These by-laws establish the operations of the Riddells Creek Junior Football & Netball Club (RCJFNC) and set out the conditions for participation at every level of the RCJFNC.
Changes to the by-laws may be made at the recommendation of the Committee of the RCJFNC and must be approved at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the RCJFNC.
BY-LAW 1 – TEAM OPERATIONS
1. All Committee members, Officials, Players and Players’ parents/guardians will be subject to these By-laws and to the relevant RCJFNC Code of Conduct in addition to any relevant policies of all leagues that teams of the RCJFNC participate in.
2. The RCJFNC Committee has the right to enforce penalties on any official, player or player’s parent of the Club for breaches of these By-laws and of the RCJFNC Code of Conduct whether that occurs on or off the playing arena.
3. All players must be Financial Members and registered with the RCJFNC prior to being able to represent the club. In exceptional situations, the Committee may approve a payment plan for players to pay their registration fees over the first half of the season.
Appointments
4. Each team shall have a Coaching Team, which may consist of:
a. A Head Coach,
b. Up to two Assistant Coaches
c. One Team Manager,
d. One to three Runners (for rostering purposes, not required for Netball teams).
5. The Committee shall appoint a Head Coach for all prospective teams utilizing the following process:
a. Expressions of interest will be advertised on the website and in the local paper in August of each year.
b. Applicants will be required to attend an interview with a panel consisting of, the relevant Football or Netball Coordinator and the Junior Development Officer (JDO).
c. Applicants will be required to complete a RCJFNC Coaching Application form.
d. The panel will nominate candidates to be voted on by the committee.
e. Appointments will be made in October/November and announced at the Annual General Meeting.
6. If the appointment of a Head Coach for a prospective team is not made in October, or if a new team is created, the process will be repeated in February of the next year.
7. The Head Coach of each team will be responsible for the appointments of the Assistant Coaches, Team Manager and Runners to his or her team and will be responsible for the conduct and appearance of these officials.
8. Notwithstanding that these positions are appointed by the Head Coach, all Coaching Team appointments will be subject to endorsement by the relevant Football or Netball Coordinator.
9. The Head Coach and all members of the Coaching Team are required to have a current Working with Children Check for the duration of their tenure.
10. The responsibilities of the Head Coach and their appointed Coaching Team includes:
a. Reading and adhering to the Player Development policy, By-laws and Code of Conduct of the RCJFNC.
b. For U11 & U13 football, conduct a one-hour training session once a week, commencing at least four weeks prior to the first designated game and concluding the week before the last designated day,
c. For U15 & U17 football, conduct a one hour training session twice a week, commencing at least six weeks prior to the first designated game and concluding the week before the last designated day,
d. Overseeing the distribution of uniforms that are the property of the RCJFNC (including jumpers and, where applicable, helmets), and ensuring that these items are returned at the end of the playing season,
e. Monitoring player, parent/guardian and officials’ behavior and reporting any conduct that breaches the relevant Code of Conduct or these by-laws to the Standards Sub-Committee,
f. Providing game supervision and coaching on game day,
g. Being designated access to the resources of the RCJFNC including club rooms, equipment and grounds and ensuring that they are used appropriately by all officials, parents and players.
11. The Team Manager will determine in consultation with the Head Coach, the appointment of the following Game Day Officials for each game:
a. One trainer,
b. One boundary umpire,
c. One goal umpire,
d. One umpire escort,
e. One timekeeper.
12. The Game Day Officials may be appointed on a permanent or rostered basis.
Liability issues
13. The Committee will ensure that the Coaching Team is provided with a list of fines that can be imposed by the RDFL. All Committee members and Coaching Team members are to ensure that they are familiar with the list to avoid the RCJFNC being fined.
14. The Committee and the Coaching Team will ensure that certain information is communicated to parents/guardians of all players. This information will include:
a. The requirement for registration by the due date,
b. That adherence to the Code of Conduct is a requirement upon registration,
c. The requirement for fees to be paid in full before a player can play in any games,
d. That the RCJFNC is not responsible for medical or ambulance accounts arising from any injury sustained whilst participating in games organized by the RCJFNC,
e. That all players of the RCJFNC are covered by accident insurance through the governing football or netball body,
f. That no alcohol is to be consumed at RCJFNC games until after all games have been played. Any player or official seen consuming alcohol whilst games are being played will be subject to action under the Code of Conduct,
g. That a zero tolerance drugs policy will be applied at the Club. Any person who comes to any club function, game or training session under the influence of nonprescription drugs will be reported to the police and may be subject to action under the Code of Conduct,
h. That the RCJFNC will conduct a drug awareness session before the start of season and that all players and their parents/guardians are expected to attend,
i. That any damage to any part of the club rooms, including to equipment and resources, will be subject to action under the Code of Conduct and are likely to require repair at the expense of the offending person or their parents/guardians,
j. All relevant policies contained in these by-laws.
Player policies
Best and Fairest voting
15. Best and Fairest voting occurs for the under 11 football teams and above and for the all netball teams.
16. To vote, an allocation of the three best and fairest players in a particular game is made, with three votes given to the best and fairest, two to the second best and fairest and three to the third best and fairest player in that game..
17. Weekly voting will be conducted by the team’s Head Coach and by two parents/guardians of players in that team. The Team Manager will ensure that no player’s parents/guardians vote more than twice in one home and away season.
18. The Team Manager will provide voting slips and an envelope to each person voting on the day of the game.
19. Voting must occur immediately after the completion of a game.
20. Each vote will be placed into a separate envelope and sealed after each game and the envelope will be returned to the Team manager.
Player Selection Policy
21. The player selection policy will apply when there are more players than team positions in any age group.
22. The purpose of this policy is to select sides into different divisions, which will provide the best chance for the players and the team to be competitive.
23. There are a number of principles that apply in the player selection policy that should be adhered to. These are:
a. All players in their last year with that age group will be selected to play in the higher division.
b. All first year players in that age group will be selected to play in the lower division.
c. The coaches, JDO and relevant Football or Netball Coordinator will liaise during the pre-season and may decide to change players between teams to suit their skill, size and ability to compete. This is to ensure competitiveness and is known as the ‘competitive team balance policy’.
24. Notwithstanding the eminence of these principles, parents/guardians should be informed of the teams and the divisions that they will play in and given an opportunity to comment prior to finalization. This recognizes that, parents/guardians may have children playing both netball and football and in different age groups.
25. Where parents make a specific request related to the team selection of their child, they should be asked to provide their reasons. All reasonably supported requests should be accommodated, however, the ultimate decision rests with the Football or Netball Coordinator.
26. Additional principles in relation to team selection that will apply include the following:
a. The competitive team balance policy will be extended so that it will apply in each age group. Teams will be reviewed and reselected if necessary, each year to ensure there is an appropriate competitive balance.
b. Any team in each age group will not have interchange players during the home and away season unless the other teams in the age group have 18 players in the case of football and 7 players in the case of netball.
c. Any player may be rotated or transferred between teams at the discretion of the relevant Football or Netball Coordinator, if they believe it appropriate or to ensure teams are competitive.
d. As above, parents will be informed about any changes and given an opportunity to comment and make specific requests.
Team number policy - Football
27. It is the preferred position of the RCJFNC that each child that wants to play football or netball with the RCJFNC will be given that opportunity.
28. This position is, however, impacted by the number of players that register and by the policies, including caps, set by AFL Goldfields Junior Football (AFL Goldfields).
29. AFL Goldfields team number and player number policy as of 2019 is as follows;
U9 player cap is 60, U11 to U17 player cap is 50.
Team cap is U9 to U13- 3 teams, U15 to U17 - 2 teams.
30. To achieve our ideal position, the RCFJNC commits to the following:
a. If there is at least 30 players in an age group, the Committee will endeavor to recruit players to create a second team. It will also look at numbers in the lower age group and assess if any players in their last year with that age group can be used to ensure that a second team in the higher age group is formed.
b. Parents/guardians will be informed of this and, where a player is asked to play above their designated age group, parents/guardians will be required to give their consent for this to occur.
Registrations
31. Registrations will be opened in November each year to assist in the planning of teams for the following season.
32. Registrations will be notified as follows:
a. All past players will be notified that registrations are open by the email that was provided for previous registrations.
b. At least three notices will be placed within the Riddells Creek shopping precinct areas.
c. A notice will be placed in the Primary School newsletter.
d. Other notices as appropriate.
33. Preference will be given to previous RCJFNC players and their siblings and to children whose parents are Committee Members, members of the Coaching Team or permanent Game Day Officials.
Age Group Policy
34. The RCJFNC believes in giving players the opportunity to develop, by playing in the higher age group when player numbers allow.
35. As above, parents/guardians will be informed of this and, where a player is asked to play above their designated age group, parents/guardians will be required to give their consent for this to occur.
Players Rostering Off Policy - Football
36. If a team has more than 24 players available, some players will be rostered off. An equitable roster system will be devised by the Head Coach in association with the relevant Football Coordinator.
37. As a core principle, no player is to be rostered off twice before any other player has been rostered off once.
38. The Head Coach and Team Manager may exercise their discretion with the above principle only if:
a. A player has shown a lack of respect to teammates, and the coaching staff during training or on game day,
b. A player has a record of poor attendance at training that has not been explained by their parent/guardian,
c. Parents/guardians have not completed their rostered duties during the course of the year.
39. This principle is also subject to any decision made under the operation of the Code of Conduct.
Player Rotation Policy - Football
40. At any time up to Round 12 during the football season the Committee may implement a player rotation system within a particular age group.
41. The Football Coordinator will liaise with the relevant Head Coaches and implement a system whereby up to 4 players from each team will rotate on selected weeks.
42. The players will be rotated on an equitable basis and it will be expected for all players to play and train with their nominated side for that particular week.
43. This policy is designed to be fair for all involved.
Player Game Time Policy - Football
44. The RCJFNC will endeavour to provide three quarters of game time for all players throughout the home and away season. During finals, coaches will endeavour to provide a minimum of two quarters.
45. Coaches should also endeavour to play all players in a variety of positions throughout the home and away season, teaching players the various positional requirements, disciplines and versatility necessary for today’s modern game.
46. All coaches and team managers must keep documentation of player game time to assist in fairness and any grievance process.
Fill in Player Policy – Finals - Football
47. Any RCJFNC team playing in the finals will have no less than 20 players available to them.
48. If a team has less than 20 available players for finals, the Committee will liaise with the Head Coach of any team of the same age group and decide on a list of players who can be available to play in the finals for the other team. The Committee will seek consent from the parents/guardians and, once obtained, will present this list to the league for approval.
49. Where no players from the same age group are available, or approved by the league, the Committee will liaise with the Head Coach of the teams in the next lower age group and follow the same process.
50. Where players from other divisions of same age group or players from another age group are approved to fill in for finals, those players will not have more game time than any regular player from that team (except in the case of injury).
51. No player from any other team will be considered for finals if the team has 20 or more regular player’s available (22 players for U/15 and above).
Grievances
52. Players, parents/guardians, the coaching team and all RCJFNC team officials are encouraged to raise any issue or concerns they may have in relation to the operations of the RCJFNC.
53. Any issues relating to player development or game time are not to be raised with the Coaching Team during the game or whilst they are fulfilling pre and post game duties.
54. When grievances exist, the aggrieved party should identify the particular issue with their Team Manager or Head Coach either in writing or by a phone call, prior to meeting with them.
55. If a particular issue cannot be resolved amicably then the aggrieved party should contact the relevant Football or Netball Coordinator who will attempt to resolve the issue.
56. If the issue still remains unresolved then the grievance can be referred to the Standards Sub-Committee.
57. Any other issue relating to the By-laws or Code of Conduct should be directed to the Standards Sub-Committee, who will consider the issue and make a recommendation to the Committee.
BY-LAW 2 - STANDARDS SUB-COMMITTEE
1. The Standards Sub-Committee shall have the following roles:
a. Development of RCJFNC by-laws and policies and making recommendations to the Committee of new or amendments to the by-laws and policies,
b. Receiving and investigating all incidents, By-Law and Code of Conduct issues, unresolved grievances and any other matter referred to it,
c. Making determinations on matters referred to it, to the extent that these determinations will be recommendations to the Committee.
2. The Standards Sub-Committee shall consist of:
a. At least three members appointed by the Committee at the AGM or at the first Ordinary meeting following the AGM,
b. Up to three co-opted specialist members appointed for the duration of the term of the Standards Sub-Committee or for consideration of a specific issue. These members may have specialist knowledge, including in any of the following areas: governance, policy, law, mental health, drug and alcohol policy, community development.
3. For the purposes of the Standards Sub-Committee, an incident includes any complaint, alleged Code of Conduct breaches, reports of damage or any other matter referred to it.
4. In considering each incident, the Standards Sub-Committee shall:
a. Undertake investigations to ensure that the Sub-Committee has sufficient knowledge of what is at issue,
b. Applying principle of natural justice in respect of all incidents reported, which shall include fairness, providing an appropriate opportunity to hear from all parties, ensuring confidentiality, declaring conflicts of interest, adherence to reasonable timeframes etc.,
c. Seek specialist knowledge where required, either through co-opted specialist members or through seeking advice from suitable specialists,
d. Not take the role of the Police or any other law enforcement agency,
e. Consider a range of remedies, including, but not limited to those listed in the Code of Conduct,
f. Make a determination that shall be in the form of a recommendation to the Committee.