This year the New South Wales Touch Association (NSWTA) celebrates its 50th year, our Golden Jubilee.
In recognising this milestone, we are running several programs to celebrate. One such program is the selection of Golden Jubilee Teams, Coaches, Referees, and Selectors.
The NSWTA appointed Golden Jubilee selection panels from within our community to undertake what was a difficult and challenging task. They considered all eligible candidates in line with the selection criteria across our history spanning five decades. We consider those selected, in representing our sport’s strongest State, as amongst the game’s elite.
NSWTA will announce these selections per the below schedule in the lead-up to this year’s State of Origin series via our website and social media channels.
- Men’s Seniors Monday, August 1st
- Women’s Seniors Wednesday, August 3rd
- Referees Friday, August 5th
- Indigenous Team Tuesday, August 9th
- Mixed Open Thursday, August 11th
- Woman’s Open Monday, August 15th
- Men’s Open Wednesday, August 17th
NSWTA will also be publicly acknowledging and presenting the NSWTA Golden Jubilee teams and officials at our Golden Jubilee Dinner on Saturday, October 29, 2022 at CommBank Stadium.
The NSWTA also acknowledge and thank the members of our community who were involved in all the selection panels. Their knowledge, time, efforts, and research have been greatly appreciated.
To give you an insight as to how the sections were made please see the criteria listed below.
Selection Criteria
General
Any selected member must be of good character, and demonstrated passion, and commitment for NSW. They will be adjudged on their representation and performance for NSWTA. They will have made a more than significant contribution to their representative team/s and or sphere of influence and dominated the game within the era in which they competed, coached, and or officiated.
Statistical Criteria
Whilst statistical data is important it should not be the sole basis on which players, coaches, referees, or selectors are selected. It should be used as a guide to assist in the final selection from those who meet the criteria. Statistical data cannot be used as the Be All to End All in the selection process.
Selected persons must have represented at the elite level for the NSWTA in the relevant divisions/area that is being selected for Golden Jubilee representation. These are:
- Represent NSW at ATA Nationals (1980 to 1996) for at least two (2) years; and/or
- Represent NSW at State of Origin (1996) to present for at least two (2) series: and/or
- Represent at NSWTA Regionals (1984 to 1996) for five (5) years: and/or
- Represent an NSW entity at the TFA National Touch League (1997 to present) for five (5) years; and/or
- Participated in any NSW Affiliate’s Representative team at State Cup, Vawdon Cup or Country Championships for at least five (5) years; and/or
- Before the introduction of representative Touch at a regional, state, or higher level, the was a consistently elite level representative in a sanctioned domestic competition for a sustained period.
N.B. the players who represented NSW against Qld in 1973 and against the Touring Great Britain Lions Rugby League team in 1976 will be considered as meeting point 1 above.
Years of Representation
Due to the lack of representative matches in the developing years of the sport, a representation across the five decades should be established. A fair comparison of players from the initial era to the current era cannot be done, particularly considering the changes in sports science, coach education, athlete development, skill acquisition, and game strategy.
For this purpose, the MINIMUM representation of players across the eras should be reflected as follows. The remain:
Era Men Women, Mixed, Seniors
1970’s 2 Players
1980’s 2 Players 3 Players 3 Players
1990’s 2 Players 3 Players 3 Players
2000’s 2 Players 3 Players 3 Players
2010’s 2 Players 3 Players 3 Players
4 players from any era 2 players from any era
With the Women’s, Mixed, and Senior’s divisions not tracking on the same timeline as the Men’s Open game, the eras noted above need not be strictly adhered to, however, a relatively even spread across the history of the sport in NSW is required. This can also be applied where the selection committee believes there is a compelling argument for an alteration to ensure the proper recognition is provided. In such circumstances they can put the case to the NSWTA but must still ensure a relatively even spread across the history of the sport in NSW has been captured.
Any player who is selected in the Open’s category CAN NOT be selected into a senior’s team, regardless of the fact that they have represented at both levels.
Players who in 2018 were announced in the Touch Football Australia (TFA) Golden Jubilee Teams, being Men’s Open, Women’s Open, and Mixed Open ARE NOT automatic selections. This is because the selection criteria of both organisations differ. However, where a player in any of these teams is omitted, the Selection Committee will provide to the NSWTA the reasons for such omission prior to the announcement.
INDIGENOUS TEAM
The Indigenous team, as a cultural recognition of the contributions of the Indigenous community, can be selected across all eras and all divisions. Players, Coach, Referees, and Selector, will still be required to meet the above criteria.
An Indigenous player who is selected in the Golden Jubilee Teams CAN be selected in the Indigenous team. This is because the Golden Jubilee Teams are representative of the entity, being the NSWTA, while the Indigenous Allstars are representative of their community.
COACHES
One (1) Coach will be selected for each of the Golden Jubilee Teams and the Indigenous Allstars. The Coach will be selected from across all eras. The Coaches will still be required to meet the above criteria.
A player who progressed from their playing career into a coaching career, if selected, in a Golden Jubilee Team, will be ineligible to be selected into a Coach role.
REFEREES
Three (3) Referees will be selected for each of the Golden Jubilee Teams and can be selected from across all eras. However, the selection panel should look to have a relatively even spread across the history of the sport in NSW. That is all three referees should not come from the one era listed above. For the Mixed Open division two (2) males and one (1) female should be selected. For referees selected in seniors, they need not be ‘Senior” graded but had refereed significantly in these divisions.
There will also be three (3) Referee Coaches selected. The Referee Coaches will be selected from across all eras. The Referees and Referee Coaches will still be required to meet the above criteria.
SELECTORS
One (1) Selector will be selected for each of the Golden Jubilee Teams. The Selector will be selected from across all eras. The Selector will be required to have been a selector for the above criteria.
A player who progressed from their playing career into a selecting career, if selected in a Golden Jubilee Team, will be ineligible to be selected into the Selector role.
