Version control: Original 1990 / Updated 1999 / Updated 2003 / Updated 2011 / Updated 2014 / Updated 2015
Introduction
You must refer to the Requirements for All Sport and Physical Activity (PDF 466KB) to understand your overall compliance responsibilities.
Where considered appropriate, for example inclusion in a school sport program, parents or caregivers must be informed of full details of the location, supervision to be provided and activities to be undertaken when seeking their written permission.
Teacher/Instructor Qualifications and Experience
The appropriate level of expertise and/or training required to conduct an activity will be dependent on whether the teacher's/instructor's role is one of supervision, instruction or coaching. Other factors to be considered are the nature of the activity, the age, ability and experience of the students involved.
A teacher must be present who has recognised current training in emergency care.
Supervision
Where an adult other than a teacher is engaged to provide instruction, a teacher must be present to take overall responsibility.
Equipment
Suitably sized markers of a distinguishing colour and made from a safe and pliable material are to be positioned at the intersections of the sidelines and scorelines and at the intersections of the halfway line with the sidelines.
Students are to be instructed to wear appropriate footwear. Light leather or synthetic boots with moulded soles are permitted, provided studs are no longer than thirteen millimetres (13mm) in length.
Venues
The playing area must be level and grassed and must be free of obstructions and loose objects.
The "Field of Play" is rectangular in shape and may measure up to a maximum seventy (70) metres in width. The field dimensions may be amended dependent on the age and level of ability of the participants.
A minimum of five (5) metres around all boundaries of the field must be free or permanent structures such as goal posts, fences or cricket pitches.
Hydrated lime must not be used to mark fields.
Safety
Students must remove all jewellery and other ornaments likely to cause injury.
Students must be encouraged to keep fingernails short. Long fingernails should be taped.
Spectators and non-participating players must be positioned no less than five (5) metres from the field of play.
Each school should have a coaching program based on progressive skill training methods.
Warm-up and cool-down are vital elements in preventing injury and should be included before and after all training and competition sessions. Stretching activities performed in the warm-up should move the muscles through the full range of movement to be performed during the session and be interspersed throughout the warm-up.
The warm-up should be continuous and lead into the training session. It should be fun and include games/activities relevant to the session to be performed.
Where injury occurs during the game, the student should be excluded wherever there is any doubt as to the extent of injury or fitness to continue. Coaches should exclude students from returning to playing after injury until it is clear that the student is fit to resume. If there is any doubt the student is not to play until medically cleared.
Students must be made aware of the rules regarding dangerous play, e.g. tripping. They should also be made aware of the dangers involved in these activities. Tackling is prohibited.
A well-equipped medical kit must be readily available and where possible, ice should be available for the treatment of injuries.
Students are to be instructed to use adequate sun protection, e.g. an SPF50+, broad spectrum, water resistant sunscreen reapplied regularly.