The decision was ratified at this week's general meeting.

Young District Cricket Association secretary Kelly Meddings said they will release draws for division two and three competitions shortly.

"We decided to split the division two grouping of nine teams into two divisions after much discussion," she said.

"We will split the top four into division two and bottom five into division three. 

"This gives the bottom teams in the former division two a greater chance of competing in a grand final and encourages the younger players who aren't as talented to continue to develop their cricket without being beaten week in week out. "

Mrs Meddings said the new format will make a much fairer competition.

"This decision will also give our more talented players much tougher games on a regular basis," she said.

"It will also allow another sponsor to have a premiership cup in their name."

Young District Cricket Association president Jason Hall said the extra division will give junior players a place to start their rise through the local cricketing ranks.

“The new division will give those younger players a starting point,” he said.

“We have boys from Temora, Cootamundra and Young and I’m sure they will appreciate the chance to play in division three, then progress to division two and then ultimately end up in division one.

“The decision was always spoken about and if it didn’t happen we might have lost those players and then it could have meant that no cricket was played here.”

Mr Hall said he hopes adding the extra division will encourage more teams to join the league in the 2017/18 season.

“I hope that we could get teams from Harden and Boorowa to play in next season’s competition and make it even bigger,” he said.

“The quality of the cricket has been really good this season and we have managed to get teams like the Coyotes back to play locally now we have the South West Slopes Cricket League, so this decision was all about making the competition better.”

This weekend’s Division 1 games are Mimosa Whirlwinds V Family Hotel Crusaders at Nixon Park 1 and Central Hotel Cavaliers V S&C Young Ones at Albert Park. Coyotes have the Bye.