Due to the extreme heat forecast for Western Sydney on Tuesday, 3 October, Football Australia has made changes to the match schedule for both Day 2 and Day 3 for the National Youth Championships 2023 Boys’ Age Groups.
With the temperature expected to peak at 36 degrees at Valentine Sports Park, Glenwood, and with some matches contested on synthetic, the decision was made to switch around the current Day 2 and Day 3 match schedule, so the Day 3 (Wednesday) match schedule will now be contested on Day 2 (Tuesday) and vice versa.
Football Australia has also changed the kick-off times for Tuesday, 3 October, so that no play occurs between 12.00pm AEDT and 6.00pm AEDT to avoid the hot conditions, with five kick-off times 8:30am, 9:35am, 10:40am, 6:45pm and 7:50pm and four pitches to be utilised.
Upon confirming the changes, Football Australia General Manager – Competitions, Ezel Hikmet said the health and safety of players, officials and patrons was at the centre of this decision-making.
“With Western Sydney due to experience extreme heat conditions on Tuesday, Football Australia has a duty of care to all involved in the National Youth Championships and has taken measures to combat the heat and also ensure the integrity of the tournament,” explained Hikmet.
“The original Day 3 schedule was always a light day in terms of the number of matches scheduled, so switching around the days was a natural solution to address the challenge presented by the weather forecast.
“Following consultation with the state and territory Technical Directors, Football Australia has made the decision to flip the match schedule for Day 2 and Day 3, to ensure no matches are being played when temperature is expected to peak and no matches are lost over the course of the five-day tournament,” concluded Hikmet.
Updated Match Schedule for Tuesday, 3 October 2023
Field 1
8:30AM 16A Queensland White v NSW Country
9:35AM 15B Northern NSW v Tasmania
10:40AM 16B Northern NSW v Tasmania
6:45PM 16B Queensland Maroon v Victoria White
7:50PM 15B Queensland Maroon v Victoria White
Tasmania v BYE
Field 2
8:30AM 15B Northern Territory v Western Australia
9:35AM 16B Northern Territory v Western Australia
10:40AM 15A Queensland White v NSW Country
6:45PM 15B NSW Metro White v Northern Territory
7:50PM 16B NSW Metro White v Northern Territory
Field 3
9:35AM 15A South Australia v Capital Football
10:40AM 16A South Australia v Capital Football
6:45PM 15B Western Australia v Northern New South Wales
7:50PM 16B Western Australia v Northern New South Wales
Queensland Maroon v BYE
Field 4 *Please note that no streaming or vision is available of Field 4
9:35AM 15B NSW Metro White v Victoria White
10:40AM 16B NSW Metro White v Victoria White
6:45PM 15A NSW Metro Blue v Victoria Blue
7:50PM 16A NSW Metro Blue v Victoria Blue
