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For each new SANFL Juniors season, competition dates, rules and regulations, and other documents are required to be updated. Therefore, please find all relevant information below for the 2024 National Pharmacies SANFL Juniors season.

Please note the "Key Dates" document that lists important meetings and dates throughout the year. For any delegate meetings, it is essential that at least one (1) representative from the club is in attendance.

Prior to and/or during each SANFL Juniors season, clubs are expected to submit specific forms to SANFL Juniors for different requirements (e.g. team nominations, player transfers etc). Once the form has been filled in entirely, it must be emailed to [email protected].
NOTE: Only forms that are signed and submitted from a club committee member will be accepted.

PlayHQ is the online platform that is used for registrations, transfers and competition fixtures and results. If any new and/or current committee member wants to learn how to use the system or has certain issues that needs resolving, please use the PlayHQ Support (link below) as it has comprehensive information, resources and video tutorials to help!

Any information that is relevant to weekly SANFL Juniors Match Days can be found below. The Match Day Guide and Match Day Processes are important documents for all Team Managers and Ground Marshals to have a copy of and should be provided to them via email prior to the season commencing.

These guidelines have been published by the AFL as a position statement on the management of concussion in community football and junior competitions of Australian Football. It is based on guidelines developed by the AFL Concussion Working Group Scientific Committee.

The Guidelines continue to reflect the latest medical advice on managing concussion in Australian Football and are principally about protecting the health and safety of players. All community football leagues are strongly encouraged to adopt the guidelines.

Below are resources to help support and educate clubs, leagues players, parents, coaches, trainers and others involved in community football about the importance of following the guidelines.

We also encourage all trainers, first aiders, players and caregivers to download the HeadCheck app. HeadCheck is an evidence-based app developed by leading concussion experts from MCRI and the AFL. The app is a concussion management tool to help recognise concussion early and manage recovery.

Constantly improving club operations and processes is pivotal in running a club effectively and efficiently, and to achieve long-term viability and sustainability. Below is a list of websites that provides valuable resources, tools, templates and information to facilitate the opportunity for club development and improvement. Its essential that all committee members are aware of these websites and utilise them as much as possible to successfully fulfill their roles, responsibilities and obligations. In addition, applying for and attaining grant funding is also critical for long-term growth and should become part of your clubs processes each year. The Community Football "Grants, Funding & Facilities" link below provides a comprehensive list of the funding opportunities available to all football clubs.

SANFL Juniors have the SANFL Juniors Club of the Year Award, which is an incentive for clubs to strive for excellence within their club governance, operations and administration. A list of criteria has been developed (can be viewed below) with relevant points associated accordingly. The criteria’s primary focus areas for clubs are around Governance, Club Development and Club Behaviour and will be considered for the current season only from 1st October 2020 to 30th September 2021. The club who accumulates the greatest amount of points will be the winner, with the award to be presented at the end of the SANFL Juniors season.

The SANFL Juniors competition has a number of policies that must be adopted by clubs and strictly abided by. There is also a SANFL Juniors Code of Conduct which sets out the minimum behavioural standards required for anyone involved in the competition such as players, coaches, umpires, administrators, parents and spectators. Any policy or Code of Conduct breaches may be subject to disciplinary action.

SANFL is committed to the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people participating in, officiating or associated in any way with the SANFL Juniors competition. Clubs have a significant role in maintaining a child safe environment and are required to comply with the procedure below to ensure they meet their obligations, as set by the SANFL. One of the primary responsibilities for clubs is to ensure that any of their volunteers have a valid Working With Children Check (WWCC). The WWCC is an assessment of whether a person (14 years or older) poses an unacceptable risk to children. As part of the process, the Department of Human Services (DHS) Screening Unit will look at criminal history, child protection information and other information. If a persons clearance is received, the WWCC is valid for 5 years. Clubs must use the DHS online monitoring portal system to maintain a record of their volunteers checks as the system is live and will alert at anytime as to whether an individual is “prohibited” from working with children.

COACHING:
A coach plays an important role in whether football participation has a positive or negative effect on each child and whether they will return to play each season. Coaches can help create a positive sporting environment and reduce poor behaviour by being good role models and upholding the SANFL Juniors Coaches Code of Conduct.

For each SANFL Juniors season, all club coaches must be Level 1 accredited (at minimum). If a club has any person interested in becoming a coach or a coach needs to update their accreditation, please provide them the link below or contact the SANFL State Coaching Manager, Dave Reynolds, at [email protected] for more information.

UMPIRING:
Each season, it is the aim of the SANFL Juniors Umpiring Department to have field umpires in all boys and girls competitions, with other umpiring positions (i.e. goal and boundary umpires) to be filled by individuals from the club. The SANFL Juniors Umpiring Department is always seeking new umpires so if your club has anyone interested (14 years or older), please provide them the link below or contact the SANFL Juniors Umpiring Department, at [email protected] for more information.