WOMEN'S FOOTBALL AUSTRALIA

MATCH RULES
  1. Laws Of The Game
    1. The National Australian Women’s Football Carnival shall adopt the laws of the Australian Football League which shall be read in conjunction with these Match Rules.
    2. If a match rule is not covered in these Match Rules the Australian Football League Laws shall be adopted.
  2. Abbreviations
    1. Women’s Football Australia – WFA
    2. Sydney Women’s Australian Football League – SWAFL
    3. Australian Football League – AFL
    4. 2002 National Women’s AFL Championship – The Nationals
  3. Player Eligibility
    1. Players in the Nationals must be female and must be fourteen (14) years old or over to be eligible to play. Transgender women who have established their identity as female and are living as a woman in their everyday lives are eligible to play (refer to SWAFL transgender policy document).
    2. Players in the Nationals must each be registered with their official State League or must be a serving member of the Australian Defence Forces to be eligible to play with the ADF team..
    3. Players must have a minimum of 3 matches in that season's competition to be eligible to play in the respective State teams, unless approved by WFA.
    4. Players under the age of 18 must have parent/guardian approval.
  4. Umpires
    1. Field, Boundary and Goal Umpires must be over the age of 14.
  5. Time Keeper
    1. Each match shall have a Time Keeper who shall:
      1. Keep record of quarter duration and signal the end of each quarter
      2. Keep record of time that players are sent off the field and notify the player when they are permitted to return to the field.
  6. Team Runners
    1. Team Runners shall be dressed in a manner clearly distinguishing them from players and umpires on the field.
    2. Team Runners shall not obstruct the play in any way.
    3. Team Runners must leave the field as soon as they have finished giving messages or instructions to a player.
  7. Trainers
    1. Each team must supply at least 1 qualified Sports Trainer.
    2. Trainers must have accreditation as specified by the WFA.
    3. Trainers may assist players who are injured whilst on the ground.
    4. Trainers must stay off the field of play whilst not attending to their duties.
  8. Uniforms
    1. Teams competing in the Nationals shall wear the uniform as specified by the State teams competing.
    2. When requested by WFA, teams shall submit their uniform requests to WFA for their approval.
    3. Sleeved shirts worn underneath team jumpers must be the same colour as the jumper. Bike pants may not be worn on their own; if worn, they must be underneath team shorts. Bike pants worn underneath team shorts must be the same colour as the shorts.
    4. A player on the field of play who is not wearing the correct uniform shall be instructed by the umpire to leave the field and cannot return until they are wearing the correct uniform.
  9. Team Numbers
    1. Teams may have a maximum of 27 players in the squad although only 22 may take part in each game.
    2. For each game, teams shall consist of a maximum of 22 players with a maximum of 18 players from 1 team being permitted on the field at any time during a quarter.
    3. A team must consist of a minimum of 14 players before play can commence.
  10. Team Sheets
    1. Each team shall complete the official Team Sheet as supplied by the host Association.
    2. Each player's name, signature and jumper number shall be recorded on the team sheet.
    3. Each team’s Coach, Runner, Time Keeper and Team Manager's name and signature shall be recorded on the team sheet.
    4. Completed team sheets must be handed to the official umpire prior to the commencement of play.
    5. A player whose name appears on the team sheet must take part as a player in the match, either on the ground or as an interchange player.
  11. Duration Of Quarters
    1. Each Round Robin match shall consist of 2 x 20 minute halves.
    2. Each final match will consist of 4 x 20 minute quarters.
    3. Time on shall be called for interruption of play due to injury as determined by the umpire.
    4. The umpire may, at their discretion, indicate time on for any other reason.
  12. Equipment
    1. The host State shall supply 2 match balls in good condition for each match.
    2. The host State shall supply and operate a scoreboard.
    3. The host State shall supply and have in position suitable goal post padding on all goal and point posts.
    4. The host State shall clearly mark the ground to specifications as instructed by AFL laws.
    5. The substance used to mark grounds shall be one that meets health and safety requirements.
    6. The host State must supply a stretcher that is in a suitable position beside the boundary for the duration of all matches.
  13. Match Results
    1. Correctly completed team sheets, scorecards, goal scorer tallies and the umpires best and fairest votes must be received by the host State delegate after the completion of each match.
  14. Nationals Scoring
    1. Each team shall play each other only once in a round robin.
    2. In the round robin section of the Nationals, teams are awarded 4 points for a win, 2 points for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
    3. The top two teams at the end of the round robin proceed to the Championship match.
    4. The third and fourth placed teams at the end of the round robin proceed to the Consolation match.
    5. In the event of a draw in points at the end of the round robin, the team with the highest goal differential (goals for / goals against) will proceed to the appropriate match. In the event of a draw in goal differential the following criteria, in order, will be used to determine which team proceeds to the appropriate match: highest number of wins, best result in head to head meeting, goal differential against the highest place team at the end of the round robin.
    6. In the event of a draw at the end of a finals match, extra time will be played until there is a winner. Extra time consists of 10 minutes, 5 minutes at either end. If at the end of the first 10 minutes the match is still a draw, a further 10 minutes will be played. This arrangement will continue until the match is resolved.
  15. Playing Rules
    1. A player must bounce the ball every fifteen (15) metres.
    2. A Mark is defined as per the laws of the Australian Football League except that a mark is called after it has been kicked by another player a distance of at least fifteen (15) metres.
    3. A player can only kick the ball off the ground when opposition players are not endangered by this kicking action. This "kicking in danger" rule should be enforced at all times.
  16. Reportable Offences
    1. Umpires have two categories for recording and reporting players at anytime during or following a Nationals match.
      1. Low Level Offence:

        2. Example – Abusive language at umpire or other participants, misconduct, wrestling, unduly rough play, spitting, throwing of mouthguard.
        Penalty: Send off for 10 minutes (time for quarter or half break not included).
        These offences are not judged a reportable offence but a record will be made of player number on the umpire’s report.
      2. Medium to High Level Offence (Reportable):

        3. Example - Punching, deliberate tripping or kicking of opponents, charging, continued abusive language at umpire or other participants.
        Penalty: Send of for the remainder of game and umpire to record report and make recommendations to the Nationals Tribunal on the seriousness of the offence.
    2. Another player shall not replace the player who has been ordered from the field.
    3. When a player is ordered off the field, the time keeper shall record the time and inform the offending player's team manager when 10 minutes has elapsed and the player is then able to return to the field.
    4. It is the responsibility of the team manager to inquire with the Time Keeper as to when the player is able to return to the field.
  17. Nationals Tribunal
    1. The Nationals Tribunal shall consist of one representative from each team participating in the Nationals. Representatives from teams involved in the game in which a reportable offence occurs shall absent themselves from the relevant session.
    2. The Nationals Tribunal is to make decisions on the guilt of reported players and length of possible suspension.
    3. The reported player, one representative of the club and the officiating umpire/s can be in attendance. The majority of the tribunal must reach a consensus of guilt (or the reported player will be acquitted).
    4. The Nationals Tribunal session will be held within one hour following the game in which the Reportable Offence occurred.
W.F.A. © 2002