Each team was awarded a maximum of 20 technical points and 10 respect points based on their performance in the opening nine matches of the season.

29 technical observers, all of whom have a C Licence and 19 of whom have a B Licence or higher observed each team multiple times taking note of their attempts to play to the Football Federation Australia National Coaching Curriculum and giving them a score out of 20. These scores were averaged out to give each team their technical points score whcih was then added to league tables.

At the conclusion of each match, referees would also give each team a score out of 20 based on how fairly they played the game and how well they respected everyone on the pitch. These were then averaged out and divided by two to give each team their respect points score which was also added to each team’s total points score.

This has seen a reasonable amount of movement in the various VCL competitions, where teams who favoured a technical approach to the game rather than attempting to win at all costs have moved up the table.

This is the first competition of its size in Australia to incorporate technical and respect points into league tables which will give players and coaches extra incentives to play to the National Curriculum.

This will increase player development across the board as well as producing teams who can compete on the world stage with a fast-flowing, attacking style of football.

Football Federation Victoria Technical Director Sean Douglas said that the introduction of technical and respect points has seen most teams attempting to play an attractive and fast-flowing style of football.

“There has been a definite improvement in the way teams have been attempting to play to the National Curriculum this season and overall I’m pleased with how most teams are progressing,” he said.

“The release of these points will be a significant boost to teams who have best exemplified the 4-3-3 formation and the National Curriculum as well as encouraging teams who perhaps received lower scores to take a closer look at how they are playing and try to improve.”

View updated Victorian Champions League tables.