Valley Road Football Complex will be filled with the sight of hundreds of children playing football this weekend as Football Tasmania once again hosts the 2021 National SAP festival.
The aim of the festival is to provide young players a high level of competition to demonstrate the skills they have been developing over the past 3-4 years.
The festival, which usually attracts multiple mainland teams, has felt the impact of Covid-19 with teams from mainland states advising they wish to defer their participation until 2022.
This years’ event, which will showcase some of the best under 12 and 13 players in the State, will feature teams from around Tasmania in three days of nonstop footballing action taking place from Friday 19 February to Sunday 21 February.
Sixteen teams will be competing from (Launceston City Football Club, NTJSA, Olympia Warriors Football Club, Devonport Junior Soccer Association, South Hobart Football Club, Kingborough Lions United Football Club, Devonport City Strikers and the Central Coast Canons).
In addition to the many games taking place Kevin Grima, Football Australia’s Boys Youth Development Manager, will be attending the festival to deliver workshops in both Devonport during the festival and Kingston on the following Monday. These ‘Circuit Method’ workshops are designed for community coaches who are coaching children between the ages of 6-12. This is a great opportunity for our Tasmanian coaches to participate in such a beneficial workshop which includes both theoretical and practical components.
Football Federation CEO Matt Bulkeley said he was looking forward to seeing the teams from around the state coming to Devonport for the event, which is being held in the City for the sixth year running.
“The National SAP festival has become one of the highlights of the season. It’s one of the best events we host and it continues to go from strength to strength. Whilst it is disappointing to not be able to welcome mainland teams this year, we are optimistic that 2022 will only be bigger and better.”
“Events like these really help to showcase the future stars of the game. It will be a great experience for our young Tasmanian players to test themselves against their peers from around the state and we look forward to hosting them in Devonport for the weekend.”
The games will be played 9 v 9 on smaller sized pitches, with games consisting of 2 x 25 minute halves, encouraging players to take the game on and show off their skills. Whilst scores will be kept in the games, there is no championship handed out, with having fun and playing in a positive manner the priority.