Playing football

The AFL & the Yarra Junior Football League’s Vilification and Discrimination Policy prohibits language & behaviour that vilifies on the basis of – race, religion, gender, colour, sexual preference – orientation or identity and special ability or disability

The key areas in concussion management in Australian Rules Football.

Concussion prevention & awareness in children playing Australian Rules Football.

Following the introduction of the new concussion management guidelines for AFL matches, the AFL Doctors Association has produced guidelines for community football.

The guidelines are for trainers, first-aid providers, coaches, umpires, club officials and parents and should be understood and followed by all parties for the benefit and welfare of the players.

Community Concussion Guidelines

Head Injury Assessment Form

Pocket Concussion Recognition Tool

AFL position statement on Helmets and Mouthguards

Bicycle shorts (skins), when worn, are to be the colour of the shorts worn or flesh coloured. Full length skins are not permitted to be worn unless for reasons of religious custom or medical purposes. If for medical purposes then the procedure for protective clothing under By Law 7.6 must be followed.

Players are required to keep their fingernails trimmed to avoid scratching or other injuries to other players. Umpires will be responsible for checking hands to ensure fingernails do not extend beyond the end of the finger, and where necessary will require the player to tape their fingernails.

Club policy is that a mouthguard must be worn by every player at all times on the football ground. It is the parents responsibility to ensure that the mouthguard is worn. It is not the responsibility of the Coach or Parade/St Damians JFC to ensure the mouthguard is worn. If the Coach is made aware that a player is not in possession of a mouthguard, then the Coach must not allow that child to play for the remainder of the game or until such time as they have a mouthguard to wear/use.

Mouthguards can be purchased from the Chemist or professionally fitted by your Dentist or specialised mouthguard fitters.

Oh when the Saints, go marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
I want to be there in September,
When the Saints go marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
Oh when the Saints go marching in,
How I love to play with St Damian’s
When the Saints go marching in.

One parent from each club performs the role of umpire escort. They wear the bright orange bib.

Responsibilities

• Escort the umpires from their change rooms to the centre of the field prior to the start of each match.
• Escort the umpires from their assembly point on the field to their change rooms at half time.
• Escort the umpires from their change rooms to the centre of the field after the half time break.
• Escort the umpires from their assembly point on the field to their change rooms at the conclusion of the match.
• Stand with the umpires during the quarter and three quarter time intervals.
• Reports to the Team Manager.

Objectives

• To act as the official keeper of time for the duration of the match.

Responsibilities

• Keep time for each quarter of the match
• Record on time cards the time taken to play each quarter
• Lodge completed time cards with the Team Manager after the game has finished
• Sound the siren in accordance with the procedures contained in the association / league rules and regulations
• Stop the clock used for timing of each quarter as required by the association / league rules and regulations
• Perform any other function as may be directed

Relationships

• Reports to the Team Manager
• Liaises with the umpires and the timekeeper from the opposition team

Accountability

• The Timekeeper is accountable to the Field Umpires officiating the game and the Team Manager

Objectives

• To assist coach on match day by delivering messages to players during the match.

Responsibilities

• To deliver messages from the coach to players whilst each quarter is in progress.
• To deliver the message as quickly as possible and return to the coaches box immediately.
• The runner must not loiter on the ground.
• The runner must not interfere with any players or officials throughout the game
• The runner must be correctly attired in accordance with league requirements

Relationships

• Liaise with Coach, Coaching Staff and Team Manager

Accountability

• Reports to the team coach

Objective

• To umpire matches in accordance with the Laws of the Game

Responsibilities

• Apply the laws and their interpretations according to the spirit of the laws
• Attend to the administrative requirements necessary for the successful staging of the game
• Be aware of any modified rules pending the age group umpiring

Relationships

• Liaise with all other umpires officiating in the match

Accountability

• Reports to Football Manager

Objective

• To umpire matches in accordance with the Laws of the Game

Responsibilities

• Determining whether a football is out of bounds or out of bounds on the full and signaling to the field umpire when that has occurred
• Throwing the football back into play if it has gone out of bounds, when directed to do so by a field umpire
• Determine whether a player has incorrectly entered the centre square (as indicated in the association/league rules and regulations)
• Bringing the football back to the center square after a goal has been scored
• Reporting a player or official who commits a reportable offence

Relationships

• Liaise with all other umpires officiating in the match

Accountability

• Reports to the Field Umpire during the match
• Accountable to the Team Manager

Objective
• To monitor and approve the interchange of players during a match.

Responsibilities
• Be positioned throughout the match at or near the interchange area.
• Monitor and approve the interchange of players made by each team during a match.
• Report to the Controlling Body and infringement by a team.

Relationships
• Reports to the Match Manager.
• Reports to Controlling Body on any infringements made by a team.
• Liaises with team managers.

Objective

• To umpire matches in accordance with the Laws of the Game

Responsibilities

• Determine whether a goal or behind has been scored
• Signal that a goal or behind has been scored after being given the all dear or touched all clear by a field umpire
• Record all goals and behinds scored by each team during a match
• Report any player or official who commits a reportable offence
• At the end of each quarter and at the end of each match, both goal umpires shall compare the score they have recorded.

Relationships

• Liaise with all other umpires officiating in the match

Accountability

• Reports to Field Umpire
• Accountable to the Team Manager

Objective

• To provide the highest standard of coaching and development to the players of the appointed grade of competition.

Responsibilities

• Coach in accordance with the AFL Next Generation Australian Football Match Policy for the conduct of the game for players 5-18 years of age.
• Promote the importance of club members adhering to the AFL Kids First Policy.
• Apply the code of conduct for coaching staff and players that supports the objectives of the Club on and off the field.
• Contact all current players as soon as practicable after the completion of the previous season to outline plans for the coming season.
• Develop and establish an appropriate pre season training program.
• Provide recommendations to the Football Executive on the recruitment of appropriate football support staff.
• Instruct the players placed under their care generally and to see that all players carry out sufficient training.
• Liaise with other junior grade coaches to establish a consistent coaching policy throughout the Club.
• Assist with junior development outside the Club where possible or appropriate.
• Provide game day coaching expertise.
• Attend Club functions as agreed to
• Provide regular reports as required throughout the season.

Relationships

• Reports to the Club Executive

Accountability

• Accountable to the Club Executive

Objective

• To provide the highest standard of coaching and development to the players of the appointed grade of competition.

Responsibilities

• Coach in accordance with the AFL Next Generation Australian Football Match Policy for the conduct of the game for players 5-18 years of age.
• Promote the importance of club members adhering to the AFL Kids First Policy.
• Apply the code of conduct for coaching staff and players that supports the objectives of the Club on and off the field.
• Contact all current players as soon as practicable after the completion of the previous season to outline plans for the coming season.
• Develop and establish an appropriate pre season training program.
• Provide recommendations to the Football Executive on the recruitment of appropriate football support staff.
• Instruct the players placed under their care generally and to see that all players carry out sufficient training.
• Liaise with other junior grade coaches to establish a consistent coaching policy throughout the Club.
• Assist with junior development outside the Club where possible or appropriate.
• Provide game day coaching expertise.
• Attend Club functions as agreed to
• Provide regular reports as required throughout the season.

Accreditation

• Working with Children
• Level One – Junior club coaching course

Accountability

• Accountable to the Club Executive

Objective

• To provide the highest standard of coaching and development to the players of the appointed grade of competition.

Responsibilities

• Coach in accordance with the AFL Next Generation Australian Football Match Policy for the conduct of the game for players 5-18 years of age.
• Promote the importance of club members adhering to the AFL Kids First Policy.
• Apply the code of conduct for coaching staff and players that supports the objectives of the Club on and off the field.
• Contact all current players as soon as practicable after the completion of the previous season to outline plans for the coming season.
• Develop and establish an appropriate pre season training program.
• Provide recommendations to the Football Executive on the recruitment of appropriate football support staff.
• Instruct the players placed under their care generally and to see that all players carry out sufficient training.
• Liaise with other junior grade coaches to establish a consistent coaching policy throughout the Club.
• Assist with junior development outside the Club where possible or appropriate.
• Provide game day coaching expertise.
• Attend Club functions as agreed to
• Provide regular reports as required throughout the season.

Accreditation

• Working with Children
• Level One – Junior club coaching course

Accountability

• Accountable to the Club Executive

Objective

• To ensure all off field football matters are dealt with efficiently and in a timely manner for the team managers grade of competition.
• Provide administrative support to the coach and any football staff.
• Arrange the required support staff for games to take place.
• Support the coaching staff to make sure the required administrative and support arrangements are in place so that coaches and players can concentrate on the game.

Responsibilities

• Ensure the coach and players are provided with sufficient equipment (within guidelines set down by the Executive) to ensure the efficient operation of the team
• Ensure all players are either currently registered with the League or has an approved clearance from previous Club
• Provide the Secretary with a list, in jumper number order, of all players and keep all players lists updated as every change is made
• Check jumpers are in good order at all times and have appropriate sponsors logos attached if required
• Ensure other support staff has been appointed and are in attendance as required
• Ensure the integrity of best and fairest voting in accordance with Club policy

Game day responsibilities

The following list of duties is intended to be used as a guide to assist Team Managers in completion of their duties each Saturday. Duties may be varied to reflect an individuals time commitment or the role as negotiated with the team Coach.

Team sheets

• Complete, sign and give to umpire in accordance with league rules.
• Ensure all players named on team sheet including runner and trainers and water boys are registered.
• Full names are required, first and surname.

Goal kickers

• Ensure tally is kept during match.
• Goal kickers are to be recorded on the days running sheet.
• Goal kickers to be given to the opposition team manager or secretary at away matches and goal kickers obtained from the opposition at home matches.

Club best & fairest

• Vote cards are to be distributed prior to the match and collected after the match.
• Best players are to be given to the opposition at away games and details of their best players got from them at home matches (Check league rules)

Players property

• Ensure players property is collected prior to each game and safely secured during matches.

Boundary & goal umpires

• Boundary and goal umpires are to be arranged as required
• All club umpires are to be correctly attired according to league regulations.

Drinks

• Ensure player’s drinks are on hand at all times (liaise with trainers on the provision of drinks).

Trainer’s equipment

• Liaise with trainers to ensure sufficient equipment including towels are on hand.

Footballs

• Prior to home matches, ball is to be given to the umpire for inspection.
• Ensure ball is returned after the completion of the match.

Scores reporting

• Check your league procedures for this.

Statistician

• Statistician to be provided for the senior team (if required by the coach).

Scoreboard

• Team manager responsible for the organisation of scoreboard attendant at all home matches.

Transport of gear

• Team managers are responsible for the organisation of transport of gear to away matches.

Awards

• Determine, with appropriate football staff, best player awards for the team side
• Prepare awards for distribution

Umpires

• Check with umpires within 10 minutes of finish of game that there were no reports (“all Clear”).
• If reports collect report and return to Secretary and advise any player involved that he will be required to attend the tribunal.

Relationships

• Reports to the Secretary
• Supports the coaches and match committee and other football staff as appropriate

Accountability

• The Team manager is accountable to Secretary and the Coach of that team which he manages

All Trainers shall wear approved League apparel, visible at all times. A fine will be imposed for non-compliance.
• Attend to injured players on the ground. If any injury appears to be serious, qualified medical assistance should be obtained immediately
• Be responsible for the venue’s stretcher to be readily available and visible at the edge of the ground
• A trainer is not permitted to act as second runner or to coach players and may remain on the field only for the length of time taken to treat an injured player. Failure to conform will result in a demand from the umpire for the replacement of the offender and disciplinary action by the League . A Trainer may carry water when attending an injured player, but is not permitted to act as a Water Carrier unless there is no designated Water Carrier

FootyFirst is a five level progressive exercise training program that has been developed specifically to reduce the risk of common leg injuries in community football – groin, hamstring, knee and ankle. It is based on the latest and best scientific evidence.

FootyFirst begins with a warm-up, followed by leg strengthening and conditioning exercises, and training to improve balance, landing and side-stepping skills. It requires only standard football training equipment and can replace the traditional warm-up

Performed correctly and frequently, FootyFirst will improve performance and reduce injury risk. It will improve players’ leg strength and control – from their hip to hamstring, groin to thigh, lower leg, knee, ankle and foot.

FootyFirst should be part of all training sessions. It should be completed at least twice a week.

Once players and coaches are familiar with the exercises, the warm-up should take about 5 minutes, and the strength and conditioning exercises and jumping, landing and changing direction activities about 15 minutes.

Footy First Level 1

Footy First Level 2

Footy First Level 3

Footy First Level 4

Footy First Level 5