AFL Nines and AFL Switch Terms and Conditions of Participation
AFL NINES/SWITCH TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
By submitting an Application, I confirm that:
(a) If I am the Participant, I have read, understood and agree to these Terms and Conditions, and confirm that the statements made and details provided in the Application are true and correct; or
(b) If I am registering a Participant who is under 18 years of age, I have authority to do so, agree to these Terms and Conditions on the Participant’s behalf, and confirm that the statements made and details provided in the Application are true and correct. I acknowledge that submitting an Application does not guarantee registration, and that the Football Bodies may refuse an Application in accordance with these Terms and Conditions.
1. DEFINITIONS
AFL means the Australian Football League ACN 004 155 211.
AFL Nines/Switch means AFL Nines or AFL Switch, each of which is a modified format of Australian Football conducted by or on behalf of the AFL.
Application means an application to register an individual Participant, or where permitted, a team submitted by its Team Captain for a Competition.
Australian Football has the meaning given to that term in the Laws of the Game, and includes any modified format of that game approved by the AFL, including AFL Nines/Switch.
Club means, where applicable, the club associated with or responsible for a team or Competition.
Competition means any AFL Nines/Switch competition in which the Participant is registered, applying to be registered or otherwise participating.
Competition Centre means a venue, organisation, licensee, operator or other third party authorised by the AFL or a State Football Body to deliver, operate or administer an AFL Nines/Switch Competition.
Fee means any fee payable in connection with the Participant’s registration or participation in AFL Nines/Switch as shown at registration.
Footage means photos, images, video, livestreams, recordings and audio that feature the Participant.
Football Body means the AFL, relevant State Football Body, Competition Centre or other body involved in the Participant’s registration or participation in Australian Football.
Laws of the Game means the Laws of Australian Football as administered and controlled by the AFL and set out at https://play.afl/learning-resource/laws-game, as amended from time to time.
League means the league or competition administrator responsible for conducting or overseeing the Competition.
Parent/Guardian means, where the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s parent, legal guardian or another person with legal authority to register the Participant and accept these Terms and Conditions on the Participant’s behalf.
Participant means the person registered, or applying to be registered, to participate in AFL Nines/Switch, including as a player, coach, volunteer or other registered participant. A Participant may be 18 years of age or older, or under 18 years of age and represented by their Parent/Guardian.
Policy Handbook means the AFL Nines/Switch Policy Handbook, as amended from time to time.
Rules and Policies has the meaning given in clause 2.
State Football Body means each of the following AFL Affiliates: AFL NSW/ACT; AFL Northern Territory; AFL Queensland; AFL Tasmania; AFL Victoria; SANFL; and WA Football.
Team Captain means the person who registers a team for a Competition, unless the AFL or relevant Competition Centre determines otherwise.
Terms and Conditions means these AFL Nines/Switch Terms and Conditions of Participation.
2. RULES AND POLICIES
(a) The Parent/Guardian and Participant must comply with these Terms and Conditions, the Policy Handbook, and any applicable rules, policies, codes of conduct and reasonable directions that apply to AFL Nines/Switch, as updated from time to time (Rules and Policies).
(b) Failure to comply with the Rules and Policies may result in a direction to change behaviour, suspension or termination of participation under clause 12.
3. SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE
(a) The AFL is committed to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of Children and Young People involved in Australian Football.
(b) All Participants are required to comply with child safeguarding requirements under the Rules and Policies as well as any obligations they are subject to under relevant state or territory child safeguarding legislation.
(c) If the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Parent/Guardian must:
i. understand and comply with the applicable safeguarding and behavioural standards required by the AFL, including the AFL Child Safeguarding Policy, available at https://play.afl/safeguarding/learning-resource/child-safeguarding-policy-and-procedures;
ii. support the Participant to understand and comply with those standards in an age-appropriate way; and
iii. report any serious or ongoing safeguarding or behavioural concern to an appropriate Football Body.
(d) If a person believes that a Child or Young Person is at imminent risk of harm or immediate danger, or that conduct toward a Child or Young Person may constitute a criminal offence, they must call 000 and lodge a report with the AFL via the AFL’s electronic complaint submission platform.
4. ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION
(a) To register, a Participant must complete the Application, pay any applicable Fee and accept these Terms and Conditions.
(b) If the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian must do those things on their behalf.
(c) The age eligibility requirements for AFL Nines/Switch are as follows:
i. for AFL Nines:
A. a Participant in a youth competition must be aged between 12 and 18 years inclusive as at 31 December in the year of participation, and must be enrolled in secondary school;
B. a Participant in an adult competition must be at least 15 years of age as at the start date of the Competition; and
C. if a Participant turns 15 during an adult competition, they may only participate from the date they turn 15; and
ii. for AFL Switch:
A. a Participant in a youth competition must be aged between 12 and 18 years inclusive as at 31 December in the year of participation, and must be enrolled in secondary school;
B. a Participant in an adult competition must be at least 17 years of age as at 31 December in the year of participation; and
C. if the minimum age for participation in adult community football prescribed by the relevant State Football Body is lower than 17 years of age, the minimum age for participation in an adult AFL Switch competition in that State or Territory will be that lower age.
(d) The Participant or, if the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian warrants that:
i. the information provided is true, accurate and up to date;
ii. if the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Parent/Guardian has authority to register the Participant and accept these Terms and Conditions on the Participant’s behalf;
iii. the Participant satisfies the applicable age, schooling and any other registration and eligibility requirements under this clause and the Rules and Policies; and
iv. if the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s PlayHQ account is created and managed by their Parent/Guardian or another person with lawful authority.
(e) The AFL may ask for proof of age, identity or authority to act for the Participant. (f) Subject to applicable law and the Privacy Policy, the AFL will not action a request to access, transfer or change a Participant profile or account unless the person making the request has appropriate authority.
5. TEAM CAPTAIN RESPONSIBILITIES
(a) The Team Captain must:
i. act as the main contact for the team;
ii. ensure the team name complies with these Terms and Conditions;
iii. ensure all payments and Fees are paid and up to date;
iv. ensure Participants in their team are eligible to participate and are not subject to any AFL Nines or AFL Switch disciplinary action that may affect their participation;
v. pass on fixtures, changes and other Competition information to team members; and
vi. notify the relevant Competition Centre of any forfeit, withdrawal or team change within any required timeframe.
(b) The AFL or relevant Competition Centre may refuse, suspend or cancel an Application if the team name is inappropriate, offensive, discriminatory, defamatory or otherwise inconsistent with the spirit of Australian Football.
6. COMPETITION / PROGRAM DELIVERY
(a) The minimum delivery for each AFL Nines/Switch format is:
i. School Program – 4 sessions;
ii. Holiday Program – 1 session;
iii. Competition – 4 sessions; and
iv. Event – 3 matches.
(b) A Football Body may offer additional sessions or matches, but these are not guaranteed. No refund, credit or other compensation is payable solely because an additional session or match is not delivered. Nothing in this clause limits any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified.
7. PARTICIPANT HEALTH AND SAFETY
(a) If the Participant is aware of any medical condition, injury, allergy, disability, medication requirement, support need or other matter that may reasonably affect their safe participation in AFL Nines/Switch activities, or for which they seek adjustments or support, the Participant should provide relevant information to their Competition Centre. Where the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant's Parent/Guardian should provide that information on the Participant's behalf.
(b) The Participant must keep this information, and emergency contact details, accurate and up to date. If the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian must do this on the Participant’s behalf.
(c) Where the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian remains responsible for:
i. supervising and supporting the Participant's health, wellbeing and medical needs; and
ii. providing any medication, treatment, equipment or support required by the Participant unless otherwise expressly agreed by the relevant Football Body.
8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK
(a) Participation in Australian Football activities involves inherent risks, including the risk of injury.
(b) To the extent permitted by law, the Participant agrees not to bring a claim against a Football Body or its officers, employees, agents or volunteers for loss, damage or injury that arises solely from the inherent risks of participation. If the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian gives this agreement on the Participant’s behalf.
(c) To the extent permitted by law, a Football Body’s liability for services supplied in connection with registration or participation is limited to resupplying the services, paying the cost of resupply, or refunding the amount paid for the affected services.
(d) Nothing in these Terms excludes, restricts or modifies any right or remedy that cannot lawfully be excluded, restricted or modified, including under the Australian Consumer Law.
9. INSURANCE
(a) Registered Participants may be covered by certain sports injury insurance benefits under the AFL National Risk Protection Program, subject to the applicable policy terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility requirements.
(b) The insurance cover is not comprehensive and does not cover expenses that cannot lawfully be insured, including Medicare expenses or the Medicare gap. Participants should consider whether they need private health insurance or ambulance cover. If the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s Parent/Guardian should consider this on the Participant’s behalf.
(c) The insurance cover does not extend to a Parent/Guardian unless that person is separately registered as a Participant and is eligible for cover under the applicable policy terms.
10. IMAGES, VIDEO, STREAMING AND LIKENESS
(a) The Participant acknowledges that during Australian Football matches, training, programs, events and activities, Footage of the Participant may be captured by or on behalf of the Football Bodies.
(b) By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, the Participant consents to the Football Bodies collecting, using and disclosing the Participant’s Footage and name, image, likeness, reputation and identity (Likeness) for purposes connected with Australian Football, including:
i. administering, managing and promoting competitions, programs, events, matches, training, and activities;
ii. education, training, integrity, tribunal, disciplinary and safety purposes;
iii. media, communications, marketing and promotional purposes; and
iv. use by the AFL, State Football Bodies and their authorised partners in connection with Australian Football.
(c) If the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant has obtained consent from their Parent/Guardian for the purposes of the Participant’s consent under this clause.
(d) The Participant acknowledges that Footage may be edited, adapted, published, broadcast, livestreamed, communicated or otherwise used in any format or media, including online and on social media.
11. PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING
(a) Participants, Parent/Guardians and other attendees must not take photographs, videos or recordings:
i. in a change room;
ii. in a restricted access area;
iii. where photography, recording or mobile phone use is prohibited; or
iv. in a manner that breaches a reasonable direction, applicable law, child safeguarding requirement or another person’s privacy.
(b) Participants, Parent/Guardians and other attendees must not capture, share or distribute images or recordings containing private, confidential or non-public information seen at AFL, Club, or venue facilities.
(c) A change room means any space being used for changing clothes, showering, toileting, medical treatment or personal care.
12. REFUSAL, SUSPENSION AND TERMINATION
(a) In accordance with the applicable Rules and Policies, the AFL or relevant Football Body may suspend, restrict, refuse the attendance of or deregister a Participant from participation in Australian Football, or restrict or refuse the attendance of a Parent/Guardian or supporting adult.
(b) This may happen if the Participant, or where relevant the Parent/Guardian:
i. breaches these Terms and Conditions, the Policy Handbook or applicable Rules and Policies; or
ii. is subject to a sanction, suspension, restriction or other disciplinary outcome.
13. CANCELLATION, REFUNDS AND CHANGES
(a) The relevant Football Body may make reasonable changes to an AFL Nines/Switch Competition, including to fixtures, venues, times, format or number of rounds. This may occur because of weather, venue availability, safety, team numbers or operational requirements.
(b) Unless required by law, a refund will only be provided if the Participant has a medical condition that prevents further participation and a medical certificate is provided if requested.
(c) Any refund may take into account rounds, sessions or matches already delivered, and any processing or administration fees that apply. A bye or change to the fixture does not, by itself, entitle a Participant or team to a refund or credit.
(d) For AFL Nines/Switch, teams must comply with any applicable forfeit process or policy notified by the relevant Football Body.
14. PARTICIPANT AND PARENT/GUARDIAN CODE OF CONDUCT
(a) By registering, the Participant agrees to comply with this Code of Conduct. If the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s Parent/Guardian agrees to explain this Code to the Participant in an age-appropriate way and support the Participant’s compliance.
(b) The Participant, and where applicable the Parent/Guardian, must:
i. participate in, attend or support matches, training, programs and activities in accordance with the applicable Rules and Policies;
ii. respect Participants, administrators, officials, volunteers, parents, guardians and families;
iii. not argue with or abuse an official, umpire, administrator, volunteer or other person;
iv. not bully, harass, intimidate, discriminate against, vilify, belittle, insult or take unfair advantage of another person, including through social media;
v. not engage in, threaten, encourage or incite violence or physical confrontation; vi. contribute to a safe, inclusive and respectful environment;
vii. respect the rights, dignity and worth of all people involved in Australian Football;
viii. use facilities and equipment appropriately; ix. respect decisions of officials and use appropriate channels for concerns or disputes;
x. follow reasonable safety and behavioural directions;
xi. not smoke, vape or consume alcohol where prohibited by law, venue rules, Competition rules or a reasonable direction of a Football Body; and
xii. take responsibility for their actions, where relevant, having regard to their age and capacity.
(c) The Participant acknowledges that a Football Body may take disciplinary action for a breach of this Code in accordance with clause 12.