The programme is for all players born between 2007 and 2014, with representative teams entered into Under 12's, Under 14's, Under 16's, and Under 18's age groups.
All players in the programme will play for Townsville at the Junior State Cup North (JSCN), which will be held in Townsville in April 2025.
Players will then be selected into teams, based on their based on their performance at the JSCN and the commitment to the programme, to compete in the Queensland Junior State Cup (QJSC) held in Rockhampton, QLD in July 2025.
The 2025 season continues the staged rollout of the Saints programme, stepping away from club-level teams in all age groups except Under 10's, in order to foster a more unified representative framework for Townsville players. Clubs will still enter teams into the Under 10's age group, pending numbers.
Based on feedback, the Saints Junior Muster will only be required for Under 12's and Under 14's age groups, and will be held on Saturday, 9 November 2024, at TTF's fields in North Ward. The Muster will allow younger players to demonstrate their capabilities in front of the Saints coaching team, and assist the Saints sub-committee to plan team numbers and training schedules for 2025.
Players in the Under 16's and Under 18's groups will kick-start their involvement with direct entry into squad training sessions beginning early February 2025.
TTF, in partnership with the Townsville Touch Referees Association, is also excited to open a newly established pathway for referees known as the 'Saints Representative Referee Programme'. This initiative features two tiers in order to cater for junior referees who also want to try their hand at playing representative touch football. The programme will provide specialised coaching and development opportunities aimed at preparing referees for representative-level officating, and fostering the next generation of top-level referees.
For more details, including registration processes and programme specifics, visit the Townsville Saints website at https://saints.tsv.tf/programme/junior/join.
Don't miss this chance to be a part of a growing community, enhance your skills, and play at the most competitive levels of junior touch football in Queensland.
Photo credit: Toni Scanlan