SALE & DISTRICT JUNIOR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
V C F L EASTERN REGION
RULES AND BYLAWS
Rules and Bylaws of the S&DJFA VCFL EASTERN REGION binding on all football clubs.
With under age teams in the region, clarifying the S&DJFA Junior Policy regarding the development of junior players
It is extremely important that Clubs and Administrators are made aware that the (Win at all Costs) attitude for juniors can be detrimental to both the development of the player and the image of our game at the very important Junior Level.
To assist with junior player development the S&DJFA endorses the following
a Maximum participation of as many children as possible.
b That Footy be a pleasurable experience without unnecessary pressure.
c That the opportunity exists for all players to have maximum skill development
d That the promotion of self and team discipline occurs
e That players are provided with as near as possible injury free environment
These by laws are to read in conjunction with the code of conduct adopted by the Sale & District Junior Football Association, VCFL Handbook. If any conflict intension appears
These By Laws take precedent.
BY LAWS
REGISTRATIONS AND OFFICALS
1 That all players be registered with the S&DJFA by first filling out a hand written
VCFL registration form (New players only) they then have to have their particulars entered on the Club website in members registration list
Players who have played before must have their registration rolled over to the next season; all players must be free from any encumbrance (Clearance and Auskick) all helpers have to be registered as officials
Players must have a clean registration before they play a game
CONDUCT
2 That each club is aware of and enforces the “Code of Conduct” for junior coaches,
Junior players
3 That clubs who commit breeches of the code “Code of Conduct” be put on a “Bond”
for a time and an amount up to $500.00 specified by the Association with forfeiture of The “Bond” if a second offence occurs.
PLAYER SAFETY
4 a Clubs are responsible for the safety of their players.
b Clubs officials must remain at the club rooms until all players have left.
c Players themselves are not to be left unsupervised for any period of time.
d Clubs are responsible for players before and after the match while they are at the
ground.
5 Safety padding is mandatory on goal and point posts.
6 Ground inspections must be performed prior to commencement of the days play and
report is to filled in by the home named team, this report is to be held the home team for
seven years.
7 All players are to wear an appropriate mouth guard.
8 Any injury must be made known to the Association Secretary by way of an injury report
form on the injury sustained or within one week of the injury becoming evident.
a A player suffering a reported injury must not resume playing without providing
written permission from a parent or guardian or a medical certificate stating that the
player is fit to resume playing. (Copy also must go to the Association Secretary)
b When a player is concussed or knocked out they are not permitted to commence
playing without obtaining a medical clearance from the doctor. A copy of the
medical clearance is to be sent to the Association Secretary.
9 Under 10 players are to wear a helmet during play at all times.
10 The use of a line in front of the coaches box at least 1.5 metres back from the boundary
line, to prevent Coaches, coaching staff and interchange players from standing on the
boundary line.
11 That only necessary Coaching Staff and interchange players be behind the coaching box
line.
12 The only officials who may cross the line drawn 1.5 to 2 metres in front of the coaches
box during play are the water persons, runners and trainers.
13 No balls to be kicked in change rooms unless equipped with properly constructed area
and under supervision.
TIMES
14 Games shall commence as follows.
a All games shall commence as per time stated on draw.
b Unless both teams agree to change match time.
c The Association must be notified of match time change (7) days prior to the game.
The Association Secretary will then notify the club if the change is acceptable.
15 Breaks between quarters are as follows for all grades ¼ time 3 minutes ½ time 10
minutes ¾ time 5 minutes.
SPECTATORS
16 No alcohol is to be consumed at any game or function of the Sale & District Junior
Football Association.
17 That spectators who behave in a unbecoming manner be made aware of the “Code of
Conduct” and if the behaviour continues be asked to leave the ground under the
threat of police action.
COACHES AND OFFICIALS
18 All coaches and officials are to be registered as OFFICIALS on the club website they are representing. All coaches are to be accredited to level one status or have proof they are attending a level one course in the current year they are going to coach or they cannot coach a team.
19 One runner and water person allowed for each team
20 Any coach or team official who records a bad (CODE of CONDUCT) from any game
by the umpires will be noted by the S&DJFA Secretary and the club involved will be
notified of the offence by phone and email. Any SERIOUS CODE of CONDUCT reported regarding the coach will be dealt with by the EXECUTIVE and/or the ASSOCIATION INVESTIGATION OFFICER. Penalty if found guilty.
ACREDITED COACH- first offence three match suspension, Second offence remainder
of season suspension.
UNACCREDITED COACH- suspension for the remainder of the season. (Will not be able to coach again till they are accredited to level one status) Any reported coach will have the right to request a tribunal. Other team officials will be dealt with by the same process without the right to request a tribunal.
AREA AGREEMENTS and PERMIT”S
21 The S&DJFA has area agreements with the Alberton League and the Gippsland League
This agreement offers players to play both ways with permission from the club the player plays in. (This is done by match day permit on the website after the hand written copy is filled in first by the clubs concerns) All hand written copies are to be sent to the Association Secretary
The S&DJFA also has an area agreement with the NGFNL which operates one way only U/16 S&DJFA players only to NGFNL U/18’s (This paperwork is all handled by the NGFNL)
22 All Players who play with the S&DJFA on permit may received B/F votes but are not
eligible to win the S&DJFA Best and Fairest competitions.
23 The maximum number of players that the Maffra and Sale Gippsland League clubs and
the Alberton Football League clubs can use is eleven players per year going from the S&DJFA clubs to the senior leagues.
UMPIRES
24 a All central umpires are to be supplied by Sale Umpires Association. Boundary and
goal umpires are to be supplied by the clubs
b All Umpires for the preliminary and grand finals (Central Boundary &Goal) are to
be supplied the Sale Umpires Association.
25 Any game officiated by the Sale Umpires Association person will have the right to
send a runner or water person off the field as they see fit within the rules of the S&DJFA. Failure of the runner or water person to abide by this will result in the Umpire issuing a Red or Yellow card. Therefore if this occurred the runner or water person cannot be replaced during the send off period.
PLAYER AGES
26 To be eligible to play in the respective age groupings the following limits apply.
a Under 10- Players must be 8 years old and under 10 years of age at 1st January
of the current year.
b Under 12-Players must be under 12 years of age as at 1st January of the current year.
c Under 14-Players must be under U/14 years of age as at 1st January of the current year
d Under 16-Players must be under U/16 years of age as at 1st January of the current year
e Girls may play AFL football until they reach 14 years old as at 1st January the same
year
PLAYER NUMBERS
27 There must be equal player numbers per side on the ground at all times (except for
players sent off) e.g 14 per side, 16 per side.
28 The minimum number of players to have in a match is 12 players
a If a team has less, then the team is considered to have forfeited to the other side.
b A scratch match should then be played.
c The Association discourages forfeits as a option.
d Coaches are to loan players to opposing teams with less players.
e Equal participation of players listed on the team sheet is to be encouraged.
f numbers on the team is (25) twenty five per team.
PAPERWORK
29 The home team (first named team on the draw) are to collect the following items
from both teams and mail them to the Association Secretary at Po Box 143, Sale
3850. Pre stamped envelopes are to be supplied by the Association
a Under 10- team sheets and scorecards
b Under 12, 14, 16 – team sheets, code of conduct sheets, vote sheets, scorecards,
Umpire order off sheet and time keeper order off sheet.
30 Any player may be played up a grade at any time of the year including finals.
a A player must have played 4 games to qualify for finals.
b Any player who has played up a grade must play in the grade he or she has played the
most games in.
c Any player who has played up for the first 3 games of the season with the higher
Team alone cannot return to the lower grade.
d Any club who has more than one team in a grade must have their teams even by the 3rd round by moving players up and down between the teams. Failure to this will have the Association investigate the club as to why it has not happened.
31 It is the home team (First name team on the draw) responsibility to enter the Scores,
all players and team officials onto the electronic team sheet, goal kickers and best players.
This is to be completed by midnight Sunday following the weekend games
All paperwork must reach the S&DJFA by the following Wednesday after the weekends
Games.
(Fines will imposed for failing to do these entries and post paperwork on time)
S&DJFA MODIFIED RULES
32 Under 10 Rules
a A player is only allowed to bounce the ball once before kicking or handballing.
b Kicking the ball off the ground deliberately is not permitted.
c Players are allowed to tackle normally but no opponent shall be slug in the act
of tackle.
d Umpires will nominate players for a ball up following a scrimmage.
e Coaches are allowed on the ground to instruct and teach players. (one coach per team)
f A mark shall be awarded no matter how far the ball travels.
g A dimple ball is to be used for all games.
h Four (4) ten (10) minute quarters are to be played.
i When a ball goes out of bounds from a kick whether on the full or not, a free kick shall be awarded to the nearest opponent or to a player chosen by the umpire.
When there is doubt to whom shall be awarded the free kick the umpire shall call for
a ball up 5 metres from the boundary.
Under 12 Rules
a No kicking off the ground.
b Four (4), fifteen (15) minute quarters will be played
c A dimple ball is to be use for all games.
d No centre square for home and away games and finals matches. No replacements
for send off players.
Under 14 Rules
a A full size dimple ball will used in all games.
b Four (4) Twenty (20) minute quarters will be played.
c No replacement for send off players.
Under 16 Rules
a A full size leather or dimple ball will be used in all games.
b Four (4) Twenty (20) minute quarters will be played
c No replacements for send off players
33 All players are to wear football shorts, jumpers and socks applicable to their club
white shorts are to be worn for all away games. All runners and water persons must have fluoro bibs or tops on as part of uniform. ( Umpires will have the right to send
off players and officials for wearing incorrect uniforms)
34 A player using audible abusive language shall be red or yellow carded and sent off by
the field Umpire.
a This offence carried an automatic suspension of one week.
35 No cash incentive is to be paid to any player.
36 The Association adopts the VCFL rules relating to the automatic suspension of reported players and officials.
37 Any player suspended during the season ( including automatic suspension imposed for swearing, red carded or for two send off’s yellow card) shall be ineligible for the Associations Best and Fairest player award.
38 Any player or official being sent off on two occasions during the season receives a one week suspension. Any further yellow card send off player or official is to receive a one week suspension.
39 The following consequence will follow a player or a official being awarded a yellow or red card .
a Yellow card - sent off field of play for fifteen minutes
b Red card - Sent off the field of play for rest of game and may be reported
c A player receiving a subsequent yellow card during the season will receive an additional one week suspension.
40 Sent off notices are to be completed on match day and to be filled out by the time keepers and umpires and to be sent to the Association Secretary with match day results. The penalty for not sending in sent off notices is a fine
41 Clubs may impose an (in house) suspension of a player , administrator or parent for inappropriate behaviour.