For coaches of AFL community football teams in Under 13 to Under 18, 2026 season. Covers team sizes, ground sizes, match length, tackling, rotation, game limits, mixed teams, age eligibility and coach eligibility.
From the AFL Junior Rules Handbook (ground sizes are length x width in metres):
| Age | On the ground per team | Squad limit | Ground size | Maximum ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 13/14 | 15 | 15 | 125 x 95 | 140 x 110 |
| Under 15 boys | 15 | 18 | 130 x 100 | 150 x 120 |
| Under 15 girls | 15 | 16 | 130 x 100 | 150 x 120 |
| Under 16/17/18 boys | 18 | 18 | Full ground | Full ground |
| Under 16/17/18 girls | 16 | 16 | Full ground | Full ground |
Age groups should be single years where possible, with a two-year span (Under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) as the second option.
All matches from Under 13 to Under 18 are four quarters of 15 to 20 minutes, with breaks of 6 minutes, 10 to 15 minutes (half time) and 6 minutes (Junior Rules Handbook).
| Age | Ball |
|---|---|
| Under 13/14 | Size 4, leather |
| Under 15 boys | Size 5, leather |
| Under 15 girls | Size 4, leather |
| Under 16/17/18 boys | Size 5, leather |
| Under 16/17/18 girls | Size 4, leather |
Example: at 20 minutes a quarter, an Under 16 match is 80 minutes of play.
From Under 13/14 through to Under 16/17/18 (Junior Rules Handbook):
Mouthguards are strongly recommended at all levels of football, and a custom made one gives the best protection (a boil and bite one is better than none).
At every age from Under 13 to Under 18 (Junior Rules Handbook):
The 2026 National Community Football Policy Handbook adds a coach duty: a coach of junior football must use best endeavours to make sure every player plays at least 50 per cent of the match.
Example: in a 4 x 20 minute Under 16 match (80 minutes of play), a 50 per cent minimum means each player is on the ground for at least 40 minutes.
For every age from Under 13 to Under 18, scoring, premiership points, ladders, finals and the publishing of names are all permitted, and the controlling body (the league or association) decides how scoring and results are handled. Rep (representative) teams are a state body decision.
Mercy rule: the AFL encourages leagues, clubs and coaches to apply a mercy rule once a team has an unassailable lead (the handbook's example is 60 points), because heavy losses serve no purpose. The exact rule is set to suit the local competition.
Once a player reaches Under 14, the AFL asks leagues and clubs to monitor the number of games each player plays across all levels of football, including talent, club and school games, and to put measures in place to protect the player's welfare. For youth football the Junior Rules Handbook recommends:
The handbook's summary table also lists the season length for Under 13 to Under 18 as 20 games maximum.
These are recommendations in the national handbook, not a hard ban on a third game in a weekend. A league or state body may set a firmer limit for its own competition.
Under the 2026 National Community Football Policy Handbook:
Team sizes differ for girls from Under 15: 15 on the ground with a squad of up to 16 for Under 15 girls, and 16 a side for Under 16 to Under 18 girls, against 18 for the boys.
Age groups are set by the age a player turns in the playing year (2026 National Community Football Policy Handbook):
Playing up: a controlling body (the league or association running the competition) may let a player join a higher age group only where it finds exceptional and compelling circumstances. It must weigh the player's physical capacity, experience, skill level and social maturity.
Playing down: only through an age dispensation application for a disability or physical size considerations. It goes through the club to the controlling body, needs a parent or guardian's written consent if the player is under 18, and needs a certificate from a medical specialist completed within the previous three months.
The controlling body can ask for evidence of a player's age at any time.
Head coach eligibility (2026 National Community Football Policy Handbook): a head coach must be at least this old in the year before the playing year (and one year older in the playing year):
A head coach under 18 must have an adult assistant coach over 18. An assistant coach must be 12 or older in the year before the playing year. Coaches must be accredited, which means registering on the Coach Learning Platform, completing the training and holding a current working with children check (or equivalent).
Where the coach stands (Junior Rules Handbook): on the sidelines for every age from Under 13 to Under 18. A runner is permitted at all of these ages.