Changing format of touch football

THE PNG Touch Federation (PNGTF) has highlighted a number of changes to the organisation and format of the code.
The alteration is intended to improve the standard of the sport and for equal participation at all levels with more emphasis on skills and development of players.
PNGTF addressed the following:
*Affiliation requirement;
*New championships format;
*Other new championships events;
*Logo, name and constitutional changes; and
*Mini SP Games
These were the number of points PNGTF addressed during their AGM in September with the election of new office bearers. The federation called on all intending affiliates to PNGTF to comply with the new prerequites to affiliation.
PNGTF have given the junior competition (Unders 10, 12, 14 and 16) a priority for a inclusion in future championships.
“New members must have organized competition for at least two years with juniors and three other divisional teams,”PNGTF said.
Next year will welcome the new championship format which the new executive has established in order to meet higher expectations on the PNG Sports Foundation for PNG teams to perform well at international events.
The new formats are- the Provincial National Touch Championship (PNTC) formerly known as the National Touch Championship. The teams participating at this tournament will be provincial based. The new date for the event is April which will be held biannually.
The provincial championships will be the venue for the selection of players and team officials to the SP Games and World Cup events.
Meanwhile, a new calendar event for 2008 and 2009 will include separate championships for both juniors and seniors, senior masters, mixed, women and the open divisions.
The new dates are juniors and masters-April Queens birthday weekend, PNTC in June and the open men in September starting in 2009 except for juniors which start next year.