SANFL Competitions Vaccination Policy

SANFL Media Release – 14 December 2021

SANFL has today released its COVID-19 Vaccination Policy for all SANFL players and football staff, with mandatory full vaccination required in advance of the start of season 2022.

The Policy, adopted this morning by the South Australian Football Commission, will require all players and support staff, including volunteers, in all State League competitions to be fully vaccinated no later than January 28, 2022.

The SANFL Women’s League season commences on February 4 and the Men’s League on April 1. Under-age SANFL competitions are due to commence on March 26.

Applicable competitions and programs:

• SANFL League and Reserves
• SANFLW and Development League
• SANFL U18 Torrens University Cup
• SANFL U16 Torrens University Cup
• SANFL U16 Girls
• Male and Female Talent Pathway Programs (State/Representative Teams and Squads)
• Novita SANFL Wheelchair Football League

Vaccination Requirements

In order to best protect the health and safety of all participants and the broader community, SANFL’s COVID-19 Vaccination Policy requires all players and football staff in the above-mentioned competitions to be vaccinated as follows:

• Players and Football Staff (employee, contractor or volunteer) to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved and recognised vaccine by 28 January 2022; and
• Players and Football Staff to maintain fully vaccinated status by receiving any necessary booster within the timeframe recommended by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI).

SANFL Umpires, as employees of SANFL, are required to be fully vaccinated no later than January 10 in accordance with SANFL’s workforce Vaccination Policy.

Players and football program staff who do not comply with the vaccination requirement that applies to them will not be able to attend Club premises including to train or play, unless a medical exemption has been approved.

SANFL Chief Executive Officer Darren Chandler said SANFL was putting the health and safety of all players, staff and the wider community at the forefront with its Vaccination Policy.

“We’ve been taking a strong stance on vaccination and this policy now delivers on our commitment to protect players, staff, volunteers and the broader community,” Mr Chandler said.

“Our priority is to create the safest environment possible for our players, staff and volunteers while also doing everything we possibly can to keep all South Australians safe and minimise any risk of COVID-19 transmission.’’

Mr Chandler said a survey conducted by all SANFL Clubs of over 1000 SANFL players, coaches, officials, umpires and staff showed that by the end of the year, 87 per cent of participants would be fully vaccinated.

Mr Chandler said SANFL would continue to consult with SA Health with regards to health directions in relation to patrons attending games at SANFL Club venues.

Community Football

Community Football, which includes all affiliated leagues and SANFL Juniors, does not come under the SANFL Vaccination Policy. Individual leagues may decide to adopt a mandatory vaccination policy.

SANFL will continue to strongly encourage all participants and volunteers in community football to get fully vaccinated.