NEXT GENERATION Australian Football Match Policy For the conduct of the game for players aged 5-18 years In partnership with AFL State and Territory affiliates NEXT GENERatiON Australian Football Match Policy For the conduct of the game for players aged 5 -18 years ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Australian Government In partnership with AFL State and Territory affiliates The AFL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government for AFL Development Programs, through the Australian Sports Commission. NEXT GENERatiON Australian Football Match Policy For the conduct of the game for players aged 5 -18 years ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Australian Government In partnership with AFL State and Territory affiliates The AFL gratefully acknowledges the support of the Australian Government for AFL Development Programs, through the Australian Sports Commission. Background The AFL Youth Policy (13-18 years) ......... 34 Roles and responsibilities ......................................... 56 Contents Introduction: Andrew Demetriou, Introduction ............................................................................................................ 36 The umpire .............................................................................................................. 58 Chief Executive Officer, Australian Football League ........... 7 AFL umpire development program ................................................. 59 Why do we need a Junior Policy? ......................................................... 8 Junior and Youth Match Program (Table) ................................. 38 Coaching pathways ........................................................................................ 61 AFL stages of development ........................................................................ 9 Codes of conduct .............................................................................................. 64 Participation and talent pathways ..................................................... 11 AFL Youth Match Programs AFL Kids First ....................................................................................................... 65 Age policy .................................................................................................................12 13-14 years ...............................................................................................................40 Female participation .......................................................................................13 Youth Girls (13-15 years) ............................................................................. 41 Children with disabilities .............................................................................13 15-18 years .............................................................................................................. 44 Keeping Junior Football Safe .................................. 66 Youth Girls (16-18 years) .............................................................................45 Legal considerations ..................................................................................... 68 Safety considerations ................................................................................... 70 The AFL Junior Policy (5-12 years) ............14 Environmental conditions ......................................................................... 72 Introduction .............................................................................................................16 AFL Recreational Football .......................................... 46 Underpinning principles of the AFL Junior Policy .............. 17 Further information AFL Junior Match Program NAB AFL Rising Stars Program ...................... 48 Further resources and website references .............................. 73 5-8 years ..................................................................................................................20 9-10 years .................................................................................................................24 11-12 years ................................................................................................................28 Junior Girls (11-12 years) ..............................................................................31 Background The AFL Youth Policy (13-18 years) ......... 34 Roles and responsibilities ......................................... 56 Contents Introduction: Andrew Demetriou, Introduction ............................................................................................................ 36 The umpire .............................................................................................................. 58 Chief Executive Officer, Australian Football League ........... 7 AFL umpire development program ................................................. 59 Why do we need a Junior Policy? ......................................................... 8 Junior and Youth Match Program (Table) ................................. 38 Coaching pathways ........................................................................................ 61 AFL stages of development ........................................................................ 9 Codes of conduct .............................................................................................. 64 Participation and talent pathways ..................................................... 11 AFL Youth Match Programs AFL Kids First ....................................................................................................... 65 Age policy .................................................................................................................12 13-14 years ...............................................................................................................40 Female participation .......................................................................................13 Youth Girls (13-15 years) ............................................................................. 41 Children with disabilities .............................................................................13 15-18 years .............................................................................................................. 44 Keeping Junior Football Safe .................................. 66 Youth Girls (16-18 years) .............................................................................45 Legal considerations ..................................................................................... 68 Safety considerations ................................................................................... 70 The AFL Junior Policy (5-12 years) ............14 Environmental conditions ......................................................................... 72 Introduction .............................................................................................................16 AFL Recreational Football .......................................... 46 Underpinning principles of the AFL Junior Policy .............. 17 Further information AFL Junior Match Program NAB AFL Rising Stars Program ...................... 48 Further resources and website references .............................. 73 5-8 years ..................................................................................................................20 9-10 years .................................................................................................................24 11-12 years ................................................................................................................28 Junior Girls (11-12 years) ..............................................................................31 Introduction This policy is designed to promote measures that will maximise the enjoyment and development of young players. As Andrew Demetriou explains – they are the Next Generation … he Australian Football League (AFL) communities across Australia but we also T is the governing body of Australian recognise two other factors determine choice Football. As the “keeper of the code” of sport. Firstly, young people today have an we aim to actively support all levels of unprecedented amount of choice in terms Australian Football from NAB AFL Auskick of sporting and leisure activity. Secondly, we to the elite level of the game and every understand family time has become more point in between. The AFL’s investment precious than ever before with the pressures in the development of the game exceeds on parents today. Both factors lead me to one more than $40 million and is designed to conclusion – that Australian Football must be introduce and retain the next generation of the best experience possible. young players and their families. Given the experience is most often delivered We want to maximise the recruitment by our army of volunteers, who are also and retention of players and umpires. under much pressure, we do hope this Our research tells us that retaining both policy provides a practical, easy-to-follow groups in the game is a function of quality guide that makes effective implementation as and, at its most basic level, the quality of easy as possible. the experience is assessed by how the game is conducted. For this reason, in It is vital that providers of junior football are collaboration with our state affiliates and familiar with, and adopt, the procedures expert consultants, we have developed a contained in this policy to ensure comprehensive junior policy