What do I need to know as a parent of a WA Football junior player in Years 3-6 (ages 8-12)? Registration, fair game time, no ladders, umpires and spectator conduct, equipment, weather, concussion and insurance.
WA junior football follows the school year, so children play with their schoolmates. Birth date ranges for 2026:
| Year | Born |
|---|---|
| Year 3 | 1 July 2017 to 30 June 2018 |
| Year 4 | 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 |
| Year 5 | 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016 |
| Year 6 | 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015 |
Years 3 to 6 are the "Modified" competitions. Younger children (Pre-Primary to Year 2) play Auskick or Superkick and are not eligible for junior competitions.
Registration:
WA Football's Equal Opportunity and Fair Play policy requires:
Girls can play in mixed teams up to and including Year 9, though single-sex competitions are preferred where teams can be arranged. If you think the policy is being breached, raise it through your Team Manager or Club; breaches can lead to fines, loss of points or a forfeit.
No. In Years 3 to 6 there are no match results, premiership points, ladders or finals, and no awards such as fairest and best. Scores are for competition purposes only, and apart from official match day paperwork (team sheets, score cards and PlayHQ results), publishing modified match results in print or electronic media is prohibited.
Under the Mercy Rule, once one team leads by 60 points or more, the scoreboard stops at the end of that quarter (scorers keep counting), and both coaches must act to even up the match.
| Years 3-4 | Years 5-6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Players on the ground | 12 a side | 15 a side |
| Match | 4 x 15-minute quarters (breaks 3, 8 and 3 minutes) | Same |
| Tackling | Wrap tackle only: no dropping to the ground, no slinging | Wrap tackle; may take the opponent down by dropping weight; no slinging or aggressive take-down |
| Bumping | None | Permitted as per the AFL Laws of the Game |
| Marking | A mark for any reasonable attempt at catching the ball | A mark for any kick that travels at least 10 m |
In both year groups, all high contact is paid as a free kick and a tackled player has 3 seconds to dispose of the ball or a free kick for holding the ball is paid. The ball is smaller than a senior ball and the ground is reduced in size. The home team supplies the match ball. Deliberate rushed behinds do not apply, and the Last Possession Rule replaces boundary umpires for out of bounds.
From the 2026 handbook (section 64):
Umpires check boots, nails, protective equipment and jewellery before the match.
Each team must supply these people for every match (2026 handbook):
If the League cannot appoint a field umpire, the coaches or team officials can agree on an adult (18 or over, named on match documents, compliant with Working With Children laws) to umpire. Any person umpiring, including a parent umpire, must complete the online registration and approved education module first.
A Working With Children Check is required where someone has an agreement to work, paid or volunteer, in child-related work with no exemption (in sport, usually Category 12 of the Working with Children (Screening) Act 2004).
Umpires: WA Football has a zero tolerance stance on abuse, dissent, intimidation or disputing decisions. Parents and spectators must not comment on an umpire or their performance, and must not approach any umpire before, during or after a match, including when leaving the venue. Only the Team Manager or Captain may approach an umpire, and only to clarify competition rules, raise player safety in extreme weather or ground conditions, understand a send-off, or ask about the game day environment (not to question a decision). Take concerns to your Team Manager or Club; Club Presidents can send specific, objective feedback to WA Football using the online form.
Spectators must:
Spectators can be shown a yellow card (15 minutes away from the playing area) or red card (rest of the match). A club can be penalised for spectator behaviour. Spectators who encroach on the field face suspension from 2 matches up to a life ban.
Weather does not usually stop a match, but in extreme conditions (very strong winds, flooding, extreme fire danger or fires nearby, lightning, hail, extreme heat) all parties must consult and decide on the safest outcome. The field umpire or League official decides whether a match starts, is delayed or resumes.
Lightning (30/30 guideline): if the gap between a lightning flash and thunder is under 30 seconds, the match or training must be suspended and everyone must shelter. It cannot resume until 30 minutes after the last lightning or thunder. Blue sky and no rain are not reasons to restart earlier.
After a delay the remaining quarters are shortened equally so the match still finishes on time. An abandoned match's result is decided by WA Football: abandoned before half time is a draw; after half time the scores at the time of the stoppage stand.
WA Football's policy: a player with a concussion or suspected concussion must be medically assessed as soon as possible and must not return to play in the same game or practice session. "If in doubt, sit them out." Everyone has a responsibility to report a suspected concussion.
All WA junior clubs are automatically covered under the AFL National Risk Protection Program, arranged through the AFL and broker Marsh. It covers four areas: player and volunteer personal accident, public liability, asset protection, and association liability.