Membership

Membership consists of the following categories:-

1. Full financial member, is a person who has attained the age of 18 years
2. Life members
3. Junior members

Only full financial and life members have voting entitlements at a General Meeting of the club.

A nomination of a person for membership of the Club:-

1. Shall be made in writing on the Application for Membership form
2. Shall be lodged together with the fees payment with the Secretary of the Club

Upon a nomination being approved by the General Committee, the Secretary shall enter the nominee's name in the Club's Membership Register.

ALL MEMBERS, OFFICIALS, PARENTS AND PLAYERS ARE BOUND BY THE NFL AND CLUB CODE OF CONDUCT (click to view)

Selection of Coaches and Support Staff

All coaching positions are declared open at the conclusion of each season. People interested in coaching the following season are required to formally nominate their interest in writing to the Secretary. Nominations will normally close on October 31. The appointment of coaches will be at the discretion of the Coaching Selection Committee. In accordance with standard practice when dealing with children, applicants will be required to consent to a police check.

Player Registration

The club will hold a registration day, normally in February, each year. On this day all players will be registered in their appropriate age group. (Please note that all new players must provide an original birth certificate or extract of entry for the initial registration). It will not be possible to register players to a single team if more than one team exists in the player's age group. Players can continue to be registered after this date through the Team Manager or the Registration Secretary. Players are also required to complete a Medical History Form.

Age Qualification

The player's age in a calendar year must not exceed the age group of the players' team
eg: a player turning 10 in the 2008 calendar year is able to play in the Under 10 age group.

Player Details

The Club will retain a full list of players' names, addresses, registration numbers and other information it deems necessary for the operation of the club. Parents / Guardians will be requested to provide this information at the start of each season.

Annual Subscriptions

Player registration fees are set annually by the committee. The fees are to be paid by all registered players and must be paid in full prior to their 2^nd Game.

The fees for 2008 are as follows:

Single Member $150

Two or more members in the same family $190

All players receive a team photo and receive discounts on Club functions and merchandise.

There are no weekly game fees.

The Club will consider cases of financial hardship. Any family requiring this consideration should forward a "written request" for consideration to the Registration Secretary or the Treasurer.

Full membership fees are set annually by the committee. The fees are to be paid by all registered full members.

Life Members are not required to pay fees.

Team Membership

Where the Club has nominated more than one team in an age group, teams will be determined on the following basis.

Under 10, 11, and 12 Age Groups

The Club requires that teams in these age groups are equally competitive in their division. This means that the teams should normally finish within 2 places of each other on the ladder. Players are to be assessed and allocated each year, dependant on numbers, by both team coaches in conjunction with the Coaching Coordinator, (where there is more than 1 team in the same age group).

Under 13, 15 and Under 17 Age Groups

As the performance of the Division 1 teams in the older age groups determine whether the Club remains in Division 1, player selection for these sides will be on the basis of playing the stronger side in the higher division. (Provided there are multiple divisions in the relative age groups)

The Executive requires (for development purposes) compulsory rotation of players between the two sides in the same age group for at least the first 6 rounds of the season. NFL rules provide for the rotation of up to eight players per round: ie. 4 players from each side, up to the close of registrations.

The club recommends training will be two nights a week, with both teams of the same age group training together at least one night a week as a combined group.

Under 14 Age Group

If there is more than one NFL division in the Under 14 Age group, the above policy in place for the Under 13, 15 and 17 age groups will apply.

In the event of only one NFL division and the Club is able to field multiple teams, the Executive requires that all players are available for selection and rotation between the two teams, up to the close of registrations (30^th June annually).

Players will be assessed and allocated, dependant on numbers, by both team coaches in conjunction with the Coaching Coordinator.

Players in this age group are to train together throughout the season as one group for training purposes.

Under 13 to Under 17 age group Selection criteria:

The Executive recommends the following be included as part of the coaches selection criteria when determining sides for Division 1 and Division 2 or 3. PACE (speed), ENDEAVOUR (effort, exertion), DISCIPLINE (self, team rules etc.), COMMITMENT (training attendance, game day etc.). Whatever your selection criteria please advise Players and Parents in writing before the start of the season. It is preferred players of both sides train together throughout the season (possibly break into teams half way through the final training session for the week).

Players playing in older age groups

Players will be expected to play in their own age group.

Players may play a second game in an older age group if this team has insufficient players. DVFL rules prohibit a player from playing in finals in their own age group if they have played too many games in an older age group.

Training Nights (Times & Venues)

Training times will be advised by the coach. These may vary during the season.