SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPETITIONS TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF PARTICIPATION ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

SCHOOL FOOTBALL COMPETITIONS 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 or selection, and that the Football Bodies may refuse an Application or participation in accordance with these Terms and Conditions and the applicable Rules and Policies, including applicable School requirements, directions and permissions.

1) DEFINITIONS

AFL means Australian Football League (ACN 004 155 211).

Application means the application to register a Participant in a School Football Competition.

Australian Football has the meaning given in the Policy Handbook, and includes any School Football Competition connected with it.

Competition means a School Football Competition in which the Participant is registered, applying to be registered or otherwise participating.

Club means an affiliated Australian Football club involved in delivering or supporting a Competition, where applicable.

Controlling Body has the meaning given in the Policy Handbook.

Fee means any fee payable in connection with the Participant’s registration or participation in Australian Football, as shown at registration.

Footage means photos, images, video, livestreams, recordings and audio that feature the Participant.

Football Body means the AFL, a Controlling Body, League, Club, Competition organiser or other body involved in administering, supporting or delivering a Competition.

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, association or other body responsible for organising or conducting the relevant Competition.

Match means any Australian Football match played in a 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 a Competition. A Participant may be 18 years of age or older, or under 18 years of age and represented by their Parent/Guardian.

School means the school, college or other education provider through which the Participant is registered, nominated, selected or participating in a Competition.

School Football Competition means a school-based Australian Football competition, carnival, gala day, tournament, series, Match, event, training session or related activity delivered through or in connection with a School.

Policy Handbook means the National Community Football Policy Handbook, as amended from time to time.

Rules and Policies means these Terms and Conditions, the Laws of the Game, the Policy Handbook, applicable AFL and Football Body policies, competition rules, codes of conduct, School policies and procedures, venue requirements and reasonable directions, as amended from time to time.

Terms and Conditions means these School Football Competitions Terms and Conditions of Participation.

2) RULES AND POLICIES

a) The Participant and, where applicable, their Parent/Guardian must comply with the Rules and Policies.

b) The Participant must also follow reasonable directions from authorised School staff, teachers, coaches, Competition organisers, officials, venue personnel and Football Body representatives.

c) Failure to comply with the Rules and Policies may result in a direction to modify behaviour, removal from a Competition, suspension, loss of selection or eligibility, deregistration or other action under the applicable Rules and Policies.

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 under the Policy Handbook and the AFL’s Child Safeguarding Policy; 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 towards a child or young person may constitute a criminal offence, they must immediately call 000, and lodge a report with the AFL via the AFL’s electronic complaint submission platform.

e) If a person believes that another person has committed a breach of the safeguarding requirements in the Policy Handbook, they should contact the relevant Football Body as soon as possible and submit a written complaint in accordance with the Policy Handbook.

4) ELIGIBILITY AND REGISTRATION

a) To participate, the Participant must complete any required Application, satisfy applicable eligibility and selection requirements, pay any applicable Fee and accept these Terms and Conditions. The Participant must also obtain any required School permission or, where the Participant is under 18 years of age, Parent/Guardian permission.

b) If the Participant is under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian must complete or authorise those steps on their behalf. The Participant, or if they are under 18 years of age, their Parent/Guardian, warrants that:

i) the information provided is true, accurate and up to date; if accepting these Terms and Conditions on behalf of a Participant who is under 18 years of age, they have authority to register the Participant and accept these Terms and Conditions on the Participant’s behalf;

ii) the Participant meets the age and eligibility requirements for the relevant Competition and Football Bodies; and

iii) where the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s PlayHQ account is created and managed by a Parent/Guardian or other adult with lawful authority.

c) The AFL, Football Body, School or Competition organiser may request reasonable evidence of age, identity, enrolment, eligibility or authority and may refuse or defer an Application that is incomplete, inaccurate, unpaid, ineligible or creates an unreasonable safety, legal or operational risk.

d) 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) HEALTH AND SAFETY

a) The Participant must ensure that the School, relevant Competition organiser or Football Body is informed of any medical condition, injury, allergy, disability, medication requirement, support need or other matter that may reasonably affect the Participant’s safe participation, so that reasonable adjustments and risk controls can be considered. Where the Participant is under 18 years of age, the Participant’s Parent/Guardian must 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;

ii) providing any medication, treatment, equipment or support required by the Participant unless otherwise expressly agreed by the relevant Football Body;

iii) remaining contactable during a Competition when required by the School and responding promptly if contacted about the Participant’s wellbeing or a medical incident; and

iv) complying with any supervision arrangements advised by the School or Competition organiser, including remaining at the Competition or arranging for another trusted adult, other than Competition officials or personnel, to supervise the Participant where required.

d) The relevant School, Football Body or Competition organiser may request a medical clearance where reasonably required for safe participation and will consider reasonable adjustments for disability or additional support requirements.

6) CONCUSSION

a) The Participant and, where applicable, their Parent/Guardian must comply with the concussion requirements in the Rules and Policies, including the Policy Handbook and the AFL’s current guidelines for the management of sport-related concussion in Australian Football.

b) If the Participant is suspected of having sustained a concussion, the Participant must be immediately removed from participation, must not return to participation on the same day and must be medically assessed and managed in accordance with the applicable Rules and Policies. The Participant must not return to training or play until all applicable return-to-participation requirements have been satisfied, including any required medical clearance.

c) The Participant and, where applicable, their Parent/Guardian must promptly provide any information and medical clearance reasonably requested by the School, Football Body or Competition organiser in connection with a suspected or diagnosed concussion and the Participant’s safe return to participation.

7) COMPETITION DELIVERY, CHANGES AND REFUNDS

a) The format, duration, number of Matches, venue, timetable, selection process and any participant benefits will be described by the School or Competition organiser.

b) Any participant benefits may be distributed through the School or Competition organiser, or delivered to the nominated Australian postal address, as advised for the Competition.

c) The School, Football Body or Competition organiser may make reasonable changes to a Competition, including its dates, times, duration, location, venue, delivery method, fixtures or format, because of weather, venue availability, safety, staffing, school operations or other circumstances beyond reasonable control.

d) Selection in a team, progression to another stage, and participation in match-day, half-time or similar experiences are not guaranteed and remain subject to availability, eligibility, School approval and the discretion of the relevant organiser.

e) Where a Fee is payable, any cancellation or refund request must be made through the payment and registration channel nominated for the Competition. Refunds will be provided where required by law. Any other refund may take into account services already delivered and participant benefits already supplied.

f) Unless otherwise required by law, a refund may be provided where a medical condition prevents further participation and reasonable supporting evidence is supplied if requested, or where the relevant organiser determines that the Competition has not been conducted to the reasonably expected standard.

g) A pre-advertised participant benefit may be substituted with an item of similar value if it is unavailable. Lost, stolen or damaged benefits need not be replaced after delivery unless required by law.

8) ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RISK

a) Australian Football is a body contact sport, and participation in Australian Football activities involves inherent risks, including the risk of serious 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, the Participant’s 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 under the AFL National Risk Protection Program for certain sports injury benefits, subject to the applicable terms, conditions, exclusions and eligibility requirements of the personal accident cover. Participants should enquire with the Football Body with which they are registering to confirm whether they will be covered under the AFL National Risk Protection Program.

b) The personal accident cover provided under the AFL National Risk Protection Program is not comprehensive and in particular does not provide cover for expenses that cannot lawfully be insured, including medical expenses for which a Medicare benefit is payable and the Medicare gap. Participants should consider their own personal circumstances including any need to procure their own private health or other personal insurance, loss of income protection 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 covers provided by the AFL National Risk Protection Program do not extend to persons not registered with the relevant Football Body as a Participant or appointed in an official or volunteer capacity (for example spectators and Parents/Guardians who are not appointed by the Football Body in an official or volunteer capacity).

10) IMAGES, VIDEO, STREAMING AND LIKENESS

a) The Participant acknowledges that during School Football Competitions, Footage of the Participant may be captured by or on behalf of the Football Bodies, School, Competition organiser, event organiser or authorised media representative.

b) By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions, the Participant, or the Participant’s Parent/Guardian where the Participant is under 18 years of age, consents to the Football Bodies, School and Competition organiser collecting, using and disclosing the Participant’s Footage and name, image, likeness, reputation and identity (Likeness) for purposes connected with School Football Competitions, including:

i) administering, managing and promoting competitions, events, matches, training and related activities;

ii) education, training, integrity, tribunal, disciplinary and safety purposes;

iii) media, communications, marketing and promotional purposes; and

iv) use by the AFL, Football Bodies and their authorised partners in connection with Australian Football.

c) For a Participant under 18 years of age, all references in this clause to the Participant’s consent mean consent given by the Participant’s Parent/Guardian on the Participant’s behalf.

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.

e) Notwithstanding this clause, certain uses of Footage may be subject to separate Participant or Parent/Guardian consents, permissions or preferences specified by a Football Body from time to time. Where such a consent, permission or preference applies, the Football Bodies will handle the Footage in accordance with that consent, permission or preference.

11) PHOTOGRAPHY AND RECORDING

a) Participants, Parents/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, Parents/Guardians and other attendees must not capture, share or distribute images or recordings containing private, confidential or non-public information seen at AFL, School, Club, Competition organiser 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, a Controlling Body, School or Competition organiser may:

i) suspend, restrict, refuse the attendance of, and/or deregister a Participant from participation in School Football Competitions;

ii) restrict or refuse the attendance of a Parent/Guardian; or

iii) direct a Participant, Parent/Guardian or spectator to modify their behaviour or leave a Competition.

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; or

iii) engages in conduct that affects another person’s safety, wellbeing or enjoyment; provides materially inaccurate or misleading registration information; fails to meet eligibility or payment requirements; misuses a voucher, coupon or payment method; or creates a safeguarding, integrity, legal or operational risk that reasonably requires action.

13) 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, their Parent/Guardian agrees to explain this Code to them in an age-appropriate way and support their compliance.

b) The Participant, and where applicable the Parent/Guardian, must:

i) participate in, attend or support Matches, training, Competitions and activities in accordance with the Laws of the Game and the applicable Rules and Policies;

ii) comply with the Policy Handbook including, but not limited to, all behavioural requirements in:

(1) section 9.1 – Responsibility of a Person;

(2) section 9.2 – General Code of Conduct;

(3) section 10 – Vilification and Discrimination;

(4) section 11 – Safeguarding Children and Young People;

(5) section 12 – Social Media;

(6) section 13 – Gambling and Match Fixing;

(7) section 14 – Anti-doping and Supplements;

(8) section 19 – Concussion;

iii) use facilities and equipment appropriately;

iv) respect decisions of officials and use appropriate channels for concerns or disputes;

v) follow reasonable safety and behavioural directions;

vi) not smoke, vape or consume alcohol where prohibited by law, venue rules, Competition rules or a reasonable direction of a Football Body; and

vii) take responsibility for their actions, where relevant, having regard to their age and capacity.

c) A Parent/Guardian must, and each spectator associated with the Participant is expected to, encourage the Participant positively; respect Participants, School staff, coaches, officials, volunteers, families and spectators; demonstrate good sportsmanship; acknowledge good play; not mock or insult a Participant for making a mistake or not playing well; recognise the value and importance of volunteers; not bully, harass, belittle, discriminate against, intimidate or threaten another person; not engage in or encourage violence; and follow reasonable directions from an authorised School, Football Body, Competition organiser, venue or Competition representative.

d) The Participant acknowledges that a Football Body may take disciplinary action for a breach of this Code in accordance with the Rules and Policies and clause 12 of these Terms and Conditions.