Football Victoria (FV) is thrilled to announce that from 2022, the National Premier League Victoria Women (NPLW) will be a Professional Competition.
The league’s transition from amateur to professional status will create significant benefits for NPLW Clubs and Victorian female players, who will welcome a raft of changes that improve player security and financial entitlements.
FV President Antonella Care said the shift marks a landmark occasion for football in our state and that professionalising the league was inevitable given the growing stature of women’s football.
“This is a momentous day for football in Victoria. Professionalising the NPLW has been discussed at length in the past and after extensive consultation with Clubs, we collectively feel that 2022 is the right time to implement this new model,” she said.
“FV is committed to gender equity across all levels of our game and the structural changes to roster composition is another example of how Victorian football is moving towards parity in all aspects football.”
The advantages for players and Clubs extend beyond just existing NPLW footballers, as A-League Women players will be able to move to and from the NPLW fluidly, without having to terminate their contracts.
Loan moves will also become viable, with the option for NPLW teams to loan players to gain first team experience or address team needs. A-League Women Clubs now also have access to loan players to, or from NPLW Clubs.
A summary of key improvements to adopting a professional model can be seen below.
KEY BENEFITS
- Players can get paid in line with the National Registration Regulation guidelines
- Players are now able to sign multi-year contracts, providing greater security for both parties
- Clubs are protected from losing players
- Clubs can loan players to other NPLW Clubs, providing win-win situations for all parties
- A-League Women’s players can sign on loan or contract without terminating their existing contracts
- Increase roster size
Ezel Hikmet, FV’s NPL General Manager believes it is integral that NPLW players and Clubs share the same benefits as the men’s competitions and that the league is ready to evolve from its previous amateur status.
“Victoria’s NPLW will now be aligned with the rest of Australia’s elite state competitions and female footballers will share the same opportunities that exist in the men’s space,” he said.
“Conditions for players and Clubs are set to improve dramatically under this new model and importantly, the entire quality of the league will benefit."
The change will also see an increase in roster size from between 18-20 players to 20-23 players, which will mirror the existing roster sizes in the NPL Men’s competition.
Clubs will also have the ability to promote an unlimited number of players from their youth teams into their senior team on match day instead of the pre-existing figure of six, once again matching the regulations in the men’s competition.