Field Umpire's Guide to WA Football Junior Football Years 3-6 2026

Matches follow the AFL Laws of the Game with these changes:

• Ball-up: centre ball-up between two players of approximately equal size. Players may not take full possession out of a ruck contest. A maximum of 3 players per team within 15 m of the ball-up.
• Positions: soft zones reset at each stoppage; no permanent rucks or rovers.
• Scrimmage: stop play and, with help from coaches, have players return to position before throwing the ball up.
• Out of bounds (Last Possession Rule): ball kicked or handballed out, or a player running it over the line, is a free kick to the nearest opponent. If the ball goes out off hands or a body, ball-up 10 m in from the boundary. If you have any doubt whose free kick it is, ball-up 10 m in.
• Marks: Years 3-4, a mark for any reasonable attempt at catching the ball regardless of distance; Years 5-6, a mark for any kick that travels at least 10 m.
• Bouncing: a player may bounce or touch the ball on the ground only once before disposing of it, and only after running 10 m.
• Kicking off the ground: deliberately kicking the ball off the ground or using the feet to control it on the ground is not permitted; accidental contact is play on.
• Deliberate rushed behinds do not apply. Protected area is 5 m.
• 50 m penalties: because the grounds are smaller you may award a 25 m penalty.

No boundary umpires are used in Years 3-6.

Both year groups use the Modified Wrap Tackle rule and all high contact is paid as a free kick, even if the ball carrier caused it by a shrug, drop, arm lift or duck.

Years 3-4

• A wrap tackle with both arms is allowed; the tackler must not drop to the ground; strictly no slinging or bringing the opponent to ground; grabbing the arm is not permitted.
• After a legal tackle the player has 3 seconds to dispose of the ball or a holding the ball free kick is paid. If the player deliberately goes to ground, pay holding the ball to the tackler.
• Strictly no bumping, fending, pushing off or barging when in possession; strictly no smothering, stripping or stealing the ball; no pushing, shouldering or blocking an opponent without the ball.

Years 5-6

• A wrap tackle is allowed and the tackler may take the opponent down by dropping weight, but strictly no slinging or aggressive take-down. 3 seconds to dispose of the ball.
• Bumping is permitted as per the Laws. Stealing or smothering is allowed while an opponent is kicking or has possession in general play. Players may block opponents and bump within 5 m of the ball.

In mixed year group competitions the lower year group's rules apply.

• Quarters: 4 x 15 minutes in Years 3-6, with no time-on added. Breaks are a maximum of 3 minutes (quarter time), 8 minutes (half time) and 3 minutes (three-quarter time).
• Clock: the timekeeper starts the clock when the ball leaves your hands in the ball-up (you raise the ball above your head to signal readiness), signals the start and end of quarters by siren or bell, and does not stop or pause the clock during a quarter. Your decision is final in a timing dispute.
• Teams slow to take the field: after a second warning, if a team has not made an acceptable effort, pay a free kick to the opposition (if both offend, pay it to the first team back). The coach of an offending team is reported for time wasting.
• Late players: may not play until you have checked them and they appear on the team sheet, and this can only be done at a quarter or half time break. A player arriving after the third quarter has started cannot play.
• After a delay: shorten the remaining quarters equally so the match finishes on schedule.
• Team sheets: a completed team sheet must reach you before the match starts; anyone not on it cannot play or officiate.

Cards (handbook section 46): umpires and League Administrators can issue yellow and red cards to any player, official or spectator.

• Yellow, player: leaves immediately via the interchange, cannot return for 15 minutes of playing time, and may be replaced straight away.
• Red, player: leaves immediately, cannot sit on the bench or return for the rest of the match (including breaks); a replacement may enter after 15 minutes of playing time.
• Team official or spectator: must leave the vicinity of the playing surface (no Coaches Box, change rooms or spectating) for 15 minutes (yellow) or the rest of the match (red).
• Two yellows in a match: no further part and an automatic one-match suspension.
• Failing to leave immediately on a yellow makes it a red offence.

Dangerous tackles (section 54): you may pay a free kick, yellow or red card for rough conduct. Cues are a vulnerable head or body, excessive rotation or slinging, one or both arms pinned, lifting the legs, or a tackle that drives or has two actions. Guide:

Instant red cards may apply to inherently dangerous tackles, such as slinging where the ball player cannot brace, lifting a player without returning them to the ground with reasonable care, or pinning the arms so they cannot brace. A yellow can be upgraded by the Field Umpire, Umpire Coach or League Administrator.

The team's First Aid / Medical Officer is in charge of injured players and has the final say on whether a player resumes.

1. When you are told or notice a player needs a stretcher, stop play at the earliest opportunity with one whistle. Play pauses but the clock keeps running.
2. When the First Aid / Medical Officer calls for the stretcher, blow two whistles to let authorised people onto the playing surface to carry the player. Anyone who enters before the double whistle breaches the Ground Encroachment policy.
3. Once the player is off, restart play.

Other points:

• A player removed on a stretcher takes no further part in the game. A player who is propped up by another person for any part of the journey off is not "stretchered off".
• The team may replace the injured player with a benched player entering via the interchange.
• No team meetings or coaching while the stretcher is on. Players stay in position. A coach who enters the field to give instruction concedes a free kick in front of goal at the end of the 10 metre square; if both coaches do, play resumes and both teams may be fined.
• If the injury is too severe to move the player, the two Team Managers, the Field Umpire and any League Official can agree to abandon play.
• A stretcher must be at the ground before a game starts.

WA Football has zero tolerance for umpire or official abuse, verbal dissent, intimidation or disputing of decisions. Abuse means any language, behaviour or gesture intended to insult, offend, intimidate, threaten or harm.

Only these people may approach an umpire:

• the Team Manager and Team Captain, and only to clarify competition rules (not to query a decision or the free kick count), raise player safety in extreme weather or ground conditions, understand why someone was sent off, or ask whether you have concerns about the game day environment
• coaches, only to shake hands before and after the match
• League Administrators, Umpire Coaches and Umpire Escorts

No other player, official, parent or spectator may approach you before, during or after the match, including as they leave the venue.

Yellow and red cards can be issued to any player, official or spectator. A person who fails to leave when directed is reported, the match is terminated and their team forfeits. Spectator behaviour reports can also cost a team E-points (youth competitions) and lead to Code of Conduct action against the club.

As Field Umpire you must report all match day paperwork, reported offences and unacceptable behaviour or conduct to the League by 9am on the Monday following the match.

• At full time, handwrite the score on the paper team sheet, note any red or yellow cards issued, and sign it. Make sure the match paperwork is completed correctly.
• The goal umpire gives you the dated, signed score card at the end of the match.
• Stretcher call-outs and outcomes must be recorded on match documentation (by you and the team managers).
• The League reviews reports, may upgrade or downgrade cards or change the offence, and tells the Club President by 5pm Monday whether a person was charged and the base sanction.
• Players in Years 3 to 6 do not appear at the Community Football Tribunal because of their age.
• Whether you are a League appointee, club umpire or parent umpire, you are bound by the WA Football Code of Conduct.

A match is not abandoned or called off until the Field Umpire, Umpire Coach or League Administrator officially does so. Coaches and officials may not take a team off the ground during play; concerns go through the Team Manager at the next break.

Delays: you decide whether a match starts, is delayed, or resumes, having regard to health and safety. If lightning is in the immediate area, all activity stops and everyone shelters; under the 30/30 guideline suspend if flash-to-thunder is under 30 seconds and do not resume until 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder. After a delay, shorten the remaining quarters equally.

Results of an unfinished match:

• before half time: a draw, with scores at the time used for percentage
• after half time: the scores at the time of stoppage are final
• if you cannot resume within a reasonable time, terminate play and report to the League, which may award a result, declare it abandoned or call a replay

Encroachment: only players on the field, runners, the First Aid / Medical Officer, umpires, and stretcher helpers you allow may be on the playing surface. If unauthorised people enter, ask fellow umpires and League officials to clear it. If you cannot resume in a reasonable time, terminate play and report. The club can face suspensions from 2 matches up to a life ban.