Our Commitment to Families

We’re committed to supporting schools to deliver school football in a way that is simple, safe and enjoyable for students and families.

To help achieve this, schools are using PlayHQ; a modern digital platform that makes managing school football easier and more organised for everyone involved.

PlayHQ brings registrations, health and safety information, fixtures, results and communication together in one place; so, everything you need is easy to access and stays up to date.

By using one connected system, it reduces administration for teachers and coordinators, allowing them to spend more time focusing on students and delivering safe, positive football experiences.

Child Safety & Compliance

All competitions are supported by systems that help ensure appropriate checks for coaches (including WWCC where required), clear expectations of behaviour, and processes to manage any incidents.

Your Child’s Data & Privacy

You stay in control of your child’s information. Parents/guardians can manage profiles, adjust privacy settings (public or private), and opt out of marketing communications at any time.

Duty of Care for Students

Nationally consistent concussion management and return-to-play guidelines help ensure student safety across school, community and talent programs.

Support When You Need It

Access to AFL customer support, along with helpful guides and resources for families and schools.

Less Admin for Teachers, More Focus on Kids

Online fixtures, scoring and competition management reduce admin for schools; giving teachers more time to support student participation and development.

Works for All School Events

Whether it’s a small gala day or a large interschool competition, everything runs through one simple system.

Safe & Secure Information

Your child’s data is securely stored in Australia and protected under strict Australian privacy laws, with high-level security standards in place.

Real-Time Updates

Receive timely notifications about weather cancellations, venue changes or schedule updates; so, you’re never left guessing.

Access Anytime, Anywhere

Fixtures, results and (where shared) player statistics are available anytime via PlayHQ or the AFL Play App on your phone or computer.

PlayHQ includes a built-in concussion management system used across AFL community football. It helps track any suspected head injuries, ensures players follow the required 21-day recovery period, and manages medical clearances before they can return to play.

It’s important that schools and parents understand how this system works, as it helps keep students safe and ensures consistent care is applied across all competitions.

Automated Notifications

Once recorded, the player's account owner (parent or guardian) receives an automatic email outlining required steps and providing direct access to the Play AFL Concussion educational resources. No manual follow-up is required from the competition administrator at this stage.

Standard Concussion Protocol

Following the mandatory 21-day rest period, players must complete a graded loading program and declare symptom-free status via their PlayHQ profile. No administrator action is required once the declaration is submitted — the platform automatically restores eligibility.

Incorrectly Diagnosed

If a medical practitioner clears the player of a concussion diagnosis, the player must declare this via their PlayHQ profile and upload a supporting medical report. In this case, an administrator must manually confirm they have sighted the clearance in the system before the player becomes eligible again.

Privacy Controls

Once a player's return-to-play date passes, the incident is hidden from school and competition management to protect ongoing privacy. De-identified statistics are retained for concussion trend monitoring purposes.

Game Day Reminder

A medical clearance note shown at the ground isn’t enough on its own. It must be uploaded into PlayHQ before a player can be approved to return. Until this has been completed, the player must not take part in any matches or training.

Learn more about player concussion management at play.afl/concussion.

Registration in PlayHQ is a simple, guided process completed via AFL iD, allowing new and returning participants to register, manage profiles and complete payments in one place. This centralised approach streamlines registrations, links family and volunteer profiles and support accurate, consistent participant data across school football competitions.

Returning registration applies to participants who have previously registered via PlayHQ, including those who play community club football. 

1. Using Existing AFLiD

Go to the registration link provided by the school. Log in using the same email address used for the participant's community club. This ensures concussion history and career stats carry across both school and club.

2. Select Returning Player

After logging in, a list of registered dependents is displayed. Select the child's name. If the name is not visible, select 'Register a new family member' and enter the exact details from their club registration to trigger a profile match.

3. AFL Player Profile Sync

PlayHQ displays the AFL National Terms and Conditions. The child's accreditation, games played and any active medical restrictions (including concussion sit-out periods) automatically carry over to the school competition.

4. Set Privacy Preferences

Review and confirm the profile visibility setting: Public or Private (as described in the new participant process above).

5. Safety & Medical Information

Acknowledge the AFL Concussion Policy and update any allergy or medical condition information if required.

6. Download the AFL PLAY App

If not already installed, download from the App Store or Google Play and log in with the parent's AFL iD.

Key Requirement

Participants must use the same AFL iD profile across school and community competitions for concussion history and return-to-play restrictions to transfer correctly.

Trouble Shooting

Email already in use

The family has an existing PlayHQ account. Direct them to use the 'Forgot Password' link; do not create a new account.

Profile already exists

Stop and use the 'Claim Profile' feature to avoid creating a duplicate AFL iD.

Missing career stats

A duplicate profile was likely created. Contact AFL Customer Support to merge profiles.

Child not appearing in dependent list

Enter the child's details exactly as they appear on their club registration to trigger a profile match.

Registration in PlayHQ is a simple, guided process completed via AFL iD, allowing new and returning participants to register, manage profiles and complete payments in one place. This centralised approach streamlines registrations, links family and volunteer profiles and support accurate, consistent participant data across school football competitions. 

New participant registration applies to anyone who has never registered via the PlayHQ platform before including first-time participants. 

1. Create a Parent Account

Go to the registration link provided by the school. Click 'Create an Account'. The parent or guardian must use their own name, email address and mobile number; not the child's details.

2. Verify Email

Check inbox (and junk/spam) for a verification code from PlayHQ. Enter the code to activate the account. This ensures the parent account receives all official competition alerts.

3. Register the Child

Once logged in, select 'Register a new family member or dependent'. Enter the child's name, date of birth and gender. The system automatically generates a unique AFL iD for first-time participants.

4. Set Privacy Preferences

Choose profile visibility: Public (child's name appears on AFL Play App, ladders and stats) or Private (appears as 'Private Player' publicly; competition management can still see the name internally).

5. Safety & Medical Information

Acknowledge the AFL Concussion Policy. Optionally add allergy or medical condition information (e.g. asthma) this is accessible to team managers via the digital scoresheet in an emergency.

6. Download the AFL PLAY App

Download from the App Store or Google Play. Log in using the parent's AFL iD. Search for the school and follow the child's team to see fixtures, venue maps and live scores.

Key Requirement

Participants must use the same AFL iD profile across school and community competitions for concussion history and return-to-play restrictions to transfer correctly.

Quick Tips for New Registrations

• One account for life; encourage use of an email address the family plans to retain long-term. The AFL iD follows the child through school and community football.
• Opt in to notifications to receive instant alerts for venue changes and weather cancellations.
• If the system shows 'email already in use', the family may have an account from another program (e.g. Auskick). Direct them to use 'Forgot Password' rather than creating a new account.