After monitoring the junior football competition during the 1st half of 2012, the MCDFNL held some concerns over the manner in which some games were being conducted, and the approach some were taking to the junior competition.
Over the past few weeks the MCDFNL has reviewed our Junior football By Laws and competition guidelines, and after consultation with a number of those involved in the junior competition and much discussion at Executive level, I am pleased to present to the following revised Junior Football By laws.
Pls note, that these will take effect immediately, and we do ask ALL CLUBS TO PLEASE PRINT THIS MEMO AND PROVIDE A COPY TO YOUR JUNIOR COACH’s. ASST COACH’S & TEAM MANAGERS.
We are obviously aware that not all involved will be in total agreeance with the revised By Laws, but these have been put together with the “health” of the Junior competition in mind, and do align closely with the AFL’s “Junior Match Policy”.
Updated JUNIOR FOOTBALL MCDFNL BY-LAWS
The principle of the MCDFNL Junior Football By Laws is to have players playing, and the MCDFNL does encourage Clubs to maintain this as the highest priority at all times and in any decision making. The priority is to “play the game” with what you have got to give all kids “a go”. Please refer to Under 15 and Under 17 ½ Match conditions below for more information.
Under 15 Match Conditions:
a. The Under 15 competition shall be a 16 per side competition, with Clubs allowed unlimited players on the Interchange. Where both competing teams have more than 16 players the following shall apply:
i) Where both teams have less than 16 players a team shall consist of equal players on the field of play and the balance as Interchange players.
ii) Where both competing teams have 18 or more players a team shall consist of 18 players on the playing field with unlimited Interchange players.
b. If one Club has less than 16 players and the opposing Club has 17 or more players, the side with the greater number is required to lend players to the club with the lesser number and the club with the lesser number is required to accept these players to ensure the teams shall play with equal numbers on the playing field. (This is to ensure we do not have situations where (for eg) one club has 10 players on the ground and the opposing club has 10 players on the ground and 12 on the bench. The philosophy of this rule is to see the kids ON the ground and playing). The team with 16 or more players can have unlimited Interchange players.
Note: This rule does not need to be applied in finals unless both competing Clubs agree.
c. The minimum number required for a Club to start a game is 8 players.
d. If one side fails to field 8 players, or falls below eight players during the course of the game (e.g through injury or send off) the points are automatically forfeited to the other team providing they have at least eight players.
e. A game is to proceed even if points are forfeited and it be expected that players are loaned in any game to make numbers up to an even fourteen or as close to as possible. Ideally we do not want to play with less than twenty eight players on the ground.
f. Loaned players must be listed on the opposition team sheet, with a note that they are from the opposing club, and will be eligible for any fairest and best votes cast by the umpires as well as any goals kicked. These votes and/or goals will be credited as if the players were playing for their own club. Loaned players are unable to change teams mid match.
g. The team that has requested and/or received loaned players must provide playing jumpers in their team colours for he loaned players to wear.
h. Where Clubs are reliant on players covered under an Area or Interchange Agreement (e.g MCDFNL / MJFL Area Agreement) to field a team and who are not present for the start of a match then the game will commence with equal numbers on the playing field. When such players arrive at the venue they shall report to their Coach’s Box ready to take the field. Each team can then increase their numbers accordingly but at all times equal numbers on the field shall apply. This shall also apply for Finals matches.
i. Games will commence at 9.50am
j. Games will be played of 4 x 15min Quarters with no time on, excepting in any instance where there is less than the twenty eight players on the ground in which instance quarters are to be shortened to 10 minutes with no time on.
k. Mercy Rule: An automatic mercy rule shall be implemented where when either side reaches a margin of ten goals (sixty points) in front. At this point the Scores will cease to be updated on the Scoreboard but the Goal Umpires & Timekeepers will continue to record the official score and their score will be the final score for the game. In “mercy time” it is expected that in the fair spirit of the game Coaches will allow less skilled players to play in key roles or in circumstances where players are loaned, allow “better players” to be loaned. Any player doubling up into under seventeen football has the option of being rested at this point.
l. Players must be under 15 years at the first of January of the playing year, in question, to be eligible for matches in this competition
m. Clubs will compete in registered Club colours.
n. UMPIRES: Clubs will provide all required Umpires unless otherwise advised. Central umpires are to ensure that players do not leave the field at the half time break.
o. Size 4 Leather footballs must be used for all Under 15 games.
p. In line with AFL Victoria Rules, girls shall NOT be permitted to play in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL Under 15 competition.
q. The League will provide a Best and Fairest award for the Under 15 Football competition each year. The central umpires will collectively award; 3, 2 and 1 in each home and away game throughout the season, to select the winner. The Umpires are encouraged to consult the team coaches to ensure votes awarded do identify the correct players and their registered Club, as boys playing for opposition Clubs on loan are eligible to be awarded Best & Fairest votes.
3) Under 17 ½ Match Conditions:
a. The Under 17 ½ competition shall be a 16 per side competition, with Clubs allowed unlimited Interchange. Where both competing teams have more than 16 players the following shall apply:
i) Where both teams have less than 16 players a team shall consist of equal players on the field of play and the balance as Interchange players.
ii) Where both competing teams have 18 or more players a team shall consist of 18 players on the playing field with unlimited Interchange players.
b. If one Club has less than 16 players and the opposing Club has 17 or more players the side with the greater number is required to lend players to the club with the lesser number and the club with the lesser number is required to accept these players to ensure the teams shall play with equal numbers on the playing field. (This is to ensure we do not have situations where (for eg) one club has 12 players on the ground and the opposing club has 12 players on the ground and 10 on the bench. The philosophy of this rule is to see the kids ON the ground and playing). The team with 16 or more players can have unlimited Interchange players.
Note: This rule does not need to be applied in finals unless both competing Clubs agree.
c. The minimum number required for a Club to start a game is 12 players.
d. If one side fails to field 12 players, or falls below twelve players during the course of the game (e.g through injury or send off) the points are automatically forfeited to the other team providing they have at least eight players.
e. A game is to proceed even if points are forfeited and it be expected that players are loaned in any game to make numbers up to an even fourteen or as close to as possible. Ideally we do not want to play with less than twenty eight players on the ground.
f. Loaned players must be listed on the opposition team sheet, with a note that they are from the opposing club, and will be eligible for any fairest and best votes cast by the umpires as well as any goals kicked. These votes and/or goals will be credited as if the players were playing for their own club. Loaned players are unable to change teams mid match.
g. Where Clubs are reliant on players covered under an Area or Interchange Agreement (e.g MCDFNL / MJFL Area Agreement) to field a team and who are not present for the start of a match then the game will commence with equal numbers on the playing field. When such players arrive at the venue they shall report to their Coach’s Box ready to take the field. Each team can then increase their numbers accordingly but at all times equal numbers on the field shall apply. This shall also apply for Finals matches.
h. Games will commence at 11.20am
i. Games will be played of 4 x 15min Quarters with no time on excepting in any instance where there is less than the twenty eight players on the ground in which instance quarters are to be shortened to 12 minutes with no time on.
j. Mercy Rule: An automatic mercy rule shall be implemented where when either side reaches a margin of ten goals (sixty points) in front. At this point the Scores will cease to be updated on the Scoreboard but the Goal Umpires & Timekeepers will continue to record the official score and their score will be the final score for the game. In “mercy time” it is expected that in the fair spirit of the game Coaches will allow less skilled players to play in key roles or in circumstances where players are loaned, allow “better players” to be loaned. Any player doubling up into Reserves or Senior football has the option of being rested at this point.
k. Players must be under 17 years and 6 months of age at the first of January of the playing year, in question, to be eligible for matches in this competition
l. Clubs will compete in registered Club colours.
m. UMPIRES: Clubs will provide all required Umpires unless otherwise advised. Central umpires are ensure that players do not leave the field at the half time break.
n. Full size Leather footballs must be used for all Under 17 ½ games.
o. In line with AFL Victoria Rules, girls shall NOT be permitted to play in the Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL Under 17 ½ competition.
p. The League will provide a Best and Fairest award for the Under 17 ½ Football competition each year. The central umpires will collectively award; 3, 2 and 1 in each home and away game throughout the season, to select the winner. The Umpires are encouraged to consult the team coaches to ensure votes awarded do identify the correct players and their registered Club, as boys playing for opposition Clubs on loan are eligible to be awarded Best & Fairest votes.
A reminder that these revised Junior Football By Laws will take effect immediately, and will be included in the 2013 Operations Manual.
Last Modified on 15/06/2012 11:22