October Newsletter
Announcements
As the season is now well underway, we have just a few announcements and reminders for all teams, coaches, parents and everyone involved at clubs across the GCGL.
We would appreciate it if clubs could share this information with their coaches, parents and anyone else involved with their teams.
Social Media Conduct
Social media is a powerful tool, but it can also cause upset when used without care.
The Mercy Rule exists to protect young players from seeing high-scoring results published publicly.
We would therefore ask all clubs and teams to be mindful of what they post on social media.
Please avoid publishing actual scorelines on stylised match posters where the Mercy Rule applies.
By all means, celebrate your team's win, but remember that the opposing players also deserve a positive junior football experience.
This also applies to Mini Football.
We all want our girls to enjoy their football, regardless of the result, and a little consideration goes a long way.
Power-Play Rule – Mini Football
The Power-Play Rule is designed to help prevent one-sided, high-scoring games and ensure that all players have a positive football experience.
A reminder of how the rule works:
If a team is losing by four goals, the losing coach may introduce an additional player (for example, 5v5 becomes 5v6).
If the goal difference drops below four, the additional player must be removed.
The player removed does not necessarily have to be the same player who was introduced.
We ask all coaches to work together and apply this rule in the spirit in which it was intended.
Hub Fees & Age Group Updates
Under 9s
Demand in the Under 9s age group has been so high that half of the teams have now moved to Llantarnam 3G, alongside the Under 7s.
Fees remain at £7.50 for two hours.
Clubs will be invoiced as we approach half-term.
Under 8s
The Under 8s have settled well into their new venue at West Mon, and it is great to see everything progressing so positively.
Under 7s
Numbers continue to grow steadily in the Under 7s age group.
The coaching group at Llantarnam are doing a fantastic job. They are a great bunch, all working together as a team to provide a positive football experience for our younger girls.
A few reminders:
If your club wishes to enter a team, please let us know.
Once a team has been entered on COMET, the weekly fee applies even if the team does not attend, unless it has been formally withdrawn.
The league continues to cover costs where required across all 3G venues.
It is brilliant to see so many young girls getting involved in football, and we hope to see these numbers continue to grow throughout the season.
Cup Finals – Rodney Parade
We are thrilled to confirm that next year's joint Cup Finals with the Newport Junior Football League will once again take place at Rodney Parade, Newport.
Dates for Your Diary
Saturday 24th & Sunday 25th April 2027
Please keep this weekend free!
Age-group allocations will be confirmed later in the season.
If your club has a team involved in the finals, your support is essential to help ensure that we can continue securing this fantastic venue for our girls.
Playing at Rodney Parade is a brilliant opportunity and experience for the players, and we want to continue making these occasions special for everyone involved.
Plate Finals
The Under 12s and Under 13s Plate Finals will take place at Llantarnam 3G.
Date
Sunday 11th April 2027
Kick-off times will be confirmed closer to the date.
Good luck to all teams competing in both the Cup and Plate competitions!
Team Sheets on COMET
A reminder to all coaches regarding the submission of team sheets on COMET.
Mini Football
Team sheets must be submitted between 08:00 and 13:00.
The coach attending the game must submit the team sheet.
One person should not be submitting team sheets on behalf of multiple teams.
Competitive Football
Team sheets must be submitted 15 minutes before kick-off.
Coaches and players must be present at the venue before the team sheet is confirmed.
Please ensure these requirements are followed each week to help everything run smoothly.
Smoking & Vaping
A reminder to all clubs, coaches, parents and spectators of the FAW and site-provider rules regarding smoking and vaping.
No smoking or vaping is permitted inside the cages at any of our 3G hub sites.
Smoking and vaping are also prohibited within school grounds.
Anyone found smoking or vaping in these areas will be asked to leave the cage area.
In addition, under FAW Rule 5 – Positive Match Day Culture, smoking, vaping and the consumption of alcoholic or 'alcohol-style' drinks, including 0.0% products, are prohibited on the sidelines.
We ask everyone to respect these rules and help us maintain a safe, positive environment for all our young players.
Club Changes
Please note the following club contact update:
Cwmcarn Girls
New Club Secretary: Craig Johnson
Email: info@cwmcarngirls.co.uk
Please ensure your club records are updated where necessary.
Website Updates
Our league website is currently undergoing a full redesign, and it is already looking excellent!
We are continuing to make improvements to ensure the website is a useful source of information for all clubs, coaches, parents and players involved in the GCGL.
We would ask all clubs to:
Check that your club's contact information is correct on the website.
Let us know if anything needs updating so we can make the necessary changes.
Remember that all club contact changes must also be updated on COMET.
We want to ensure that the information available to everyone is accurate and up to date.
Thank You to Everyone Involved
Finally, a big thank you to all our clubs, coaches, volunteers, parents and everyone who continues to support the GCGL.
There is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes to keep the league running, and we appreciate the time and effort that everyone puts in.
Our aim remains the same: to provide a positive, enjoyable and supportive football environment for all the girls involved in our league.
Good luck to all teams for the rest of the season, and thank you for your continued support.
GCGL League Committee
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