 2016 with a clear vision to transform sports data. The company was driven by the ambition to make sports data as efficient and autonomous as a self-driving car.

With a rise in AI technology, the Swedish-based company are changing the way sports data is captured, analysed and utilised.

Signality have focused heavily on using their technology to create an extensive and complex soccer data system thanks to their automated cloud-based platform.

This platform processes thousands of live soccer games every year, delivering unparalleled data insights. It can ingest feeds from a single panoramic camera to multiple cameras, with more inputs resulting in richer data.

As the company continues to grow, it is expanding in the sports media landscape, after recently being acquired by automated camera and video production company Spiideo, another Swedish sportstech brand.

Signality’s Soccer API

The company’s prized product is their Soccer API which comprehensively tracks data sets from all different angles of the sport to help clubs, leagues and athletes perform at their best.

This is how it works:

Revolutionising Soccer Analytics with Automated Tracking and Event Data

A cutting-edge Soccer API is transforming the way soccer data is collected and delivered. Through fully automated tracking and event data collection, the platform leverages static video camera streams to derive accurate positional and event data without the need for manual intervention.

Automated Data Collection and Low-Latency Delivery

By connecting video streams to the platform’s system, users can initiate an automated process that generates real-time data feeds. These feeds, accessible via an open and user-friendly API, ensure low-latency data delivery, providing crucial insights for analysts, coaches, and broadcasters.

Comprehensive Tracking Data

The platform provides detailed positional data for all players, including the ball and referee. This data forms the basis for numerous Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that can be easily derived, such as:

  • Total Running Distances
  • Speed Zones
  • Number of Sprints
  • Player Separation Metrics
  • And Many More

This positional data is presented with high accuracy and precision, allowing teams to analyse movement patterns and player performance comprehensively.

Rich Event Data

In addition to tracking data, the API delivers extensive event data, covering a broad range of on-field events. Each event is timestamped and linked to the respective team and player. The list of supported event types is continuously expanding and currently includes:

  • Kick-Off
  • Goals
  • Passes
  • Substitutions
  • Red Cards
  • Yellow Cards
  • Corner Kicks
  • Dangerous Free Kicks
  • Penalties
  • End of Phase

This comprehensive event data enables deeper tactical analysis and enhances the storytelling for media coverage.

Proven and Validated Technology

The quality of the platform’s services has been validated by Gothenburg University, ensuring reliability and accuracy. In addition, continuous in-house validation and collaboration with partners help maintain and improve the high standard of service. Interested users can request further details about the validation process.

How It Works

  1. Connect Video Streams: Users can connect their respective video streams to the API and optionally provide additional match information, such as team lineups, home and away teams, and kick-off time.
  2. Automated Processing: The platform’s AI models process the video streams, automatically extracting positional and event data.
  3. Access Data via API: The processed data is made available through an easy-to-use open API, enabling seamless integration into existing systems.
  4. Quality Assurance: Built-in QA services ensure data accuracy by continuously training and refining AI models based on feedback and new data.

Conclusion

Signality’s Soccer API offers a revolutionary solution for automated soccer analytics. By providing fast, accurate, and comprehensive data through a robust open API, it empowers teams, analysts, and broadcasters to gain unparalleled insights into the game. With proven technology and continuous improvement, this platform is set to become a key player in the future of soccer analytics.

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