The twelfth annual New South Wales Touch Association Junior State Cup will be played at the Thomas Dalton Reserve, Wollongong over the weekend of the 17th & 18th of February 2007.
A record 286 Teams, 300 referees, and over 5000 spectators will descend on the picturesque Illawarra region to participate in the nation's largest Touch football tournament.
Teams from 49 different affilaites will compete in age groups from Under 10 - Under 18 in Boys and Girls divisions in a non-stop weekend of fast and furious action featuring the brightest and best of New South Wales junior Touch football talent.
Current National Youth Squad members Ben Moylan (Penrith) and Jessica Absolum (Wagga) are among a host of junior representative stars to don the colours of their home affiliates in search of State Cup glory in 2007.
Teams from as far away as Ballina in the North, Dubbo in the West, and Griffith in the South of the state have made the pilgrimage to the venue that has been home to the premier Junior event on the New South Wales calendar since 2001.
New South Wales Touch Association Business Development Manager, Daniel Rushworth, is delighted with the record nominations received, and heaped praise on the work invested into junior development at affiliate level by industrious local junior officials from around the State.
"We are averaging a 10 team growth annually for this event, and it's fantastic that there is an even representation of teams from both city and country areas. We have at least 8 affiliates fielding teams in all 10 age divisions which speaks volumes for the work being invested throughout entire affiliates by hard working junior officials everywhere." Mr. Rushworth said.
25 fields will be under siege from the get go with eager young touch players lining up on the half-way lines from 8.00am through to 6.30pm Saturday. The action will recommence Sunday at 8.00am and conclude around 5.30pm.
Finals will get under way from 11.00am Sunday.
Local officials from the Woolongong Touch Association have worked tirelessly and professionally in conjunction with the New South Wales Touch Association on all aspects of tournament control for the showcase event to ensure the tournament proceeds without a hitch.
The tents will be raised, the fields will be marked, and the teams, officials, referees, and spectators will converge to witness the cream of NSW Junior Touch battle it out for the State Cup crown.
Old friendships will be reknewed, new ones will be made, and a great time will be had by all - win, lose, or draw, as the young champions of tomorrow pursue their sporting dreams playing the game that they love.
Victorious members of Australia's successful 2007 World Cup Teams will be on hand to cast an eye over the next generation of budding superstars, and to proudly display the World Cup trophy that they helped Australia retain by following their Touch football dreams all the way to the FIT World Cup in Stellenbosch in January 2007.
One thing all will be hoping for is that the "four seasons in one weekend" weather stays away.
If spectators spot New South Wales Touch Association Administration Manager, Kylie Hearne, leading fellow NSWTA employees in a strange dance on the side of the Thomas Dalton fields, don't be alarmed, in fact if you are a dance floor daredevil join in, as she attempts to curry favour with the weather Gods with a NON rain, NON lightning, and NON extreme heat dance!
Rest assured, the inclement weather is one New South Wales Junior State Cup tradition that all in attendance wouldn't mind see falling by the wayside in 2007.
The weather predictions might be unclear, but what is for certain is that there will be a feast of touch football action all weekend.
For draws, results, and all information pertaining to the twelfth New South Wales Junior State Cup please visit the NSWTA website http://www.nswtouch.com.au/ and click on the link to the Junior State Cup.
