Generation next will take the Coolah Veterans Touch Football carnival to a new level, says the tournament’s organiser Wayne Burgess.
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A record 36 teams will play in Coolah’s biggest touch football and most popular event this weekend at Bowen Oval.
Originally 38 sides had nominated but this week two pulled out.
Not that it mattered to Burgess as it is still three more teams than the previous best, making the 2014 version the biggest in the tournament’s 22-year history.
Burgess said a lot of that has got to do with a new wave of teams and players taking part.
In particular a lot of younger people who are jumping at the chance to play with their parents or older family members and friends.
“It is a bit of a surprised to see that number of teams,” Burgess said. “We must be doing something right.
“We are starting to see a new generation of players coming to the carnival. They might have attended when they were younger with their family and now they are old enough to play.”
There are six teams who are making their debut at the carnival this year including another Mudgee side, Tamworth, Scone, St Marys in Sydney, Dubbo and Cassilis.
“Majority of the sides playing have played before. We’ve just got the six new ones,” Burgess said.
“Some of the teams who have been coming since the inaugural event have pulled out because, you could say, they’ve got tired legs.
“But it’s good to have new teams and new players involved. It keeps it fresh.”
One of those original teams still playing are the Mudgee Old Maids.
“They’ll be here and no doubt they are going to provide plenty of entertainment,” Burgess said.
Many of the teams that featured in Sunday’s finals are also back including defending A-grade champions the Snugglers, runners-up Tipsy Tipstars, B-grade winner Moree, C-grade premiers Portland Bears, and Caves Beach who defeated the Old Maids in the G-grade final.
The competition starts with a round robin of matches on Saturday before the graded matches on Sunday – each team is guaranteed three games on Saturday and a minimum of two on Sunday for the play-offs.
Matches are 25 minutes touchdown-turnaround, meaning there is no half-time break and each time a touchdown is scored, teams swap ends.
Teams can be men or mixed with the men having three players aged 30-34 years and the rest must be over 35. All women players must be 30 years and over.
“We’ve got probably 50-50 of mixed and men’s sides,” Burgess said.
“Over the years we have found it more of a mixed competition. When we first started there was only one ladies team and that were the Mudgee Old Maids.”
Saturday night will be the usual dress-up theme party in the town with this year’s theme being Halloween.
“I’m sure there will be a few ghostly figures,” Burgess said.
“It should be a fabulous weekend of socialising and playing touch. Maybe more of the social aspect."