Club Registrar's Guide to WA Football Junior Registration Years 3-6 2026

WA junior football is aligned to school years. 2026 birth date ranges:

• Auskick and Superkick aged players are not permitted to play in junior competitions.
• Years 3 to 6 are Modified competitions; Years 7 to 12 are Youth.
• Where mixed year group competitions are played, the lower year group's rules apply.
• Single-sex competitions are preferred where possible, and female players may play with males up to and including Year 9.
• The League's gender diversity approach uses the AFL Gender Diversity Policy when a trans, non-binary or other gender identity matter is raised.

Nominations: WA Football sets a date each year for clubs to nominate teams for each year group. Each nomination must name:

• an accredited coach able to teach the laws and skills in line with the Spirit of Junior Football and the Code of Conduct
• a manager to handle clerical and other duties

Fee: nomination fees are $300 plus GST for Year 3-6 Modified teams ($350 plus GST for Year 7-12 Youth teams). They are non-refundable unless the League decides otherwise. The League may refuse a nomination at its absolute discretion (for example for inadequate player numbers, ongoing behavioural issues or competition structure).

Withdrawals: a club that withdraws a team without a reason acceptable to the League may be penalised. If a team withdraws after the season starts, the League decides how fixtures are adjusted.

Uncompetitive teams: the League can notify a club before or during the season that a team may be uncompetitive and recommend re-allocating players. If the club refuses, sanctions can include being ineligible for premiership points, not having matches fixtured, and fines.

Years 3-6 have no premiership points, ladders or finals.

On application to the League, a player may play up a maximum of one year group (a combined-age competition does not allow extra movement: a Year 7 can play up in Year 8 but not in a Year 9/10 competition).

• Approval depends on the player's physical capability and social development, and the benefit to the player, not just making up team numbers.
• Temporary play ups are allowed only if the player does not displace a registered player in the older year group. In metro competitions no WA Football approval is needed; the club manages it.
• A player may not play more than four games in an older year group without League approval (the club applies by the League's approved method).
• Once approved for a fifth game, the player belongs to the older year group for the rest of the season, and cannot play any more games in the younger group. If they play a further younger-group game, they are ineligible and the match is forfeited. If they have played for multiple older teams, the League chooses the team.
• A fifth game without approval makes the player ineligible and the match a forfeit.

Play downs need League approval for every case (there are no temporary play downs).

• A player may play down a maximum of one year group (a Year 6 can play down in Year 5, not in a Year 3/4 competition).
• The club submits the application, supported by a parent or guardian, with a clearly stated reason.
• Except for school year group play downs, an approval covers the current season only and can be reviewed at any time. The League can revoke an approval at any time if it gives the reasons to the player via the club.

Evidence required:

• School year group: a letter from the school confirming the year.
• Physical development: written authority from a sports physician or registered medical practitioner confirming the player is below the fifth percentile for height or weight.
• Disability that limits play: written authority from a sports physician or registered medical practitioner (may recommend approval for two seasons).

Small clubs below the minimum players to nominate a team may apply for play-down permits, at the League's discretion, to a maximum of 4 per team.

The League considers playing history, ability, the effect of disability or size, how the dispensation helps participation, and the safety and welfare of all players.

After Round One, a player cannot move from one team to another team in the same club and year group unless the League approves or directs it. Clubs can ask to move players during the season to rebalance teams. A player who plays for another team in the same club and year group after Round One is ineligible and the game is a forfeit.

Each team is treated as a separate entity, and players are not permitted to play for another team in the same age group.

If a club has multiple teams in a year group, the League decides the grading and division of every team. The club must keep teams reasonably balanced, and deliberate manipulation of competitiveness can bring sanctions. If the League considers a team uncompetitive it may direct the club to re-allocate players and require updated team lists for review.

All WA Football competitions follow the AFL National Player Transfer Regulations.

• Transfer windows: 1 to 30 November, and 1 February to 30 June. Permits stay open all season.
• No club may charge a player any fee, levy or surcharge for transfers or permits.
• A player cannot hold permits for two junior competitions in different leagues or regions on a regular weekly basis.
• A player who plays a senior community match (for example Perth Football League) can still play a junior match on the same weekend.
• A player recorded in, or named (not as an emergency) for, a WAFL or WAFLW match cannot play a junior match that weekend, including one scheduled before the WAFL match. Emergencies only remain eligible.
• Players leaving a WAFL club return to their Club of Origin.

A transfer may be refused only if:

1. the player must keep playing for the source club (a permit is needed instead)
2. the player is financially indebted to the source club (proper records needed, such as outstanding fees)
3. the player has club property that must be returned (such as a playing jumper)
4. the player wants to withdraw the request and stay

• Each club nominates its colours and playing uniform design, and WA Football (or Country Football WA) must approve all designs. They may ask for an alternative if a design clashes.
• Indigenous jumper designs need details of the artist and their community, the story behind the artwork, and the artist's written approval of how the artwork may be used and any limits on its use.
• All of a club's teams wear the club's approved uniform. A player in the wrong uniform may be removed from the playing surface by the Field Umpire or a League Administrator.
• If the League finds a clash for a match, the away team wears an approved alternative strip.
• Compression garments under the uniform are covered by the protective equipment rules: in Years 3-6 compression garments of any style, colour or length are allowed, as are non-compression t-shirts without a hood, but not jumpers, jackets or hooded garments.
• Players wearing jewellery, or using grip aids, breach the equipment rules.