St George Junior Oztag have for long encouraged the development of young referees, with recent competitions proving the increasing popularity among females.
St George Junior Oztag (DragonTag) have a remarkable 14 female referees officiating their Junior competition at Scarborough Park on Thursday afternoons.
Aged between 13 and 15, plus two over-18-year-olds, these girls take to the field with confidence, enthusiasm, and a shared passion for the game.
St George Oztag Licensee, Michelle Anderson, who has been around the game for 24 years, has seen firsthand the growth in female involvement, particularly refereeing.
“Our game has encouraged female participation since it started, by creating Women’s and Mixed divisions… Our female players love playing the game and it’s great to start seeing our female participants becoming more involved in many aspects,” she said.
Anderson puts this growth in female referees down to many of them playing Oztag at a representative level, as well as the relaxed environment of the game.
“By playing representative tag, they have had more opportunities to learn and understand the rules. This has given them confidence to give refereeing a go,” she said.
“Their love of the game and the environment around our game has encouraged them to want to be more of a part of it… refereeing for them is enjoyable and a great way to earn some money,”
Anderson is hopeful that by seeing females officiating games, more young girls will be open to giving refereeing a go, regardless of whether they play at a Representative level.
St George DragonTag have make a distinct effort to encourage their players from a young age to try refereeing and ensure they receive the necessary training in order to feel confident when taking the field.
“I am very involved at ground level. I get to know my players and watch and support all teams at Representative level… I have spoken to our players from early on to encourage them to have a go at refereeing,” Anderson said.
“We offer free Theory & Practical training courses prior to the commencement of our competitions in August/September every year,” she said.
St George DragonTag is one of many associations encouraging the development of young referees, knowing very well that without them our competitions cannot go ahead.
Australian Oztag reached out to three of St George DragonTag’s wonderful female referees, Charlotte Teplicanec (14), Nadia Debbo (13) and Elizabeth Rigg (22) and asked them a few questions about their experience refereeing.
What do you enjoy most about refereeing?
Charlotte: I enjoy refereeing because it gives me an opportunity to learn and grow a greater understanding of the game and get a different perspective of the game as a ref rather than a player.
Nadia: I enjoy refereeing because I love the game of Oztag. Refereeing keeps me fit as I have to run around during the game to make sure I watch the players so I can make the correct calls. I also love teaching the new young players the rules of the game as some have never played before.
Elizabeth: I think I really enjoy seeing the kids improve from week to week as well as the joy it brings those playing.
What skills have you learnt from refereeing?
Charlotte: I have learnt how to communicate with players and make calls whilst under pressure and it has given me confidence in my calls.
Nadia: Refereeing has taught me leadership skills , to be assertive , how to work well under pressure and how to handle stressful situations such as when parents or players criticise calls that I make.
Elizabeth: I’ve learnt better communication skills and assertiveness. I’ve also learnt the rules in better depth.
Do you think these skills have helped you as a player?
Charlotte: These skills have helped me as a player as I’ve become clearer with communication to my teammates and call plays whilst the defence is putting pressure on us.
Nadia: The skills I have learned as a referee have helped me as a player to have more respect and patience to all referees when I am playing and to communicate better with my teammates.
Elizabeth: These skills have helped me gain a deeper understanding of the small rules that most players don’t know about. I’m also able to communicate to my teammates in defence better.
AO encourage all young players or those interested, to give refereeing a go. Contact your local association for all necessary information on how to get involved!
Competition numbers have skyrocketed for Newcastle Junior Oztag, as they cater for 98 teams this summer season.
When Competition Coordinator, Rhiannon Howard took over Newcastle Juniors in 2015, they had roughly 12 teams. This current summer season, they have an outstanding 98 teams registered.
The Newcastle Junior Oztag competition kicked off last Thursday 13 October, at Smith Park Broadmeadow, with divisions including Under 6s – Under 16s Boys and Girls.
Jumping from 50 teams in 2021, Rhiannon is thrilled with the growth of her Newcastle Juniors – putting the rise in numbers down to word of mouth and the dedication of her committee.
“I’ve had many parents give me great feedback saying how well-run the competition is and everyone is talking about playing Oztag at schools, along with other winter sports using Oztag as a way to keep their sporting teams together in the off season,” Rhiannon said.
“Our committee also works hard to ensure the competition is always ran smoothly, so they have also been a massive help in the recent growth of the competition,” she said.
Image Source: Newcastle Oztag Facebook page
Rhiannon has grown up around Oztag, as her parents, Jo and Brett Howard have managed Newcastle Seniors since 2001. Starting out with 17 teams and now having 140, they’ve shown firsthand what it takes to run a successful competition.
“With Mum and Dad running a competition, I understood what hard work it was to get a competition up and running,” Rhiannon said
“With their Senior competition being so successful, that became my aim as well and I’m very proud of myself and the hard work I’ve put in to this competition, along with the help from our Newcastle Oztag committee and Mum and Dad,” she said.
Every season, Rhiannon sets a goal for the number of teams she would like to have registered and without fail, exceeds that objective year after year.
This summer season being no different, Newcastle Junior numbers climbed to a starling 98 registered teams.
“This year I was aiming for 50 teams and the numbers just kept rising every single day,” Howard said.
“Unfortunately, I had to knock some teams back due to not having any lights on our fields,” she said.
Newcastle Senior Oztag are currently the largest competition in the Hunter Region, so it is great to see that same interest filter through the juniors.
“Every year more and more kids are talking about Oztag… Since many kids are now playing Oztag in their school sport, they are enjoying it so much and can’t wait for the next competition to start up,” Rhiannon said.
In terms of representative potential, Rhiannon anticipates that with more kids playing at a local level, there will be more interest for next year’s State Cup trials.
“We are hoping to take away some very competitive rep teams to State Cup next year with the talent we have running around at our Newcastle Competition,” she said.
2022 State Cup – Newcastle U14 Boys2022 State Cup – Newcastle U10 GirlsImage Source: Newcastle Oztag Facebook page
Moving forward, Rhiannon is determined to continue developing her Junior competition and gain the resources necessary to cater for numerous divisions.
“I’ll defiantly be aiming to play over two nights and have A & B divisions in all age groups – at the moment I have them in two age groups,” she said.
“I would love to be as successful as Michelle from Dragon Tag and also have some lights installed on our fields so we can accommodate both seniors and juniors over various nights, without having to knock back teams,” Rhiannon said.
The 2022 NSW Senior State Championships came to a successful conclusion in Coffs Harbour following three days of quality Oztag.
The much-anticipated tournament kicked off on Friday 24 June and welcomed 160 teams to Coffs Harbour – well-prepared and determined to take out the Championship.
A packed out C.ex Stadium saw spectators on the edge of their seats come Finals day, as numerous games resulted in a one-point difference or came down to exhilarating extra time drop offs.
Six-time Men’s Opens gold medallists, Homebush, were knocked out in the Quarter Final by Souths, who went on to defeat Penrith in a nail-biting Semi Final drop off.
Advancing to the Final, Souths met Central Coast – who came back from a 3-1 trail, to secure the long-awaited championship title, defeating Souths 4-3.
Penrith Senior Mixed and Central Coast Men’s 40s both won gold for the third year in a row, while ACT Women’s 30s defeated reigning champions, Ryde, in a thrilling Grand Final drop off.
For the ninth consecutive year, finishing on 80 points, Central Coast Oztag have been crowned NSW Senior Club Champions.
Ten of their 13 teams qualified for Semi Finals, and the six who made the Grand Final, won gold.
In second place was Souths on 56 points, and in third was Cronulla on 36.
Below are the 2022 NSW Senior State Cup Grand Final results. Congratulations to all Champions.
Women’s 20s
Central Coast defeated Souths 5-3
Women’s Opens
Central Coast defeated Fairfield 4-1
Women’s 30s
ACT defeated Ryde Eastwood 2-1 in extra time
Women’s 40s
Central Coast defeated Cronulla 2-1
Mixed 20s
Souths defeated Cronulla 7-3
Mixed Opens
Souths defeated Sydney City 9-2
Mixed Seniors
Penrith defeated Picton 5-3
Men’s 20s
Baulkham Hills defeated Parramatta 7-5
Men’s Opens
Central Coast defeated Souths 4-3
Men’s 30s
Penrith 1 defeated Sydney City 3-2
Men’s 40s
Central Coast defeated Parramatta 5-2
Men’s 45s
Penrith
Men’s 50s
Central Coast defeated Souths 5-0
Men’s 55s
Kiama
Men’s 60s
Souths defeated Cronulla 2-1
For all tournament results, visit the Australian Oztag website or Sportfix.
The NSW Senior State Championships kicked off yesterday in Coffs Harbour, with the standard of Oztag taken to a new level.
Teams and spectators were welcomed with pristine conditions on day one of the tournament, determined to lay it all on the line for the championship title.
Players proved well aware of the importance of every game, as the energy and skill on display never wavered.
At the conclusion of day one, Central Coast and Penrith are at the top of the leaderboard for Senior Club Champions; with Central Coast chasing their ninth-consecutive title.
The following teams currently sit undefeated heading into Day two of competition.
Mens 20s
Easts
Parramatta
Womens20s
Central Coast
Souths
Shellharbour
Mixed 20s
St George
Souths
Cronulla
Mens Opens
Homebush
Central Coast
Penrith 1
Inner West 2
Womens Opens
Ryde Eastwood
Penrith 1
Coffs Harbour
Central Coast
Fairfield
Shellharbour
Mixed Opens
Souths
Lake Macquarie
ACT
Port Stephens
Sydney City
Parramatta
Ryde Eastwood
Men’s 30s
Penrith 1
Sydney City
Parramatta
Womens 30s
ACT
Senior Mixed
Penrith
Picton
St George
Mens 40s
Central Coast
Womens 40s
Cronulla
Mens 50s
Central Coast
Penrith 45s
Mens 60s
Cronulla
Keep up to date with all live fixtures and results via our website or Sportfix.
NSW Oztag look forward to today’s remaining round games, ahead of Sunday’s Finals.
For all tournament action shots, visit IB Images. Log in using your Facebook or Google account.
The last of the 2022 NSW Junior State Cup Champions were crowned on Sunday, following a successful four days of Oztag in Coffs Harbour.
Over the course of the weekend, NSW Oztag welcomed 124 teams to Coffs, which saw over 2000 players and 6000 spectators crowd the fields of C.ex Stadium.
Welcomed with nothing but sunshine, the Under 9’s through to 12’s arrived on Sunday, eager and determined to take on their remaining round games and Finals.
As teams itched closer to that gold medal, the standard of Oztag undoubtedly heightened. There were numerous qualifiers that resulted in a one-point difference and three grand finals that headed into thrilling extra time drop offs.
At the conclusion of the tournament – on 103 points – it was Central Coast who claimed the 2022 Junior Club Champions title, with 14 teams qualifying for Semi Finals and five taking home gold.
The race for second was tight, with Souths finishing on 81 points, and Baulkham Hills coming in third on 80.
Below are the Grand Final results for each division. Congratulations to all 2021 Junior State Champions.
Boys 9s: Nepean defeated Souths 6 – 5 in extra time
Girls 9s: Souths defeated Baulkham Hills 6 – 4
Boys 10s: Souths defeated Baulkham Hills 3 – 2 in extra time
Girls 10s: Highest qualifiers, Cronulla were crowned champions following a 0 – 0 draw with Camden after extra time
Boys 11s: Central Coast defeated Baulkham Hills 5 – 4
Girls 11s: Souths defeated Nepean 7 – 1
Boys 12s: Cronulla defeated Central Coast 3 – 2
Girls 12s: Souths defeated Cronulla 6 – 3
For all tournament results, visit the Australian Oztag website or Sportfix.
NSW Oztag would like to thank everyone for making the 2022 Junior State Championships an enjoyable tournament for all involved.
Congratulations to all teams on your hard work and preparation.
Be sure to visit IBIMAGES for all tournament action shots. Log in using your Facebook or Google account.
The second half of the Junior State Cup is well underway in Coffs Harbour, with the Under 9s through to 12s eager to claim the championship title
The Under 9s – 12s kicked off on Saturday 4 June – the excitement written all over their faces as they took to the field with energy to burn and some very impressive hair styles.
With this tournament usually played at Bass Hill, it is the first time many of these players have made the journey to Coffs to compete.
As anticipated, players were quick to apply their months of training and produce some spectacular games of Oztag.
Although there are less teams here this weekend, NSW Oztag were thrilled to welcome so many spectators – making for an awesome atmosphere here at C.ex Stadium.
At the conclusion of Saturday, the following teams sit undefeated heading into Sunday’s remaining round games and Finals.
Boys 9s
Nepean
Shellharbour
Baulkham Hills
Girls 9s
Shellharbour
Souths
Boys 10s
Nepean
Parramatta
Tamworth
Souths
Sutherland
Camden
Girls 10s
Souths
Central Coast
Cronulla
Camden
Boys 11s
Parramatta
Central Coast
Baulkham Hills
Girls 11s
Nepean
Souths
Boys 12s
Nepean
Cronulla
Sutherland
Tamworth
Girls 12s
Souths
Cronulla
For all tournament fixtures and results, visit the Sportfix app or website.
NSW Oztag look forward to crowning the remainder of our 2022 Junior State Cup Champions today.
Be sure to visit IBIMAGES for all tournament action shots. Log in using your Facebook or Google account.
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