FINAL Community Club Sustainability Program Black Diamond AFL Player Points Criteria February 2018 The background to the Community Club Sustainability Program AFL NSW/ACT believes that ensuring competitions are competitively balanced is critical to safeguarding the ongoing viability and sustainability of competitions and clubs. Even and fair competitions lead to increased interest and provide a better experience for stakeholders, which leads to stronger competitions and clubs. The future sustainability of community football will be built upon highly competitive leagues, where costs are controlled and are within the fundraising means of volunteer administrators. Competitive competitions enhance the experience for players, umpires, administrators and spectators. Competitive balance measures already exist in some leagues in NSW/ACT, however with AFL Victoria and the SANFL investing significant time and energy into the development of a state- wide system, AFL NSW/ACT are also implementing a similar regime to achieve improved competitive balance outcomes and also consistency across the states. The significant movement of players between community clubs, has been identified as a key issue affecting community football over the past 5-10 years. 2 Safeguarding the interests of Community Football The general philosophy behind the Community Club Sustainability Program is based on the following four objectives in the best interests of Community Football: 1) Assisting the equalisation of competitions 2) Promoting player loyalty and junior development 3) Improving the sustainability of Community Clubs 4) Supporting the role volunteers undertake in managing their clubs by: a) Capping the need to fundraise money for player payments b) Providing a more competitive environment on field, that encourages more volunteers to support at club level 3 Player Points System Explained The Player Points System was identified as a potential method to reduce the continuing movement between clubs. Ease of transfers, the willingness of players to move between clubs and some clubs recruiting philosophies were adding to the imbalance of talent from one club to the next. The Player Points System is designed to: ✓ Better manage player movement ✓ Spread player talent across clubs ✓ Reward player loyalty ✓ Encourage the development of junior players at an existing club The Player Points System is also designed to differentiate between certain levels of community football. It is acknowledged that community football is made up of players of varying standards and an effort has been made to objectively categorise these community footballers based upon their playing history and achievements. The overall aim of the Player Points System is to assist clubs in managing their recruitment strategies and to provide clubs with a tool that encourages player retention and also minimises the freedom of movement currently enjoyed by players, which is often at the expense of even competitions and sustainable clubs. The Player Points System has been designed to provide a consistent approach across competitions and at the same time recognise and accommodate the varying standards between leagues. Accordingly, it is seen as a system which will assist in the equalisation of competitions. 4 Player Points System Explained PLAYER POINTS SYSTEM – CATEGORIES AND DEFINITIONS Category 6 6 points AFL Player Minimum 1 AFL game in any of the previous 3 seasons. State League (VFL, WAFL, SANFL, NEAFL, TASFL) Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons. Category 5 5 points TAC Cup Minimum 5 games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons. Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons in a Tier 1 Category 4 4 points Premium Community Player Community League. Played the same or more senior than reserves (or non-highest division) games in any of the current or previous 3 seasons (excluding Tier 1 Community Leagues). This Senior Community Player includes any players from AFL Sydney Platinum division. Category 3 3 points Played more reserves than seniors games in a Tier 1 Community League. Recruited from an U19’s or younger competition and does not meet the Home Player Transferred Junior definition. Played more reserves (or non-highest division) than senior (or highest division) games Development Community Player in the previous season (excluding Tier 1 Community Leagues). Category 2 2 points Any player who is currently posted to the RAAF Base Williamtown is a Royal Defence Force Personnel Australian Air Force military air base in Port Stephens or the Lone Pine Barracks Army Base in Singleton. Played 40 or more games at the aligned junior club up to and including U18 competition. Category 1 1 point Home Player Has only played at that club. Has not played any football for 3 or more full seasons. DEFINITIONS Tier 1 Community Leagues AFL Sydney Premier Division, AFL Canberra 1st Grade, Farrer FL Seniors, Riverina FL Seniors, Hume FL Seniors, Black Diamond Cup, QAFL, QFA Division 1, NTFL, any senior community competition affiliated to AFL Tasmania, AFL Victoria, the SANFL or the WAFC and any State League player not meeting category 5 definition. Junior Aligned Club Where seniors and juniors exist under the same constitution, and/ or as determined by AFL NSW/ACT. Senior clubs can have multiple junior aligned clubs and junior clubs could have multiple senior aligned clubs. This is to ensure that appropriate and practical player pathways exist. The list of junior aligned clubs are outlined in this document. 5 Player Points System Explained POINTS ADDITIONS & DEDUCTIONS – POINTS ALLOCATIONS If player transfers from another community club and will be competing against their former club (does not include Category 2 Development Community Player). Additional 1 point If player transfers to three or more community clubs in past 36 months. Does not include players moving on permit (e.g.: VFL, TAC Cup, NTFL or Local Interchange). ADDITIONAL PLAYER POINTS If player played junior football with a AFL Hunter Coast Juniors club in the previous 3 seasons and is playing for a Black Diamond club not in that junior clubs pathway. Additional 2 points* If the player has played junior football with a AFL Hunter Coast Juniors club for less than 3 seasons, and played more matches for a junior club that is not in the Black Diamond club’s youth pathway. For each season of service to the club, after 2 seasons served, (minimum 5 senior or reserves games per season), even if not in consecutive years, until the Deduct 1 point player reaches 1 point. #Note: if the player is eligible for underage football at that club, it must be 5 senior games to meet the criteria for a year of service. Where a player transfers from a club in the Black Diamond Cup competition to PLAYER POINTS DEDUCTIONS Deduct 2 points* a club which was in the Black Diamond Plate in the previous season. Revert to 2 points* Senior playing coach who does not meet Category 1 criteria. Where player is returning to their home club. Revert to 1 point Where player has not played in the previous 36 months. * Local variations for Black Diamond Cup 6 Player Points System Explained ADDITIONS & DEDUCTIONS – LEAGUE EQUALISATION PANEL ASSESSMENT 1) League Equalisation Panels may reassess an individual player’s points classification where the Panel deems in its ultimate discretion that the prescribed points allocation is inappropriate based on the player’s playing history. 2) Where a player qualifies in more than one category based on their playing history in the previous 3 seasons, the category with the highest points will apply (see flow chart). Note: Home players are excluded. 3) Any player that does not meet any of the prescribed point categories will need to apply to the League Equalisation Panel who will determine the appropriate points allocation in its ultimate discretion. 4) The League Equalisation Panel may take into account the following in determining whether or not the imposition of additional points are appropriate in the circumstances: • The nature and location of the player's employment; • The principle place of residence of player's family members; • The principle place of residence of the player's partner or spouse; • The player's previous history and/ or relationship with the Club; and • Any other factors deemed appropriate by the assessment panel in its absolute discretion. 7 Player Points Calculation Flowchart Stage One Stage Two START HERE Categories Definition ONCE STAGE ONE HAS BEEN COMPLETED, SHOULD A Played at least one game of AFL in any of the previous 3 Home Player AFL Player 6 Points PLAYER MEET EITHER OF THE seasons CONDITIONS BELOW, ONE Definition ADDITIONAL POINT WILL BE Played at least 5 senior games of VFL, WAFL, SANFL, ADDED TO THE PLAYERS Player who has played State League Player NEAFL or TASFL in any of the current or previous 3 POINTS ALLOCATION FOR more than 40 games with a OR seasons 5 Points EACH CONDITION MET AS club in official Played at least 5 TAC Cup games in any of the current or TAC Cup Player DETERMINED BY THE PANEL competitions from U17’s previous 3 seasons and lower (see aligned junior club definition) 1. If a player transfers to a OR community club and will be Minimum 5 senior games in any of the current or previous competing in the same Player has played only at 3 seasons in a Tier 1 Community League competition and against their that club Premium Community Player 4 Points former community club, (does In senior competitions only, top 10 finish in competition not include Category 2 – *Under this definition B&F or Competition leading goal kicker (min 40 goals) in Development Community players can have multiple the previous season Players). home clubs 2. Three or more different Played the same or more senior than reserves (or non- community clubs in past 36 highest division) games in any of the current or previous months.