The 2015 Jennian Homes Junior Rugby League season has again seen numbers grow in Northland.
I have always believed that kids love league, it's a great game for them to learn the fundamental skills, such as to run, pass and tackle, without too many complicated rules.
Our Mini and Mod grades (6-12s) are modified, which helps developmental learning.
The kids tackle from Under-6s level. As league has a play-the-ball rule, it is easier to manage the tackle.
We also have a two-pass rule, which helps develop game sense and teamwork.
In Whangarei, if you go down to the Bluegoose on a Sunday you will see our development manager, Aaron Thomas, manage a great day, with 40-plus teams and more than 600 kids playing.
Every week the car parks are jammed full. There is a great atmosphere, it looks professional, the fields are roped off, field plans and draws are visible and there is great kai to buy, with each duty club having an opportunity to raise funds.
As well, there is a commitment to fair play, with signage promoting the Rugby League Northland (RLN) "Don't be an Egg" video.
RLN has never been afraid of a challenge or to be innovative. An example this year has been the midweek after-school league in Kaikohe.
Last year we struggled to field 10 teams in three grades on a Sunday.
In 2015 we have had 25 teams playing every Wednesday at Lindvart Park and the fields are packed.
Thinking outside the square, we invited the local primary schools to participate and we even have the Opononi JMB and Taheke rugby teams joining in on the fun.
The teams are loving it so much that they are going to extend the competition through to term three.
Not everything is perfect, though, and like our cousins at the rugby union we see a massive decline in our playing numbers in the teenage years.
In 2015 we changed the grades from 13s, 15s and 18s to 14s, 16s and 18s, which has had a negative effect.
However we were not afraid to try Friday-night football, which frees up weekends for everyone involved.
Hikurangi Rugby and Mangakahia are brilliant supporters, but we didn't get the support we expected in Dargaville and the Far North, meaning teams have to travel to Whangarei each week.
On a positive note, the quality of the football is awesome, the atmosphere is great and the boys love playing under lights.
One outcome from the 16s and 18s grades is possible selection for Northern Swords squads to represent Northland at the national 15s and 17s tournament and with it a real chance of opening a door to the NRL.
Examples of this are James Fisher-Harris, Corey Harawira-Naera and Steel Kake, who all now play for the Penrith Panthers - James and Corey in the U20s and Steel in the U18s.
So if you have been thinking about playing league, or one of your whanau doing so, go for it.
We have a great game, we are a good organisation, we're not perfect but we are getting better every year and work hard.