Sandgate Masters Australian Football Club OFFICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT Season 2011
Introduction: The Game of AFL Masters provides the opportunity for players 35 years and over to enjoy the game of Aussie Rules Football in a safe, supportive and fun environment. AFL Masters clubs have a welcoming atmosphere with an emphasis on family involvement and fun social interaction. While a good level of fitness is required to enjoy the game fully, training runs twice a week without huge time commitments are the order of the day for AFL Masters players. AFL Masters, is football for fun played in a friendly spirit under modified rules to provide the opportunity for the mature aged to participate in the game of Australian Rules Football in a friendly supportive environment regardless of age fitness and ability with the focus on football for fun. As such there are no competition points, ladders or finals which should ultimately reduce the likelihood of injury to all players. At the Sandgate Masters Australian Rules Football club we have embraced and encourage the above Ethos in our attitudes to AFL Masters. We play football to enjoy ourselves, meet new people and relive old times with team mates when we were younger, faster, stronger and fitter. And there is no denying that after a couple of drinks that we all agree on one topic, and that is the older we get the better we were. If you think that you can become an integral part of this club and take on a playing role in this team then I encourage you to read below and consider the following questions. As a player can I? - Maintain a focus on footy for fun as per the AFL Masters intention? Fit into a team where the emphasis is on enjoying our football and getting up fit and healthy for work after each game rather than winning at all costs? Maintain a professional approach at all times towards umpires, opposition players, teammates, volunteers, supporters and officials involved with AFL Masters? Maintain my own composure in the face of unwanted, unwarranted and unwelcome aggression from others who act outside the Footy for Fun ethos with the knowledge that these offenders will be dealt with by the AFLMQ? Encourage and support teammates with minimal skills, experience and/or fitness? Ensure that all of my team regardless of age, fitness or ability, share equal opportunities during the season? Lead by example in both attitude and application? Accept an umpiring decision under all circumstances? Respect my own body and that of my opposition by not engaging in unduly rough play? Respect and assist the volunteers who work without reward to ensure that the Sandgate Hawks Masters provide an opportunity for me to play Australian Rules Football. Respect decisions made by the coaching group and committee with the knowledge that these decisions are based on the best interests of the Sandgate Hawks Australian Football Club and the Sandgate Hawks Masters playing group. Accept any team related punishments handed to me for breaches of this code of conduct. (team punishments will not include any act that will financially disadvantage any player and will be decided by the playing group on a case by case basis)
Playing Rules as set by the AFL Masters Qld. RUCKING Only one player from each team to contest all ruck knocks. At all times the ball shall be thrown up and not bounced At centre bounces the white line (or imaginary line) shall be used. One ruckman from each team shall approach the throw up from opposite sides of the white line. At boundary throw ins only one player from each team to contest the ruck. If there is no boundary umpire, central umpire will throw up the ball 10 metres in from where the ball went out. MARKING The player in front of the pack competing for a mark is to be given every protection and opportunity to take the mark. Any unnecessary or deliberate interference by an opponent player/s in attempting to mark or prevent the player in front of the pack from taking the mark shall result in a kick being awarded to the player in front of the pack. The interference could take the form of a knee or boot being put into a players body. HOLDING THE BALL/BARGING The player in possession of the ball is to be given a most reasonable time and every opportunity to dispose of the ball. A player attempting to barge or charge through a tackle can do so only if he has not had prior opportunity to dispose of the ball failing to do shall result in a free kick to the tackling player. When a player is fairly bumped in the side and the ball falls from his hands - the call is play on. Likewise when a player is either knocked on the arm causing him to drop the ball or has his arm pinned to his side causing him to drop the ball - play on. PLAYER PROTECTION All players making the ball their objective are to be given the utmost protection by the umpire. Any contact other than a legal side bump or legal tackle (between knee and shoulder) to be deemed unduly rough play and a free kick to be awarded. Slinging players to the ground whether the player is in possession of the ball or not is illegal. Late contact, in any form, when the ball has been disposed of, will result in a relayed free kick being paid down the field. Chopping with a clenched fist will result in a free kick being awarded. A player can only be tackled front on by being grabbed with both hands, any attempt to bump or hit a player front on will result in a free kick awarded.
In the case of 2 players on the ground contesting the football if a third player enters the contest a penalty is awarded to the opposing team. 50 METRE PENALTY A 50 metre penalty only, shall be applied in all instances. ADVANTAGE Advantage will be payed in all instances. SCORING To be on the following basis: Behind -- Kicked by any type of kick score 1 point. Goal -- Kicked by punt kick or kicked of the ground score 6 points. Supergoal -- Kicked by drop kick score 12 points. (Supergoal -- Must be kicked from 20 metres out. Supergoal to be signalled by Goal umpire by waving 1 white flag and 1 coloured flag. To be added to scorecard as 2 goals = 12 points. Should any doubt arise then the field umpires shall adjudicate. Should both goal and field umpires be unsighted then 6 points shall be awarded. UMPIRES COLOURED CARDS GREEN CARD -- Automatic send off until end of current quarter plus one additional quarter. YELLOW CARD - Automatic send off for remainder of the game. RED CARD - As for Yellow Card plus 1 round penalty with referral to the M.A.F.Q Management Committee for futher action. ORDER OFF RULE Any player ordered off by the umpire can be replaced during the penalty period. Players can be ordered off for the following indiscretions. VERBAL ABUSE - Green Card Verbal abuse or dissension to any person on field (ie. Umpire, opposition player or team mate) or any self abuse using abusive language. UNDULY ROUGH PLAY - Yellow Card Unduly Rough Play (shirt front, charge, or any unnecessary tackle or challenge likely to cause injury) FIGHTING - Red Card Striking (any form of intentional striking) Second offence of Green Card will automatically attract a Red Card. Receiving of a Green Card and Yellow Card in the same game attracts a Red Card. Any player who receives a Red Card is automatically suspended for 1 additional Round Plus a referral to the AFLMQ Management Committee for further action.
JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS Should any umpire submit a written report following the send off of a player, the AFLMQ Management Committee will meet to decide any additional penalty to be imposed. LOCAL PLAYING RULES To be read in conjunction with playing rules All teams must have the same amount of players on the field at all times. This rule does not apply when a player is sent from the field by the umpire. If a player is injured and leaves the field and the player's team does not have a replacement the other side shall offer one of their interchange players to take their place or if they also have no replacement player shall take one of their own players off to keep the sides even. A player who is carded 3 times in a season could incur expulsion from M.A.F.Q. Participation. To participate in the National Carnival for Queensland a minimum amount of rounds must be played in the local AFLMQ. competition according to the criteria met as set out in the carnival eligibility document available from the zone delegates. UMPIRING INSTRUCTIONS 1. Pay the first kick or use the advantage rule. 2. Give the utmost protection to the player in front or going the ball. 3. Give reasonable time to dispose of the ball (less emphasis on the tackler). 4. Free kick against players raising a leg when marking or spoiling from behind. 5. Free kick where if 2 players are on the ground contesting the football if a third player enters the contest a penalty is awarded to the opposing team. 6. Strictly enforce the verbal abuse and complaints with the Green, Yellow and Red Card send off rule. 7. 50 metre penalties apply 8. Ruckmen can come from any direction but only one from each team to contest the knock or throw in. At centre throw ups, the white line shall separate the ruckmen. 9. Umpires and teams to assemble in the centre of the ground prior to the start of each game. 10. Umpires to advise both verbally and by sign what a penalty kick is given for. 11. Boundary umpires when available - throw in is in force. 12. When boundary umpire not available the following procedures are to operate. Ball out of bounds by foot on the full - kick in by opposing team. Ball out of bounds by foot, not the on full or by hand - throw up 10 metres in by field umpire. 13. Umpires to throw up ball not bounce in all ruck contests. 14. All Red Card send offs to be recorded by umpires in the form of a report and handed to or sent to the Secretary of AFLMQ.
PLAYER INSURANCE AFLMQ advises it takes no responsibility for loss or injury whatsoever to any participant in the Association. You are reminded that it is YOUR responsibility for any loss or damage for both personal property and/or injury. Sandgate Hawks Masters Team Specific Rules: Fully financial players will be given first preference to game time over non-financial or partly financial players. Players who attend training regularly will be given preference to game time over players who do not attend training without valid reasons. All players should make every effort attend post game drinks to socialise with teammates and opposition teams at both home and away games and help to reinforce the Footy for Fun message. All players must attend at least one club sponsored function at some stage during the season. Whilst we understand that everybody has work and family commitments, we still strongly encourage all players attend as many training sessions as possible to help maintain their own physical fitness and skill levels and maintain strong attendance numbers at sessions to enable more varied training drills. Players are encouraged to warm up thoroughly prior to each training session and then follow through with the team oriented warm up exercises. Players are encouraged to attend the club house after training sessions to socialise with teammates and support the club financially with the purchases of meals and or drinks etc. Game Days: All players must be at the ground by no later than 1 hour prior to game time. Players are encouraged to offer assistance where ever they can to ensure that the match can be played in a safe environment. If certain roles on game days cannot be filled then matches will be cancelled in accordance with AFLMQ prceedure. These roles include first aid/sports trainer for every home game, one umpire per team. From time to time players with the necessary accreditation may be required to fill these roles rather than play to avoid forfeit of home games. Why have the Sandgate Masters gone to the trouble of creating this document? It is simply because it is easy to forget during the excitement of a game or over the course of a long season exactly why we all play AFL Masters. We would like to keep our focus firmly on the Footy for Fun intention as outlined by the AFL Masters Queensland. At the Sandgate Hawks, our players are our greatest asset. They are intelligent middle aged men with the ability to shape their own destiny with the decisions that they make both on and off the field. Unfortunately, life is too short, we (coaches and officials) need to ensure that players decide to return to the Sandgate Hawks Masters for as many years as their bodies will allow to enjoy this game and the mateship that it brings by keeping them interested in this great game and our team & our proud club. I hope you enjoy your season at the Sandgate Hawks Masters for season 2011. Regards, Kevin Crawford. Sandgate Hawks Masters President.
Sandgate Hawks Team Song: Ohhhhhhhhhhhh the Sandgate boys are happy, the Sandgate boys are free, The Sandgate boys are dinky di where ever they may be, We never fight or quarrel, we never disagree. But we all dropped dead when. said Come and have a beer with me. Oh beer, beer for the green and the red Oi! Oi! Oi! Give the boys some whiskey, give the boys some head. Send old out for more but don t the suckholes of. in. We never stagger, we never fall, we sober up on swiss alcohol, All our loyal sons go marching back to the pub for more. Some facts about the Hawks Team Song: The junior teams in the club only sing the first verse, so be careful what you teach your kids or you may have a few upset Mums to deal with. The second verse to the song is sung to the tune of the Notre Dame Fight Song or more commonly known in Australia and footy circles as the Sydney Swans team song. The captain or coach on the day will let everybody know during the song whose names to insert in the blank parts of the song by pointing toward them. The suckholes referred to with a blank in the song will be the opposing team.
Sandgate Masters Australian Football Club OFFICIAL CODE OF CONDUCT Season 2011 PLAYER DECLARATION: I acknowledge receipt of and have read and understand the Sandgate Hawks Masters Official Code of Conduct and will abide by the above playing rules and regulations. Date: / / 2011 Signature: WITNESSED BY: Name: Signature: Date: / / 2011